Eagles vanguish ghosts

No matter how badly Cumberland Valley football coach Tim Rimpfel tried to downplay what happened last season, it was obvious he wanted to beat Wilson this time around.

Almost a year ago to the day, the Bulldogs took advantage of eight CV turnovers and routed the Eagles, 35-7, in the District 3 Class AAAA semifinals at Hersheypark Stadium. During the lopsided contest, Wilson was apparently taunting the Eagles and being all-around sore winners. During the week senior fullback/linebacker Travis Friend went as far as to say it was and still is obvious Wilson has zero respect for CV.

Before Friday night's 3-AAAA semifinal in Wilson's backyard - John Gurski Stadium in West Lawn - CV was met with unprintable jeering from the Wilson student section before taking the field. Rimpfel said after the game the section even commenced to chanting the score of last year's game moments before CV took the field.

So beating the Bulldogs, 28-21, on a last-second touchdown in their own house had to feel great. But it doesn't mean the work is done. It's true that CV finally rectified what happened in last year's final, but the Eagles must be on guard that it doesn't happen again.

Likely waiting for CV is Bishop McDevitt, which is ranked No. 1 in most statewide polls. The top-seeded and unbeaten Crusaders meet No. 5 Penn Manor (10-2) at Severance Field in Harrisburg today. Kick is set for 1 p.m.

The District 3 champion will then enter PIAA play at the semifinal round against either Woodland Hills (12-1) or State College (10-2). Those two are set to play at 7 p.m. Friday at Mansion Park in Altoona. Woodland Hills captured the District 7 title with a 10-0 win over Gateway on Friday at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. State College won the 6-8-9-10 subregional last Saturday, 16-7, over Erie McDowell at Mansell Stadium in DuBois.

If Woodland Hills wins, the semifinal will be at a midway point between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. If State College wins, the game will played at District 6 site. Either way, we'd be surprised if the site is none other than Mansion Park.