Local Fan: Strath Haven’s Win Over Dallas Due To Good Luck, Bad Calls

Wednesday, December 08, 1999 Page: 8A

Congratulations to the Dallas football team members on a season beyond
expectations.

On Nov. 28, Chris Merkides from the Philadelphia Inquirer reported there
“was no wild celebration after Strath Haven routed Dallas 27-3 in a PIAA
Class AAA quarter-final ... No coaches were being doused. No players allowed
themselves to smile too broadly.”
The only legitimate touchdown resulted from an eight-play 41-yard drive
early in the fourth quarter. One of the other three touchdowns resulted from
one official who saw a block below the waist being overruled by two officials
who didn’t even see the play.

The second touchdown resulted from the blocked punt with 15 seconds to go
in the half and can only be attributed to a wrong call by the Dallas coaching
staff or wrong directions. The third touchdown immediately after the
second-half kickoff to Dallas resulted from a Dallas fumble on the first play
of the second half.

The Dallas team should be proud of their representation of the Triple A
Class football from our district. Unfortunately, the breaks went to the other
team and that was the difference in the game.

Strath Haven never dominated the Dallas defense; and except for breaks, it
could have been a different game. The Times Leader’s page one photo shows
clearly that the Strath Haven player had his hand in the mask of John James,
the Dallas linebacker, but it was not called by the official.

I wish the Strath Haven team well, but do not feel they are state champ
material.

Thomas Dombrowski