West York handles Gettysburg but falls short of playoff berth

After their last time playing on their home field, West York's Ty Folk and Terry Cains basked in the moment, saying they expected to have trouble sleeping Friday night.

It wasn't that they didn't earn the rest. But rather, in the immediate aftermath of Friday's game against Gettysburg, they and the rest of the Bulldog seniors had no idea whether their high school careers were over.

West York did its part to extend the season in the District 3 Class AAA playoffs. Folk threw three touchdowns and ran for two more. Cains caught a pair of those scoring strikes, and the Bulldogs closed the regular season with a 52-14 victory.

However, the Bulldogs didn't get the help they needed from other schools, and came up just short of reaching the postseason. West York finished the season 5-1 in YAIAA Division II and 5-5 overall.

"(Coach Jeremy Jones) just told us come out here and give it our all. We are not worried about next week," Folk said. "I just love being out here with my team. I couldn't ask for a better senior group to play with. I am happy to get our last win on this field tonight. That's what it's all about."

Cains caught two second-quarter touchdown passes from Folk. The first gave his team an 18-7 lead early in the period. The second came with nine seconds left in the half as West York opened a 38-14 lead at the break.

"It still hasn't hit me yet. I am still living in the moment," Cains said. "After this game, it's going to hit me and I'll probably break down tonight."

While Jones had to deliver the bad news about a half hour after the game, his pregame message worked wonders: The Bulldogs racked up 462 yards of offense, 312 on the ground.

Jones said he pointed out the historical nature of the Bulldogs' final game of the season. The school is being renovated, and next season it will feature new locker rooms.

"It was the last time any team is going to come out of that locker room. It was the last time we are going to walk that way," he said. "I just wanted them to remember that moment, because that is what it is about. Obviously you want to win games and win championships, but it's about those moments."

Another senior, Ryan Narber, had a memorable final high school play. Narber intercepted a pass and returned it 66 yards to the Warriors' 11-yard line, but he was injured on the play and did not return. Jones credited Narber for his leadership and tenacity.

Seniors Allen Stauffer and Mason Bercik added fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns.

"Those seniors battled, they stuck together and we finished 3-0 the last three weeks," Jones said. "I really wanted the seniors to go out on top."

Of course, it wasn't just seniors who were outstanding for West York. Freshman Ay'Jaun Marshall had 21 carries for 144 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Anthony Kahley had 63 yards on only three carries.

Gettysburg (0-6, 1-9), got off to the start it wanted, taking the opening series 62 yards in 10 plays, capped by Ravaughn Dillard's 13-yard touchdown catch from Tyler Wilt.

Afterward, Warriors coach Matt Heiser had to say goodbye to 20 seniors.

"We made mistakes and the flags didn't help. We dug ourselves a hole we couldn't get out of," he said. "But the boys played hard, and I am proud of them."

Wilt (18-of-39) also hit fellow senior Devin Ringler for a touchdown pass.

Gettysburg7700—14

West York1226014—52

First Quarter

Get — Ravaughn Dillard 13 pass from Tyler Wilt (Adam Yingling kick), 8:09.

WY — T. Folk 1 run (run failed), 6:20.

WY — Ay'Jaun Marshall 4 run (pass failed), :00.

Second Quarter

WY — Terry Cains 38 pass from Folk (fumbled snap), 8:30.

WY — Folk 16 run (fumbled snap), 6:08.

Get — Devin Ringler 14 pass from Wilt (Yingling kick), 2:48.

WY — Dante Dorm 44 pass from Folk (Marshall pass from Folk), :44.

WY — Cains 39 pass from Folk (fumbled snap), :09.

Fourth Quarter

WY — Allen Stauffer 15 run (Darian McCauley kick), 5:52.

WY — Mason Bercik 25 run (Evan Keim kick), 2:28.

GetWY

First downs1222

Rushes-Yards30-11143-312

Passing18-40-15-12-0

Passing Yards139150

Total Yards250462

Punts4-34.52-46.5

Fumbles-Lost2-14-0

Penalties-Yards7-817-65

Individual Statistics

Rushing — Gt, Edny Celius 11-50, Oakley Marsh 6-26, Wilt 9-17, Bryce Newman 3-7, Elijah Jackson 1-11. WY, Marshall 21-144, Anthony Kahley 3-63, Ramell Baldwin 3-34, Folk 13-29, Bercik 1-25, Stauffer 1-15, Ryan Narber 1-2.

Passing — Gt, Wilt 18-39-139-1, Chase Deckert 0-1-0-0. WY, Folk 5-12-150-0.

Receiving — Gt, Dillard 5-64, Jackson 4-28, Ringler 3-23, Patrick Heidecker 3-9, Tyler Kiser 2-8, Celius 1-7. WY, Terry Cains 2-77, Thomas Bentzel 2-29, Dorm 1-44.