BATTLE OF UNBEATENS HIGHLIGHTS D

Now this is what high school football in the Keystone State is all about.

Arguably the two best teams in District 6 - the Tyrone Golden Eagles and the Bellefonte Red Raiders - will do battle on Friday to see which squad can remain unbeaten and keep their momentum going strong into the final weeks of the season.

Bellefonte, ranked first in D6-AAA, is 5-0 on the season and averages 30 points per game, while giving up only 13 points per contest.

The Red Raiders own victories over Punxsutawney (37-0), Philipsburg-Osceola (13-6), Huntingdon (21-13), Clearfield (40-34 OT), and Indian Valley (41-12).

"They're really an explosive team and have tons of weapons on offense. Bellefonte is the best team we've seen so far," said Tyrone head coach John Franco. "(Chris) Snare is a very athletic quarterback. He's a big time playmaker. (Nate) Carson is as good as any receiver that we've seen.

He's a great all-around player. And (Josh) Gentzel is a big kid, a strong runner.

"We have to control those three guys and contain them if we can, especially their running quarterback. No. 20 (Carson) we have to know where he's at all the time. They use him all over the place. They throw to him deep, short and run him out of the backfield. And No. 40 (Gentzel) with his power running compliments their spread. Our defensive front will have its hands full, but they must do their job.

"Bellefonte also has a great return game, lots of outstanding skill kids and tough, solid lineman. We have our work cut out for us. They are a very good team."

Tyrone, ranked first in D6-AA and fourth in the state by PFN, are also 5-0 and average 37 points per contest. They surrender an average of only nine points per game.

The Golden Eagles have beaten Bellwood-Antis (31-19), Huntingdon (27-0), Lewistown (47-6), Bald Eagle Area (42-14), and P-O (39-7).

"If you watch Tyrone on tape, they are very similar to what we do. They run basic plays and execute them well," said Bellefonte head coach Tom Gravish. "Tyrone's secret since coach Franco has been there is that he coaches a team that doesn't make mistakes. They don't have a bunch of penalties and they do a great job of fundamentals - blocking and tackling.

"They run the ball hard, throwing it and catching it when they have to. They're as good and sound a fundamental football team as anyone in the state."

Last week against Indian Valley, Gentzel ran for 224 yards and three scores, while Carson added a rushing touchdown to the mix. Carson, the 6-1, 175-pound senior has scored TDs as a receiver, running back and on punt and kick returns.

"Zero penalties, zero turnovers and coming out and playing as intense as we can. That's what we have to do to win this game," Gravish said. "We have to be mentally focused all week in practice and just come out and execute on Friday. If we do all those things, we should be in good shape."

Quarterback Leonard Wilson leads the Golden Eagles on the field and has the stats to prove it. The senior has thrown for 633 yards on 39-of-56 passing with seven touchdowns and only one interception. In addition, Wilson has intercepted four passes from his corner spot.

"Leonard's a great thrower and runner. He's a definite bright spot. He reminds me of the Mertiff quarterback from a few years ago," stated Gravish. "The offense they run with Wilson is similar to the type of stuff they did with Mertiff."

On the ground, senior Brinton Mingle has rushed for 459 yards and 10 TDs, while junior Tyler Gillmen has accumulated 467 yards and three scores. Sophomore Johnny Franco also sees time in the backfield and has racked up 137 yards with three touchdowns.

Senior Trey Brockett leads the receivers with 10 grabs for 220 yards and two scores. Junior Doug Morrow is next with eight receptions for 108 yards, while senior Shane Barr has six catches for 108 yards and two scores.

"We really have exceeded our expectations this year," exclaimed Franco. "The biggest surprise is our offensive line. They've done a good job and that's been the key to our success.

"I thought we'd be good, but not this early in the season. The defense has played well and that's let our offense grow and come along. We're only halfway through the season. We still have some developing to do.

"With Bellefonte, we're going to see how good we really are and where we're at right now."

Not only will this be a physical battle on the field - it will be a mental chess match as well.

Franco's record and accomplishments at Tyrone speak for themselves and are the envy of many a coach in D6 land. He sports a record of 117-26 in his 12th season at the helm of the Golden Eagles.

