Red Raiders eye another Week One nailbiter against Tyrone
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One year removed from Bellefonte's electric opening win in 2025, a Week One rematch against Tyrone is set to take place, with the Red Raiders anticipating another tough test.
Last season, Bellefonte trailed the Golden Eagles by two scores until the final two minutes of the game. A late fourth down conversion helped Bellefonte narrow the gap to one score, a Will Oskin onside kick was recovered by the Red Raiders and Jackson Long logged the game-winning touchdown and interception to seal the 21-20 win.
A year later, a lot has changed. Both teams field evolved rosters from successful 2025 stints and look to set the tone with a hard-fought Week One win on Friday, this time on Tyrone's home turf.
"They have a new coaching staff and return some nice athletes from last season," said Bellefonte football head coach Tony Confer on Tyrone a few weeks before kickoff.
"Last year's game against Tyrone was one of the best football games I have ever been a part of. The final two minutes were a testament to our team's will to win and never quit attitude which ultimately led us to a district championship."
Though Tyrone loses its starting quarterback from last season, it maintains its leading rusher - Caleb Whitby - and receiver - Mason Emigh.
Whitby averaged nearly six yards per carry last season, turning 141 rushes into 822 yards and nine touchdowns while adding 176 yards and a touchdown as a receiver. Emigh finished with a team-leading 26 receptions, 563 receiving yards and five touchdowns, including an 80-yard score against Bellefonte last season.
Other impact offensive returners include previous backup quarterback Ben Walk and sophomore Reid Starr.
Defensively, the Golden Eagles lost seven of their ten leading tackles from last season but maintain some heavy hitters, including the team's leading tackler from last season in senior defensive end Kyler Suhoney.
Suhoney finished with 60 tackles, eight TFLs and two sacks last season. Emigh logged a team-leading five interceptions and 38 tackles, and fellow senior Dylan Robinson makes two ends that could be an issue against the run.
Tyrone has finished five of the last six seasons with a winning records and while a change in coaching staff could have an impact, the program's maintained a strong football tradition for decades. It'll be looking for its first win over Bellefonte since 2022 on Friday, where the Golden Eagles won 37-7.