As Homecoming season approaches, students at each school have a lot on their minds. Most girls are frantically searching for a dress, most guys are avoiding finding a date, but almost everyone turns their sights to the Homecoming football game at some point during Homecoming week. As excitement brews at Potomac Falls and Park View, some are looking back on the rivalry before kickoff on the Friday of Homecoming.

Over the past three seasons, Potomac Falls’ varsity football team holds a slight edge in the series with Park View, winning two of the three meetings. Over that span, the home team in the series boasts a distinct advantage, outscoring the visiting opposition 66-50 and winning by an average score of 10 points.  Despite the average margin of victory being at least two scores, the contests are not always so close. In 2011, the Panthers were blown out by 22 points and held to a safety. The following season, the Panthers won in overtime by a single point on a goal line-stand.

When looking back on the history between the two teams, one might recall the misconception of last year’s meeting. After Potomac Falls defeated the Patriots in Park View’s stadium, the Panthers began chanting a team motto. The players and students from Park View took offense to this acronym, as they thought it was mocking one of their former peers. Twitter skirmishes ensued, and the miscommunication was eventually sorted out.

“[The misconception] doesn’t add any hype to the game for us. It might for them, but not us,” said junior Isaiah Weinstein, a three-year member of the Panther football program.

According to Park View’s senior quarterback Dylan Pyron, last year’s debacle with the Panther football team is a thing of the past for most of the Patriots. There will not be any hard feelings from last year’s confusion after the game.

“It’ll be an intense game no matter what, but I don’t think people will be thinking of [last year’s misconception] in particular,” said Pyron.

Weinstein agrees, stating that each game is no more intense than any other. Each clash with a foe, particularly local ones, is important in any sport.

“Any game with [Park View] is a battle for Sterling; same with Dominion, no matter the sport,” said Weinstein.

After looking back on the recent seasons, both programs are looking forward and seeking an improvement. Citing the home record in the history between the teams, Pyron believes wins do not reflect statistics of the past.

“Each year is a new year. You can look at statistics, but that’s not what wins the games. It’s what happens on the field,” said Pyron.

Weinstein agrees. Both teams have gone under new leadership between the sidelines as well on the sidelines.

“They may be better than they were before, but so are we,” said Weinstein.

Park View’s offense, lead by Pyron, is almost solely running-based. They typically run a variant of a triple option from a Power I Spread Gun or a Flexbone formation.The Panthers defense is designed to primarily defend against a ground attack, as they typically run a 3-4 defensive scheme with two rover linebacker/defensive backs. Park View runs 4-3 defensive scheme which typically sends blitzers up the middle of opposing offensive lines. If they do not blitz, they typically stay in man coverage. The Panthers offense runs a variation of the Flexbone formation called the Wing-T or the Delaware Wing-T, which is also rush-oriented.

Both teams will be tested as the Patriot running game clashes with the Panther defense. A key matchup develops between the Panther Wing-T and the rushing-focused Patriot defense.