He has coached Tyrone to seven district championships and in 1999; the Golden Eagles won the PIAA championship, the first and only state title ever won by a District 6 squad. In addition, Tyrone was a PIAA runner up in 1996 and have reached the Western Finals four times under his tenure.

Gravish has turned around the fortunes of the Red Raiders as soon as he was hired back in 1999. In his first season, he led Bellefonte to a district championship (after an 0-10 campaign the previous year) and last season, they made it back to the finals, only to fall to Johnstown in the title game. This season, he has led Bellefonte to its first 5-0 start since 1968. His career mark with the Red Raiders stands at 40-28.

"In most games involving two good, well-coached football teams, it usually comes down to turnovers or big plays by big-time players. That has a chance of happening on Friday," said Franco. "It should be a very good game."

North Star (Dist 5 A 1-4-0) @ Portage (Dist 6 A 5-0-0)

Tussey Mountain (Dist 5 A 2-3-0) @ Juniata Valley (Dist 6 A 4-1-0)

Altoona (Dist 6 AAAA 2-3-0) @ Cedar Cliff (Dist 3 AAAA 2-3-0)

Bellefonte (Dist 6 AAA 5-0-0) @ Tyrone (Dist 6 AA 5-0-0)

Central Cambria (Dist 6 AA 2-3-0) @ Forest Hills (Dist 6 AA 4-1-0)

Claysburg-Kimmel (Dist 6 A 2-3-0) @ West Branch (Dist 6 A 1-4-0)

Hollidaysburg (Dist 6 AAAA 2-3-0) @ Central Dauphin East (Dist 3 AAAA 0-5-0)

Homer Center (Dist 6 A 1-4-0) @ Northern Cambria (Dist 6 A 2-3-0)

Huntingdon (Dist 6 AAA 3-2-0) @ Clearfield (Dist 9 AAA 4-1-0)

Indian Valley (Dist 6 AAA 2-3-0) @ Central Mountain (Dist 6 AAA 1-4-0)

Johnstown (Dist 6 AAA 3-2-0) @ Bishop Carroll (Dist 6 A 5-0-0)

Laurel Valley (Dist 6 A 3-2-0) @ Penns Manor (Dist 6 A 0-5-0

Marion Center (Dist 6 AA 3-2-0) @ Saltsburg (Dist 6 A 1-4-0)

Penn Cambria (Dist 6 AA 4-1-0) @ Cambria Heights (Dist 6 AA 0-5-0)

Philipsburg-Osceola (Dist 6 AA 1-4-0) @ Bellwood-Antis (Dist 6 A 4-1-0)

Purchase Line (Dist 6 AA 4-1-0) @ Blairsville (Dist 6 A 5-0-0)

Somerset (Dist 6 AAA 0-5-0) @ Richland (Dist 6 A 1-4-0)

Southern Huntingdon (Dist 6 A 4-1-0) @ Mount Union (Dist 6 A 1-4-0)

State College (Dist 6 AAAA 2-3-0) @ Erie Cathedral Prep (Dist 10 AAAA 4-1-0)

Westmont-Hilltop (Dist 6 AA 3-2-0) @ Bishop McCort (Dist 6 AA 4-1-0)

Williamsburg (Dist 6 A 0-5-0) @ Moshannon Valley (Dist 6 A 4-1-0)

Moniteau (Dist 9 AA 3-2-0) @ Bald Eagle Area (Dist 6 AA 1-4-0)

Punxsutawney (Dist 9 AAA 0-5-0) @ Lewistown (Dist 6 AAA 2-3-0)

Saturday's Games:

Windber (Dist 5 A 5-0-0) @ Conemaugh Valley (Dist 6 A 5-0-0)

Ferndale (Dist 6 A 1-4-0) @ Blacklick Valley (Dist 6 A 1-4-0)

Glendale (Dist 6 A 1-4-0) @ Northern Bedford (Dist 5 A 3-2-0)

Ligonier Valley (Dist 6 A 3-2-0) @ United (Dist 6 A 3-2-0)

Penns Valley (Dist 6 AA 1-4-0) @ Bishop Guilfoyle (Dist 6 A 3-2-0)