Dakota Cole broke out into the open and headed up field at full speed. The team on the sidelines realizing this was a big play began stampeding down the sidelines. I followed the action because this, being the fourth quarter, was going to be a big play in this playoff game against Juniata at a neutral field in Altoona. Sadly that might be the last thing I remember from this historic run by the Oilers. After hearing this stampede of players, as photographer Eric Elliot would say, the next thing I remember is the athletic trainer staring down at me applying pressure to my head to stop the bleeding. |
I am told I was plowed over, not by the stampede, but the backwards running ref who I think caught me in the head with his head.
This game was November 7. This is ten days later and I am just now getting the photos from that game posted now.
I got knocked out.
Cold.
This game was November 7. This is ten days later and I am just now getting the photos from that game posted now.
I got knocked out.
Cold.
I feel like a jerk. Not only because the game was interrupted so I could be taken care of, but because this is a really rally good football team and I might not get to see them play again. A concussion, which is a common thing in football, is a dangerous thing. And I'm taking it serious because 10 days later I still get vertigo and am pretty dazey still.
But enough about that. It's my loss that I didn't see them win last weekend and will not see their game this Friday as they play for the west championship. One win away from the state championship game.
Historic season. A really, really, good football team.
But enough about that. It's my loss that I didn't see them win last weekend and will not see their game this Friday as they play for the west championship. One win away from the state championship game.
Historic season. A really, really, good football team.
So enough about me. Let me talk about this team. The head coach, Dan York, I've known for 20 years or more. He was at Lakeview for years and he always had a decent team. A lot of emphasis on strong offensive and defensive lines. A lot of emphasis on fundamentals and doing your job so the team works as a finely tuned watch. Even last week, as I watched the live stream, they just had the balls to go for it on 4th down because they knew being in control was better than letting the other guys have the ball with time to score.
Gutsy.
Determined.
Confident.
Skilled.
Determined.
Confident.
Skilled.
Of course, those things are said because it worked. The Patriots, a few years back employed those same four ideals in a game against the Peyton Manning Colts and it failed miserably. Dan York's team, admittedly beaten up and getting tired, felt their opponents were moving the ball so well in the second half that they better not let them have the ball back.
Again gutsy, determined, confident and skilled. They got a first down and ran out the clock to survive another week.
Again gutsy, determined, confident and skilled. They got a first down and ran out the clock to survive another week.
This team moves into the state semifinal game to played Friday night at 7 p.m. against Thomas Jefferson High School who will host the Oilers.(I wanna go, but I can't risk any kind of travel or another even mild noggin knock.) The Oiler boosters have a raffle going on to help the school with expenses. You can help out by checking on their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/oilcityfootball and getting a ticket or two. If the Oilers defeat the home team they will face the winner the Jersey Shore/Lempeter-Strasburg game for a state title. Both teams are undefeated like the Oilers. |
A little bit more about this team and its tenacity and what we're now learning about its depth.
This team has been down a couple of it's star players during the playoffs. An extremely talented Cam Russell, who carried a bulk of the Oiler yardage all season has been down. An incredible defensive star Brayden Crocker was knocked out for the season. They just had other players step up and with a solid Dan York discipline they just keep finding ways to move the ball and make enough stops on D.
This is a very good football team with a very good quarterback and team leader in Holden Stahl. He's a distributer of the ball and seems to know when to hold on to it to make a play when needed. During the district championship game he had a brief breakdown and made a mistake that cost them. When the team got the ball back he owned it and told his team in the huddle that the opponent's last score was on him and he needed their help to overcome his mistake.
Leadership!
And the team obviosly responded and often do when he asks them to step up.
Leadership!
And the team obviosly responded and often do when he asks them to step up.
To read more about their last game please see http://www.venangofootball.com/oil-city
There is great information from the game and this website is loaded with great insight into the history of the program.
There is great information from the game and this website is loaded with great insight into the history of the program.
Check out the story from our friends at Explore Venango here https://explorevenango.com/oil-city-edges-upper-moreland-enters-piaa-semifinals/
And I shared this great column earlier this week from our friends at D9 and 10 sports
https://d9and10sports.com/column-oil-city-football-how-winners-think/
https://d9and10sports.com/column-oil-city-football-how-winners-think/
And our family from the Derrick https://www.thederrick.com/sports/local_sports/oilers-on-to-the-semis/article_d006142f-c47f-5ebe-ae4b-d2a1e8106a9d.html/?&logged_out=1
I won't kid ya, I'm pissed at myself for not being more aware of what was happening around me so I could avoid the collision that happened. I'm thankful the referee, a nice young man named Caleb Moses wasn't more seriously hurt than he was and that I also wasn't. I'm pissed I missed Saturday's game and will miss Friday's game. If the team wins and makes it to the state final I will do everything I can to be ready, but I'm afraid the science of the brain will determine that possibility.
But this is a very good football team. I remember one other state champion team in my twenty plus years, the General Mclane team with Drew Astorino and crew. This team is that good when they are healthy and from what I've seen the last few weeks, their guts and determination are above their talent.
And that is saying something.
But this is a very good football team. I remember one other state champion team in my twenty plus years, the General Mclane team with Drew Astorino and crew. This team is that good when they are healthy and from what I've seen the last few weeks, their guts and determination are above their talent.
And that is saying something.