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Dallastown season may not be over, after all


The postgame reactions by the Dallastown football team were what you might expect from a group of players whose season had just ended. The Wildcats seniors hung behind as Horn Field emptied, each getting a hug and a few words of encouragement from their coach, Kevin Myers. Some tears were shed.

They all thought their season was over, following a 27-24 loss to Red Lion. So did I, and everybody else.

That may not be the case.

According the District 3 website, Dallastown (4-6) would still earn the 16th and final spot in the Class AAAA playoffs if Bishop McDevitt (7-2) beats Harrisburg (1-8) on Saturday. You'd certainly bet on that happening.

Dallastown entered the night ranked No. 17 in the power rankings, which seemed to indicate that a defeat would spell the end of their season. But who am I to try to figure out how the district's power ranking formula works? Dallastown did get help from Carlisle (the 16th seed coming in), which lost, and Northeastern, which won. (Because the Wildcats beat Northeastern win, the Bobcats victory boosts their strength-of-schedule component).

In any event, Myers had plenty of praise for his team, which gave the Lions all they could handle Friday.

"I know what we did last year was great," Myers said. "But where this team came from and everyone writing this team off ... I’m more proud of this team than any team I’ve ever coached."

If Dallastown does earn the 16th seed, it would play top-seeded Cumberland Valley next week.