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York-Adams Week 5 football preview: Top offenses Red Lion, Northeastern set for classic clash


Forget about the heavy rain in Friday's forecast, because there could be an instant classic brewing in Manchester.

Red Lion makes the trip up Route 24 to take on the undefeated Bobcats in a battle of the YAIAA's top two offenses. Through four games, the Lions (3-1, 1-0 YAIAA Division I) and Bobcats (4-0, 1-0) have each rushed for more than 1,000 yards. No other YAIAA team has more than 700 in that span. Both teams come in averaging more than 36 points per game.

Last season, neither offense did much to impress, when Red Lion held off Northeastern, 21-14, at Horn Field.

So what's the deal? Well Northeastern added versatile quarterback Shannon Valenti, who has totaled 10 touchdowns while rushing for 197 yards and adding 437 through the air. And the Bobcats have two solid tailbacks — Anu Johnson and Chris Whack — who are each approaching 300 yards rushing.

The Lions boast their own dynamic duo of running backs — Alex Keough and Dylan Gurreri — who are first and second in the league in rushing yards, and both average more than 7 yards per carry.

Don't forget about the defenses. Both units rank in the league's top six in yards allowed and among the top three in turnover ratio.

It should be an even battle among Division I front-runners.