Dallas defeated Valley View 37-7 on Oct. 11.

The fans witnessed it. The media reported it. The players lived it.

Now, try to convince Dallas coach Rich Mannello it actually happened.

“That’s so far off the radar. It’s off ours, it’s off Valley View’s,” Mannello said. “It is as if that game didn’t happen. It’s gone. You have to view it that way. You have to move on because it’s over a month ago.”

Moving on means meeting again, this time with the District 2 Class 4A championship on the line as Valley View (11-1) plays at Dallas (12-0) at 7 p.m. today.

Dallas hasn’t won a district football championship since winning its only two in 1993 and 1994 at the Class 2A level. Valley View has won the past two D2-4A championships. The Cougars also won the D2-3A title in 2011.

Perhaps it’s best Dallas pretends that 30-point victory over Valley View never existed. Some of the Mountaineers who will be on the field tonight were on it two years ago when a past result had no bearing on a playoff outcome.

Dallas opened the 2017 season with a 54-7 thrashing of Coughlin. Then came the rematch in the D2-4A semifinals and Coughlin won 28-0.

Valley View is more than capable of making Dallas relive that 2017 nightmare, although coach George Howanitz concedes this version of the Cougars isn’t as formidable as last year’s.

“(Dallas) have guys who’ve been there four years and have a lot of games under their belts and I don’t think we’re as good as we were last year either,” Howanitz said. “Obviously, when you take the team that has a lot of guys coming back playing against a team that lost a lot of its good players from last year, it doesn’t take you long to figure out the 30-point win they had is not out of the ordinary.”

Valley View, though, still has an ace in its hand in quarterback Janaasah Boone, who has passed and rushed for over 1,000 yards each this season. The senior has tortured opponents with his arm and legs the past two seasons.

Boone had a pedestrian game the last time the teams played. He rushed nine times for 39 yards and hit on 10 of 22 passes for 116 yards and was intercepted twice by Dallas defensive back Matt Maransky. Still, he’s one missed defensive assignment from the end zone.

“Every time he touches the ball he’s a threat to throw and run it,” Mannello said. “He is a tremendous athlete and he throws and runs equally well. You’ve got to get lined up and play sound gap-control defense.”

Valley View needs to find some defensive remedies as well. The Cougars couldn’t stop Dallas running back Lenny Kelley, who rushed for a career-high 275 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries in the previous game.

Crestwood did a solid job on Kelley — yes, 33 carries for 209 yards and three TDs is considered a solid job against him — but Dallas prevailed 37-16. However, the game may give Valley View some ideas on how to curtail his production.

NOTE: Valley View won the Class 2A state championship in 1992, but didn’t win the District 2 championship.

The PIAA mandated in 1994 that teams could only qualify for the state playoffs through district playoffs. Prior to that, there were other ways to accumulate enough state points to make the state playoffs. Valley View did so via the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Dallas won the PIAA Class 2A state title in 1993, qualifying through the District 2 playoffs.

Dallas was able to limit Valley View dual-threat quarterback Janaasah Boone when the teams met in Week 7 this season. The teams play at 7 p.m. today in Dallas for the District 2 Class 4A championship.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_Dallas-Valley-View-ftbl-5.jpg.optimal.jpgDallas was able to limit Valley View dual-threat quarterback Janaasah Boone when the teams met in Week 7 this season. The teams play at 7 p.m. today in Dallas for the District 2 Class 4A championship. Tony Callaio file photo | For Times Leader
Dallas, Valley View meet for D2-4A championship

By John Erzar

jerzar@timesleader.com

District 2 Class 4A Championship

Valley View (11-1) at Dallas (12-0)

7 p.m. today

Admission: $7 adults; $4 students

TV: WQMY

Internet: none

Up Next: The winner plays the District 12 champion, either Imhotep Charter (7-4) or Bonner-Prendie (9-1), in the PIAA 4A state quarterfinals next weekend.