The Wildcats lost that night to Central, 34-7, committing seven turnovers in the process.
The ugly setback left Dallastown with a 2-4 record, and games remaining against York High, Dover, Spring Grove and arch-rival Red Lion.
Just as it looked like the season was spinning out of control, the Wildcats found some traction.
They scored a 16-7 victory over a previously unbeaten York High team and rode the momentum of that victory and the play of their defense to close the regular season with three more victories. Dallastown turned 2-4 into 6-4 and earned a spot in the District 3 Class AAAA playoffs for the third straight year.
"The York High game was the real turnaround," said Dallastown coach Kevin Myers.
"We found we could play some pretty tough defense."
The Wildcats' reward for the turnaround? A rematch with Central (7-3).
The teams will clash at 7 p.m. Saturday at Central.
"We're pleased to get in," Myers said. "We've definitely improved since the last time we played them, but so have they. Their quarterback, (Brandon) Baker, has really improved. He's throwing the ball really well."
The sophomore connected on 10 of 19 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns in Friday night's 28-7 victory over York High.
Ford steps in for Pan thers: The Panthers' Charles Anderson rushed for more than 1,200 yards in his team's first nine games, but Anderson, slowed by an ankle injury, had just
The running game, though, didn't bog down.
Jalil Ford stepped in for Anderson and rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown. Ford, a sophomore, also caught two touchdown passes from Baker.
"I was happy for our kids on two fronts," Central coach Brad Livingston said. "They were able to bounce back (from a loss to Red Lion the week before) and get a share of the Division I title. They deserved it for the way they played all year."
Familiar trip for Pan thers: Livingston is looking forward to his team's fourth playoff appearance in the past five years.
"The playoffs are cool, and they're a whole different atmosphere than the regular season.
"It will be interesting playing Dallastown again. I don't think any of my teams have ever played the same team twice in one season."
Livingston said the Wildcats and Panthers are slightly different teams from the ones that met two months ago.
"They've been playing really well since then, and we're banged up and dinged right now (particularly on defense). We have to get healthy."
A healthy Panthers' defense was a force for most of the season.
On the other side of the ball, Central's speed in the backfield and at wide receiver can be a nightmare for defensive coordinators.
"They do a lot of things well," Myers said.
"I'm sure they're feeling confident. They beat us once."
--- Central and Dallastown are two of 12 York-Adams teams that qualified for the District 3 playoffs. The other playoff teams are South Western, Spring Grove and York High in Class AAAA; West York, Kennard-Dale and New Oxford in AAA; Delone Catholic, Littlestown and York Suburban in AA; and York Catholic in A. West York is the defending District 3 champion.
Reach Dick Vanolinda at dvanolinda@yorkdis patch.com or 505-5407.
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