There Was A Storm Brewing In Philipsburg & The Cyclone Blew Through Town

April 2, 2023 Billy Splain

Last week in the GEFA was a muddy, snowy, rainy, windy, cold mess but both the MOVA Vikings and the Cyclones came through with wins. On Saturday in Philipsburg, home of the Vikings, the day pretty much started off the same way. A heavy thunderstorm rolled through the area in the early morn, however, by noon the sun was shining and the day was looking great for some GEFA football between the defending champion Vikings and the perennial powerhouse Cyclones.

The game got off to a great start but there was another storm brewing. A Cyclone of sorts. Midway through the second quarter the Vikings took a 12-8 lead, but as the clouds started to roll in, so did the Cyclone offense and by halftime they held a 28-12 lead. In the second half the Cyclone offense, led by Greg Medina who had a hand in every TD scored, swirled its way to 44 points and a 44-34 win.

The Cyclones took the opening kick and drove straight to the end zone with All League quarterback Greg Medina carrying the rock into the end zone from a few yards out. Medina and Jason Nyhart connected on the two point conversion for a quick 8-0 lead. Dane Bright hauled in an 11 yard pass from Billy Thompson but the Vikings missed on the 2 pointer, a common theme on the day for them. Back and forth they battled. The Viking defense making a stop giving Thompson a chance to find his high school teammate Malik Breon for 6.

Then something happened. The Cyclone defense woke up, and the man who opened his eyes first was James Buckner. Following another score by the Cyclones, a crazy tip drill catch by Mike Stum to give them a 16-12 lead, Buckner went on a tear racking up 5 sacks on the day. His first forced a punt that led to this amazing TD catch by Nyhart.

Misfortune led to the next Cyclone score. A bobbled snap by the Vikings gave them the ball at the one. It only took one play for Medina to score his fourth score of the game and give his team a 28-12 lead. Just before the half Holden Wallace hit Dane Bright for a 31 yard td. During the play Bright was forced out of bounds but worked his way back in to make the TD catch. 28-18 Cyclones at the half.

Then the storm hit. A Cyclone of sorts. As the winds roared through the area, literally, fire sirens blared several times. Down on the field, much of the same. Medina scored touchdowns, Buckner found the end zone and by the time the rain started to fall in the fourth quarter, the Cyclone had opened up a 44-18 lead. The Vikings scored a twice late to make the score close, but in the end they couldn’t overcome a few mistakes and a touch Cyclone defense.  Next week the 3-0 Cyclones again make the long haul to Centre County to face the 2-0 Tomahawks, who pulled of a thrilling triple overtime win yesterday while the Vikings head down 322 for a visit with the Comanche.