Bellefonte tops Tyrone for first time since 1993

TYRONE — Fall behind, make an inspired comeback, take a late lead and then lose painfully in the final moments.

That has been the story for the Bellefonte football team in two disheartening losses so far this season.

But not this time. Not at Gray Memorial Field in Tyrone on Sept. 23.

This time, the Red Raiders scored two long, second-half touchdowns, forced three huge turnovers, and then held on, despite all, for a tense, 14-13 victory over the Golden Eagles.

It was the third win of the season for Bellefonte, and it was the first time the Raiders won over Tyrone since 1993.

Down 13-0 just past the midway point in the third quarter, linebacker Garrett Kutches made the play that turned it all around for the Raiders. With Tyrone in control and driving, Kutches scooped up a fumble by Eagle running back Brandon Loose and headed up field. Linebacker or not, no one on the Tyrone team was able to catch up with Kutches, and he scored untouched to bring his team to within 13-7.

Less than five minutes later, after a Tyrone punt, Bellefonte quarterback Tyler Kreger found tight end Tanner Helms in the left flat, and Helms took it all the way down the left sideline for an 80-yard touchdown.

The play stunned the home crowd, and gave Bellefonte its first lead of the game, 14-13, after Chris Persiko made the all-important extra point.

“I was actually thinking they (the Eagles) were going to run a counter away from me,” Kutches said of the initial Bellefonte score, “but then I saw the guy fumble the ball. I honestly don’t remember what happened, but I just picked it up and ran as fast as I could.”

As fast as he could was more than enough as Kutches’ play brought the Raiders squarely back into the game.

It didn’t take long for Helms to complete the Raider comeback with his strike just as the final quarter began.

“That was right after they got the fumble return and got the momentum,” Tyron coach Jason Wilson said about Helms’ big play. “We went back out there, and we bit on a play-fake and they hit us over the top. That definitely knocks the wind out of you.”

For most of the first three quarters it looked like there would be no heroics for Bellefonte at all in this game.

The Raiders did get a 67-yard run from Dexter Gallishaw in their first possession, but two penalties and a sack pushed them back out of scoring range and the drive stalled.

The rest of that time, it was all Tyrone. The Eagles scored first on a 56-yard interception return by Parker Mitchell that put them ahead 6-0 early in the second quarter (the extra point was wide).

Tyrone quarterback Rashawn Hicks and Loose then spearheaded a 12-play, 63-yard drive to open the third quarter and put Bellefonte into a deep, 13-point hole. Loose, who ran the ball 25 times for 143 yards for the night, took it in from the 8, and the Eagles were firmly in control.

Until, that is, a momentary lapse by Loose during the next Eagle possession put the ball on the ground and opened the door for Bellefonte.

“We are in a program that has won very few games over the last 10 years,” Bellefonte coach Shannon Manning said, “so the whole program is learning how to win.

“With our backs against the wall, what has typically happened with our program? We had every opportunity to give up tonight. Those kids just kept fighting, scrapping, digging. It’s never pretty. That’s just where we are.”

Still, when Helms went in, there was nearly a whole quarter of football left. Plenty of time for Tyrone to score again.

The Raider defense thought otherwise. In its next two possessions, Tyrone ran six plays and netted minus-8 yards.

Finally, with three minutes to play, Tyrone took over at midfield with one last chance to take the game. Six plays later, the Eagles were on the 33-yard line and driving.

Instead of giving up the big play at this point, as it has done in the past, Bellefonte made one. Eagle quarterback Alex Weaver took aim at a receiver coming across the middle, but Kreger stepped in front and intercepted it at the 25.

Three runs by Gallishaw used up the Tyrone time outs and netted a first down for the Raiders. The clock was moving, and it was finally victory-formation time for Bellefonte after a 23-year dry spell against Tyrone.

“We have a lot of good guys on this team and a lot of good coaches,” Kutches said. “I’ve never been so happy in my life, but I’ve also never been more tired.”

Bellefonte, now 3-2 and tied with Clearfield for the lead in the Mountain League, will travel Friday, Sept. 30, to take on the Bison in a big showdown of teams with 3-0 league records.