DISTRICT 3-AAAA FINAL
LOWER DAUPHIN VS. CUMBERLAND VALLEY
6 p.m. SATURDAY, HERSHEYPARK STADIUM
RECORDS: No. 4 Lower Dauphin 12-1; No. 2 Cumberland Valley 11-2.
WHY THE FALCONS WILL WIN: After watching “The Leg” operate for the past few seasons, was there really any doubt K Joe Julius would connect in those frantic final seconds at Gurski Stadium? Of course not, but to slam through a 46-yard field goal to trip Wilson is akin to receiving an unexpected Christmas bonus check (wink, wink, PA Media Group) in the mail. The kick heard in all four corners of District 3 put the soaring Falcons back in a district match for the first since 2002. The victory also hinged on the play of QB Troy Spencer (115 rushing yards, 2 TDs), RB Dalton Yentsch and pretty much an entire defense that held the defending district champs to a couple of Shane Dantzler TD runs. See where we're going with this? All 22 hats and a kicker played a role in LD's 12th victory, just like all 22 hats and a kicker guided the Falcons to a share of the Keystone Division crown weeks ago. If you find a way to beat the Falcons for even three or four plays in a row, you're breaking new ground.
WHY THE EAGLES WILL WIN: You would think handing the reigns to a first-time starter, at the most critical position on the field, no less, would trouble most head coaches. But it takes a lot to rattle first-year head coach Mike Whitehead Jr. Less than 24 hours after senior Chris Harrell was told he would replace injured starter Chris Galbraith under center, the Eagles
simply lined up and dispatched a gung-ho bunch from Dallastown 33-17. Harrell had plenty of support, mind you, notably fullback Tyler Heisey who simply terrorized the Wildcats over 38 carries. And while some scribes (forgive us) were wondering if CV's pressing defense was wobbling a bit, DE Brady Morris, DT Dan Waddell and the rest of the Eagles promptly escorted Dallastown out the front door. These guys share a lot of characteristics with this week's opponent, so no shortage of heart and desire is expected on the Concrete Palace rug.
POSTSEASON SNAPSHOT: We mentioned the Falcons return trip to the grand D3 finale, and Lower Dauphin is angling for its second 3-AAAA crown. LD, 8-8 all-time in 11 appearances, upended Cedar Crest 36-19 to win the 1995 championship. The Falcons toiled in 3-AAA when they grabbed the '02 title. … Cumberland Valley has fared pretty well in this tournament, winning 12 championships, 10 in the top classification including a two-year sprint in 2009-10. Only Manheim Central has played more games and secured more victories than the Eagles, 41-11 all-time in district play.
EPLER SAYS: We'd love to outsource this prediction to the lowest bidder, mainly because both programs have produced such compelling story lines this season. We know this much, if you arrive an hour late the game might be over. Both teams love to gut the opposition with the run, and it will take the smallest mistake to separate the two upstarts. Forget the home field advantage for Lower Dauphin (-6). This one comes down to the Falcons' pressure.
Epler on Twitter: @threejacker
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