Green and gold ribbons dangle from the front porches of West Deer houses, and even the blinking construction sign delivers a good luck message.
Yes, the community is buzzing.
Deer Lakes stands one win away from reaching the WPIAL football playoffs for the first time in the program's 41-year history. The Lancers (5-2, 4-1) play Friday against Burrell (4-3, 3-2).
"We've had the support of everybody," quarterback Pat Jones said. "It has been awesome."
Last Friday, when Deer Lakes beat Freeport, 35-21, it secured the team's first winning record since 1995. Coach Todd Hazlett called the victory "the signature win of the program."
"The atmosphere was indescribable," Hazlett said. "When we finished (the game), we stayed on the field and took a knee. We had families coming over and all kinds of people patting us on the back and shaking our hands. There were people I hadn't seen in years and people I didn't even know."
The team ate dinner after the victory at the Deer Creek Diner.
"They stay open late," Hazlett said, "for the team and the fans."
Hidden stats
Hollidaysburg's Nick Shrift had quite a game in a losing cause Friday against Greensburg Salem. The senior flanker scored four touchdowns (two rushing and two receiving), rushed for 102 yards and caught four passes for 82 yards. The two teams combined for 1,027 yards, and Hollidaysburg lost, 47-35.
Shirft's effort was overshadowed by Greensburg Salem running back Michael Kizzie, who scored three touchdowns and rushed for 216 yards, and quarterback Josh Falatovich, who tossed four touchdown passes, passed for 206 yards and rushed for 92 yards.
Lucky seven
When Ringgold defeated Derry Area on Friday, the win improved the Rams to 7-0 overall for the first time in school history. It also secured a playoff berth for the first time since 2008, and it tied a school record for consecutive victories with eight. That streak dates back to last season's finale. The Rams remain in a tie for first place in the conference at 5-0 with Franklin Regional, a team they host in a key showdown next Friday.
Another win
Jeannette's 35-7 win over Mount Pleasant last Friday clinched a winning season for the Jayhawks, which is nothing new. Jeannette has had just one losing season since 1968, with the rare, sub-par record coming in 1993.
Jeannette has 662 victories all-time since inaugurating football in 1900. That's third best in WPIAL history behind New Castle and Greensburg Salem.
Milestone
With Friday's win over Beaver, Aliquippa coach Mike Zmijanac, in his 14th season, tied Don Yannessa as the school's all-time winningest coach with 142 wins. Zmijanac served as an assistant to Yannessa, who coach the Quips from 1972-88.
Paul Schofield and George Guido contributed to this story.
