10/24/08-- Lehman quarterback Nate Volkel runs toward the sideline in Friday's high school football game against GAR at Lake-Lehman. (PETE G. WILCOX/THE TIMES LEADER)

PGW

A football game of two rival teams is always exciting, especially when those teams are Dallas and Lake-Lehman.

The two Back Mountain varsity football teams will face off in the 61st Annual Old Shoe Game at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Mountaineer Stadium.

The Old Shoe Game is played the very last game of the regular season. But it wasn’t always that way. Times Leader Assistant Sports Editor Dave Konopki tells me the game used to be held on Thanksgiving Day. Unfortunately, I don’t know when the Turkey Day tradition changed. I also have no idea why the game is called the “Old Shoe Game.” Maybe one of you could shed some light.

A September 30 article called, “Supper Club, Courage Bowl and Old Shoes” by Gordie Jones on ESPNRISE.com mentions the annual Dallas vs. Lake-Lehman football game. According to the article, another yearly Old Shoe Game is also held between Muncy and Montgomery in the north central region of Pennsylvania.

In preparation for the Old Shoe Game, Dallas High School is holding a “Beat Lehman Bonfire” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the high school parking lot.

Lake-Lehman Junior/Senior High School is having an entire school week of festivities called “Dallas Week” to promote school spirit prior to the game. Students are encouraged to dress according to each day’s theme, which are as follows: today (Monday) – “Twin Day”; Tuesday- “Hick Day”; Wednesday- “Tye-Dye Day”; Thursday- “Black-Out Day”; and Friday- “Halloween Costume Day” (with no masks).

On Thursday, Lake-Lehman will hold an in-school pep rally at 1:45 p.m. in the new gym. There will also be a bonfire from 6 to 8 p.m. outside of the school.

I’m not going to choose a winner because I think that would be unfair of me to do. After all, I cover both schools. But I will provide you with each team’s record so far this year from the PIAA District 2 Web site.

Lake-Lehman: 8-1. The Black Knights lost for the first time last weekend 21-15 against GAR. The team’s current points are 940 and their average is 104.4.
Dallas: 2-7. The Mountaineers most recently played Berwick and lost 35-6. The team’s current points are 250 and their average is 27.8.

Good luck to both teams! I hope the day brings beautiful weather, and more importantly, lots of fun.

About the Author

Rebecca Bria has been reporting for The Dallas Post since June of 2007. She is a 2007 graduate of Wilkes University and previously interned with the company at The Weekender and The Times Leader.

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