Ten must-see Hanover-Adams football games in 2015

We’re exactly 10 days from the start of football season in the York-Adams league. We’re pretty excited to get started, so we’ve put together a list of 10 must-see games this season for the Hanover-Adams area teams. Enjoy.

Sept. 4 South Western at Gettysburg

- What happened in the season opener last year? Sixty-two combined first-half points, five touchdowns of more than 30 yards, a dramatic finish, and the Warriors’ first win as a member of the

YAIAA. Jake Myers hit Kobe Wansel with a 45-yard bomb to give Gettysburg a 44-41 lead, then the defense forced a South Western turnover on downs at midfield with less than a minute remaining. If this season’s matchup can match that or at least come close, that would be a great way to start the year. (Gettysburg leads the all-time series, 7-6)

Sept. 11 Gettysburg at New Oxford - In an otherwise light week on the schedule, this one offers a few storylines. They’re backyard rivals in a sense. Gettysburg is transitioning after losing 19 seniors. New Oxford is looking for its first win since Fall 2013. The Colonials would love to beat their neighbor since it's happened just once in 27 tries. (All-time: Gettysburg 26-1)

Sept. 18 Delone Catholic vs. Union City (Tenn.) - There are a number of reasons why this matchup is intriguing:

1. How often does a York-Adams team get to play a team from the south? And not just any team from the south. Union City is a three-time state champion in the Volunteer State and enters the season on a 27-game winning streak.

2. Union City’s mascot is the Golden Tornadoes. How cool is that? The Squires vs. the Golden Tornadoes? There are so many headline ideas for this one.

3. What it could mean. Let’s say Delone pulls off the win over the Tennessee champs who are making an 850-mile trip (and stopping in Washington, D.C. and Gettysburg along the way). That could be quite the confidence boost heading into their division schedule.

Sept. 25 Biglerville vs. Fairfield - This has turned into quite the Adams County rivalry. After losing the first eight games of the series, the Green Knights have won the past two including last season’s dramatic 20-19 victory. Afterward, senior Michael Quealy said, “This is huge for our school. I can’t even put it into words. This is like a Michigan-Ohio State win for us.” Okay, Michigan-Ohio State might be a stretch, but this one should be entertaining and could be a solid early-season test to gauge whether Fairfield will be a postseason contender again. Or it could be a big revenge game for the Canners.

Oct. 2 South Western vs. Central York - Last season’s matchup was the area's lone overtime game. It lasted just two plays into overtime, though, with the Panthers coming away victorious after a controversial interception ruling in the end zone.

The Mustangs didn’t agree with the call, so head coach Damian Poalucci shouldn’t have too hard of a time firing his team up. Oh, and it’s at the Corral this year.

Oct. 9 Delone at Biglerville - Another matchup that featured a few controversial calls last season. Two “inadvertent whistles” reversed two Delone fumbles, and the Squires squeaked out an 18-6 win. It was win no. 100 for Steve Wiles. The Canners believed that game could’ve gone the other way if not for the inadvertent whistles. Both teams are expected to compete at the top of Division III this season. (All-time: Delone leads the series, 20-3-1)

Oct. 16 South Western vs. Dallastown - Similar to the game vs. Central, this is another matchup the Mustangs nearly came away with and again, the Mustangs will get to host the rematch. South Western fell in Dallastown, 28-27, after blowing a three touchdown lead, then botching an extra point with less than two minutes left. Following the game, Dallastown went on to win the division and South Western closed on a three-game winning streak. Many have said that these two teams will be the best in Division I this season, making this rematch all the more intriguing.

Oct. 23 Fairfield vs. Delone -These two teams met in McSherrystown in October locked in a race for the fourth and final district playoff spot. Behind a 249-yard outburst by Jake Kadis, the Squires won, 17-14. The Green Knights weren’t happy with how the game ended when Delone was allowed to run the clock out without running a play in the last minute-plus of the fourth quarter. Kadis is gone, the Green Knights want revenge, and this one is in Fairfield. Keep an eye on this battle. (All-time: Delone leads the series, 9-1)

Oct. 30 Bermudian at Littlestown - It’s Jon DeFoe vs. Mike Lippy. It’s Eagles vs. Bolts. It’s the night before Halloween and it’s a good one to watch. DeFoe and Lippy have battled for more than a decade now and Littlestown leads the all-time series, 16-12.

They’re two of the only three teams to win the division in the past decade and they always seem to be a hurdle for the other. Two years ago, these two put on one of the best games Adams County has ever seen. Littlestown converted three fourth-down attempts on their final drive and punched in a touchdown as time expired to stun the Eagles. The win secured a division title for Littlestown and snapped a 29-game regular season win streak for Bermudian. It’s still the only regular season game that DeFoe and the Eagles have lost in the last four years.

Nov. 6 Rivalry Week: Delone at Hanover (DC 48-28-5), South Western at Spring Grove (SW 32-19-1), Biglerville at Bermudian (Berm 29-12)---Week 10 is always the most entertaining week on the schedule. It’s rivalry week and that always seems to bring the competitive side out of each of the schools. There’s gamesmanship (although, spray painting another team’s field might be taking it a bit far) and plenty of verbal jabs on social media. Hanover vs. Delone is the closest battle geographically between any two schools in the area (they’re separated by 2.5 miles). South Western-Spring Grove is as nasty as any rivalry in the league and the Mustangs could be in position to secure a division title in week 10, making Spring Grove a possible spoiler. The Division-III title could come down to Bermudian-Biglerville in Week 10.

Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments section.