PAT: The sights and sounds that surrounded Hershey Park Stadium were like none other. The crowd on the far side (Seals' fans) pouring in just after the gates opened up at six and then just prior to kickoff. The fans did it again, they came in bus loads and made their mark on a night that belonged to district 4 and the Selinsgrove Seals.
RYAN: The team needed these fans just like the fans needed the team. This team has brought a community together for the past 4 months. This team got us through our work weeks by giving us great Friday night games to talk about all week. What I saw at 2 am Saturday morning was unbelievable. People lining the streets and highway just to show appreciation and to be a part of something simply remarkable. A short 8 hours later in the middle of a blizzard, we all joined again to parade the streets and keep the moment alive. Thank you to the Seals players and coaches for an unforgettable season, state championship, and celebration. This will forever be an unforgettable moment in my life.
PAT: As I reflect on this moment, the support from the community and the businesses that allow us to broadcast the games, I am greatly appreciative. Having the opportunity to broadcast that championship game was amazing and I got to see a team that when called upon was able to take it to another level. And I got to see a community do the same thing. My thoughts of the game take me to four plays that might fly under the radar because of the magnitude of the moment. The first play was the intentional grounding call by MC Gorman. That penalty took them out of any thought of going for it on fourth down. As they went from being in four down territory to now a definite punting situation. It saved time and took the ball out of Gorman's hands. Another play was Keiser's ability to jump and snag the football that was headed for the end zone on MC's kickoff and a touch back. He was able to retrieve the ball and return it to the 31 yard line saving 11 yards of field position. The coaching staff preached the importance of catching punts for field position purposes which was just another example of saved field position. The third play was Cory's fielding of the low snap and turning a loss into a sizable gain. A play like that frustrates a defense, coaches, and fans. You think you have a loss on the play and it turns into a momentum building play. WOW! In a game with so much intensity, it was the calm of the Seals that prevailed. The last play was the Keiser interception. Not only did he get the pick, but the diving grab saved time on the clock as MC didn't have a chance to run another 25 seconds of the clock; it saved field position and the Barons were not able to punt and pin the Seals deep in their own territory and it threw the crowd into a hysterics. It all set up, "The Drive" to a championship.
RYAN: When I think of images from this game that will never leave my mind, I think of Matt Ruby going up over a Baron defender to make a catch and a long gain, the stiff arms of Cameron Benner as he battled 3 Barons while weaving down field for 45 intense yards, Keiser’s catch while taking a big hit and being flipped over, Trautman throwing the QB down causing him to roll like a ball, both Benner’s and Elliot’s big hits to break up big pass plays, Cory picking up the loose ball and making a huge run up the gut, and of course Seth Lauver behind the dominant blocking of the entire offensive line stretching out and getting the ball over the line for the game winning touchdown. Last, when it was 3rd and 14 for MC with little time left, John Trego approached the line pointing with both hands at MC’s quarterback letting him know there was no way the Seals’ defense was going to let this game slip away. The final offensive drive and defensive stand of the game were filled with more pivotal plays than the entire season. I will always remember the effort given by Wenrich and Reinard while they battled through their injuries along with Cory and his illness. Those three guys showed true leadership.
PAT: Leadership was one of the themes of this team all year and it showed up in the biggest moments. Is it amazing that a game that ended 10-7 had so many pivotal plays, and plays that will forever be engraved in our minds. I agree with all of those plays. I'd like to add to the conversation that we had back when Hotaling hit his first field goal of the year in a game that was well in hand (Jersey Shore?). We talked about how important it was for the team to hit a FG and gain confidence that if need be at some point in the season they may need a huge 3 points. Well that moment came on Friday as Spencer hit that 21 yd FG. Lauver's snap, Keiser's hold, and Spencer's kick were dynamic all season and were true on the biggest stage. Do you remember how the players, fans, and we celebrated when the first FG was made earlier in the season? The booster club meeting on Tuesday should be fun.
RYAN: I couldn’t agree more with you about Hotaling’s FG. What a huge kick! I’m glad he was able to get three shots at it during previous games. He was basically automatic all year. I think all the fans knew he was going to make that FG. And obviously, so did the coaches.
PAT: At this point, I usually decide on an offensive player of the game but when you get the opportunity to watch this team reinforce what the word team stands for, giving out an individual honor would over look the fact that this team just won the first state championship in the history of Seals’ football as an unbelievable team.
RYAN: I’m saddened when I think of the fact that I will never see the likes of Ryan Keiser, Briggs, Trautman, Ruby, Schuck, Markle, Benner, Dylan Elliot, Keller, Wenrich, Kantz, Trego, Hauck, Bennar, Rambo, Meiser, Ian Elliot, Musser, and Myers on the field wearing blue and red battling for another Friday night football victory. This senior class has set the bar for all future classes and teams. They will never be forgotten by the Seals faithful. Thank you seniors and underclassmen for a great championship season.
