The Cedar Cliff High School Colts, in Cumberland County, and the Penn Manor High School Comets, in Lancaster County, are ready to do battle. “Our ultimate goal is we’re going over there to win a football game” said Colts Head Football Coach Colin Gillen.
For the first game of the 2014 season both teams will face off at the University College Dublin in Ireland. “This is a game that counts. It’s not a scrimmage and I’m sure Penn Manor is handling it the exact same way” said Gillen.
It’s part of the Global Ireland Football Tournament, which hosts top high school football teams in the United States in venues throughout Ireland. Both teams have raised the money for the trip through fundraisers since October. “We’ve taken it to a new level, we’ve asked our players and coaches to be involved in things from selling raffle tickets to chicken barbecue tickets to going out and canvasing the community” said Comets Head Football Coach Todd Mealy.
They’ve also gotten money from local business sponsors. All to play on the other side of the Atlantic. For Colts players a new season brings new opportunity. “Still kind of hurts what Penn Manor did to us last year, eliminating us from the play offs so we want to get back over there and take it to them” said Colts football player Dylan Farrow.
Penn Manor enjoyed a 10 and 2 season last year while Cedar Cliff went 9 and 2. It’s safe to say both teams will come to play for the first game in Dublin on Tuesday, August 29th.