Font Resize
They were scribbled on the face of Ron Miller, who coached his Bulldogs to the District 3, Class AAA semifinal game for a second straight year. They were hidden behind the facemask of wide receiver Dan Gay, part of a senior class that won 34 games the past three years.
West York has accomplished so much in that span, but it was tough to focus on that Friday night.
Not after a loss like this one, a heart-in-your-throat, 7-6 semifinal defeat to Susquehanna Township in the biting wind and cold at Roscoe Warner Field. A defense-dominated slugfest in which the gutsy, third-seeded Bulldogs came within inches -- literally -- of upsetting the second-seeded Indians, only to see their reign as District champions end in wrenching fashion.
In those initial moments afterward, the pain was too much.
"We gave up everything," Gay said. "Summers, waking up at 7 a.m."
This one hurt because the Bulldogs (11-2) were oh-so close to a second-straight visit to Hersheypark Stadium and a finals matchup with Manheim Central, which beat Conrad Weiser, 42-7, Friday.
It hurt because for the second straight week, a two-point conversion was the difference. Only this time, West York senior Corey Harris was stopped
And it hurt because the Bulldogs were 6 yards from a potential game-winning touchdown midway through the fourth quarter, before Alex George's pass was picked off by Township defensive back Mike Johnson.
"We work hard. I don't think people understand the time and the commitment that goes into all of it," said Miller, fighting back tears. "For it to end like this is hard."
Harder still because of how good West York's defense played. The Bulldogs smothered an electric Township attack that was averaging 38.2 points per game coming into Friday.
Dynamic Indians quarterback Ben Dupree, who had 505 yards from scrimmage the previous week, was held to 121 this time. He had negative rushing yards going into Township's final drive of the night.
The Indians managed their only score of the night -- a 7-yard run by Robert Terrell in the second quarter -- thanks to some great field position and a successful, 21-yard fake punt.
"We played extremely well defensively," Miller said. "To hold a team like that and a player like Ben Dupree to seven points is a tremendous accomplishment. ... It's unfortunate we didn't give them a chance to win the game."
West York's offense sputtered as well -- 181 total yards -- but seized a golden scoring chance in the third quarter when Darion Bundy partially blocked a punt and gave West York the ball at the Township 14. Four plays later, Harris plunged from 2 yards out.
That's when things got interesting. The Bulldogs lined up for the ensuing extra point, but the Indians were whistled for offsides.
Needing just a yard to take the lead, Miller gambled. Harris (26 carries, 90 yards) ran right and looked like he would score, but was stood up by a trio of Indians.
"Obviously we did it last week and we were successful," said Miller, referring to last week's game-winning conversion in double-overtime against Conestoga Valley. "We did it this week and we weren't."
Still, West York worked its way back into position to win with a 14-play, fourth-quarter drive deep into Indians territory. But on a second-and-goal from the 6, George threw into traffic and Johnson picked it off.
It was
"We should have just kept pounding it," Miller said. "I'm just sick for him."
"We gave them opportunity after opportunity after opportunity," Township coach Joe Headen said. "But I was very proud of our defense. They stepped up."
Susquehanna Township took over on the 1-yard line, but breezed down the field on a pair of long runs by a finally-unleashed Dupree. The Indians looked like they would run the clock out until West York forced the last of its three turnovers -- a fumble recovery by Jerrin Toomey.
The Bulldogs took over on their own 23 with 1:43 left, but any hints of some more West York magic quickly fluttered away in the whipping winds. George's fourth-down pass drifted to the ground, sending Township's sideline into delirium and West York's into stilled silence.
Oh-so close. And that's why this one was hard to bear.
"Today I'm going to hurt," Miller said. "And I'm going to be hurting for a long time after this."
West York 0 0 6 0 -- 6
Susquehanna Twp. 0 7 0 0 -- 7
Second Quarter
ST -- Robert Terrell 7 run (Christian Hilliard kick good), 5:59
Third Quarter
WY -- Corey Harris 2 run (Harris run failed), 1:51
-- WY -- ST
First downs -- 11 -- 13
Rushes-yards -- 35-153 -- 43-169
Passing -- 5-15-1 -- 6-10-1
Passing yards -- 27 -- 82
Total yards -- 180 -- 251
Punts -- 5-28.4 -- 2-14
Fumbles-lost -- 0-0 -- 4-2
Penalties-yards -- 5-47 -- 8-57
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- West York, Corey Harris 26-90, Alex George 8-58, Zach Trone 1-5; Susquehanna Township, Adrian Arp 19-94, Ben Dupree 16-39, Robert Terrell 6-24, Rodney Watkins 1-21, Tajh Turner 1-(-9).
Passing -- West York, Alex George 4-14-1-25, Corey Harris 1-1-0-2; Susquehanna Township, Ben Dupree 6-10-1-82.
Receiving -- West York, Dan Gay 2-25, Brett Campbell 1-6, Alex George 1-2, Corey Harris 1-(-6); Susquehanna Township, Adrian Arp 1-23, Tajh Turner 1-19, Josh Grafton 1-11, Rodney Watkins 1-10, Aaron Moon 1-10, Kody Mills 1-9.
Also of interest
· Is West York's Brandon Real the best local running back ever?
· Red Lion's Scott Fitzkee ranks as York/Adams Greatest Athlete.
· Who were most prominent 20th-century sports heroes in York and Adams counties?
