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The Bulldogs allowed 14 points to Northeastern in the first half, five more than they were giving up in a game, but there was very little finger pointing.
"For a minute or two, we started getting on each other, but then our maturity showed," West York head coach Ron Miller said after his team outscored the Bobcats, 21-0, in the second half, to earn a 35-14 victory. The triumph allowed the Bulldogs to improve their record to 9-0 and clinch at least a tie for their sixth straight division title..
"It was exceedingly calm (in the lockerroom). I just felt we were rattled (in the first half). We made an adjustment or two. We got our backers (linebackers) going, and we started sending pressure."
Anthony Franklin, a 6-0, 187-pound senior linebacker, was flying around in the second half for the Bulldogs.
He made numerous tackles and recovered a fumble.
Three players after Franklin's recovery at the Bobcats' three-yard line in the third quarter, the Bulldogs' Anthony Trone scored on a four-yard run to snap a 14-14 tie and give his team the lead for good. Chris Markel booted the 21st point.
"We weren't playing Bulldog football (in the first half), and we had to settle down," Franklin said. "We made adjustments in the second half and came out strong."
Miller said that Franklin is "a special story."
"That's a young man who's come a long way. Two years ago, being removed from the team, now he's not only a leader of the football team, but a leader in the school and a leader in the community."
Another senior, Zach Smith, who's known for his ability to do a lot of things well, delivered another clutch performance.
Smith caught three passes, intercepted a pass, ran for a first down and passed for a first down. Both first-down plays in the second half came when Smith was in punt formation.
"Coach (James) Snelbaker said, look for the run, and it was there," Smith said. "The second time, I punted the ball (it carried 49 yards), and the third time, I saw Brock (Snellbaker), he was running down the seam, and I made a pass right to him."
Two plays following Smith's pass late in the third quarter, James Johnson scored on a three-yard run.
Snellbaker did the honors on West York's final touchdown by intercepting a pass and returning the ball 50 yards to the end zone.
West York's running-back-by-committee system (five players had carries) produced 128 rushing yards.
Northeastern's Daniel Adams rushed for 131 yards including an 86-yard burst in the third quarter.
Adams' long run moved the ball to the West York three-yard line, but the Bobcats later fumbled, and West York's Devon Fissel recovered the ball.
The turnover was one of four for Northeastern which racked up 292 total yards, but was able to score just two times.
"I can't say enough about the effort that Northeastern's coaches and players put in," Miller said. "It took everything we had (to come out on top)."
As championship teams do, West York found a way to win.
"Six straight, it means a lot," Miller said. "It's truly a community effort. West York's a special place."
Brandon Kinneman ran for two touchdowns four yards and 12 yards, for the Bulldogs who will bid for a perfect regular season next Friday night against New Oxford.
