What we learned in YAIAA football: Week 2 (column)
The YAIAA Division II title race is anyone's to win.
Don't count out Kennard-Dale, which lost 58-0 to Hanover last night. Don't count out York Suburban, which lost 49-7 to Northeastern. And don't count out West York, which lost 63-6 to Dallastown.
Don't count any team, because none of the seven teams in this division have shown any signs of running away with the title. That could actually make for interesting divisional matchups.
The most surprising trend of the season so far has been watching Division II teams go a combined 2-12 to start the season. Most of the losses have been blowouts, and Eastern York's loss Saturday to York County Tech marked the division's fourth loss to a Division III opponent in the early going.
The only wins for Division II teams came last night as Gettysburg beat New Oxford in a shootout and Dover beat Steel-High in a defensive struggle. But the Colonials and Rollers are winless.
As it stands right now, it seems unlikely that any of these teams will make the district playoffs. Every team but Dover (5A) and Eastern York (3A) play in Class 4A, where only eight out of 21 schools will qualify. The Division II crown may well be the biggest crown these teams can win this year, and there could be some really intense games down the stretch.
Dover and Gettysburg can hope to continue the momentum they gained this week as the season progresses. For the other five teams sitting at 0-2, here's a reason for each to remain optimistic:
York Suburban started 0-2 last season and reeled off eight straight wins to win the division title and make the district playoffs. Why couldn't the Trojans do it again?
West York threw for more than 200 yards against Dallastown. As the passing attack gets more comfortable, cleaning up some things on defense might be all it takes to turn it around.
Susquehannock played the closest games of the bunch so far this year, losing to Northern by two points and to York Catholic by 17.
Kennard-Dale and Eastern York have both played tough Lancaster County opponents, so the rest of the schedule only gets easier.
It hasn't been a good start, but something's going to have to give when these teams start playing each other.