Dallastown offensive coordinator Cory Miller jumps into Nate Reed's arms after the Wildcats fought back from a 22-point deficit against Red Lion in the teams' regular-season finale last year. Dallastown ended up winning, 38-36, and met the Lions two weeks later in the District 3 Class AAAA quarterfinals. (Daily Record/Sunday News - file)
York, PA - It was an atmosphere unlike any I had seen in two decades of covering YAIAA high school sporting events -- and to think it happened twice in three weeks late last fall.

Of course, I am referring to the two Red Lion vs. Dallastown football games that were played in 2010. Two contests between two bitter rivals that could not have had more on the line.

The games themselves were drastically different. The first one on Nov. 5 was high-scoring, with furious comebacks and attempted rallies. It was the last weekend of the regular season, when winning the game meant at least a share of the Division I regular-season championship.

Dallastown fell behind 22-0 before roaring back to take the lead and managed to stave off a Red Lion rally and capture a 38-36 win, capping an unbeaten regular season and division title.

Two weeks later, the Lions and Wildcats tangled again, this time in the District 3 Class AAAA quarterfinals.

The Nov. 19 district playoff game was a defensive battle as the Wildcats jumped in front, 6-0, but the Lions came back to win, 14-6, because of an underrated defense that stymied their rivals.

But whatever the results, those contests went much deeper than the two schools. These games were for the respective towns, located a mere few miles apart.

At least 7,000 people attended each game, and the behavior was exemplary on both sides. No one wanted to risk being tossed from these games.

Dallastown football coach Kevin Myers agreed.

"After all this time I don't know that I still can (put it into words)," Myers said. "It was an incredible feeling in the air. The way the communities rallied around the teams.

"(The) thing that strikes me about last year is there was no problems, that was the amazing part. Kudos to the kids from both communities for doing it the right (way)."

How crazy was the event?

People in the Daily Record office that night could hear score

Red Lion players celebrate a 14-6 victory against Dallastown in the district playoffs last season. 'The experience was once in a lifetime,' Red Lion's Nick Kocman said. 'Not just for those on the teams, but for everyone there.' (Daily Record/Sunday News - file)
updates over the police scanner.

One sight I will not forget was Dallastown senior quarterback Josh Luckenbaugh breaking into tears during a long hug with his already weeping mom after the Wildcats' victory.

"At this level you want to win, but when you are out there and know both teams laid it on the line, that is what it is all about," Myers said.

It was the stuff movies about high school sports are made of.

* * *

Will the YAIAA be able to top that this year or even in the future?

Who knows. It certainly won't be easy. But football in the league is improving, and if it happens again on an area gridiron, I certainly hope to be there.

Still, I won't forget these two games.

"It was crazy. There was so much on the line in both games. Twenty years down the road everyone will still talk about it," Red Lion quarterback Tanner Klinefelter said.

"The experience was once in a lifetime. Not just for those on the teams, but for everyone there," Red Lion senior Nick Kocman said.

Truer words were never spoken.
Steve Navaroli is a sports reporter for the Daily Record/Sunday News. Reach him at 771-2060 or snavaroli@ydr.com.

Related

· Cover story: Tanner Klinefelter moves from the shadows to the spotlight for Red Lion.