OK, there were only two of them, not counting the medical tent on the Loyalsock sideline.

But the white tents, one on each side of the pressbox at Loyalsock’s Kenneth Robbins Stadium? People only erect those to house overflow media, and the media shows up in droves when two rivals meet in a high school football “poll bowl” between two unbeatens and top-five state-ranked teams in Class AAA by multiple services.

Live television and radio broadcasts, web streams, television reporters, three newspapers including the Sun-Gazette … you don’t see all that at every high school football game. But those there on Friday all saw the Danville Ironmen rally past the Loyalsock Lancers, 17-14, in a game not decided until Danville’s Aron Johnson intercepted a Tyler Gee fourth-down heave into double-coverage at the Ironmen 10-yard line.

Unlike a college football “poll bowl” where the loser historically roots for good fortune to have a shot at a title, this high school one might have only set the narrative as the two teams eye a district title and beyond. Last year, Loyalsock beat the Ironmen at home only to lose at Danville in the District 4 Class AAA playoffs.

Davion Hill of Loyalsock is brought down by several Danville defenders at Loyalsock High School Friday night Sept. 16, 2022. Danville won 17-14. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

This year, the win put Danville atop the standings for now. The Ironmen host Southern Columbia next week, the same small-school state power that Loyalsock beat last week to burnish statewide credence.

And despite some mistakes from each side Friday, the big plays from each side only added to their resumes.

“It’s turning into a really good rivalry,” said Danville coach Mike Brennan. “This is a great place to play, I’m happy for our kids and this was great for District 4.”

Loyalsock (3-1) held Danville to 24 yards and two first downs in the first half. But the Ironmen (4-0) opened the third quarter with yet another lengthy return and Zach Gordon hit Ty Stauffer for a 16-yard score to tie the game at 7-7, the first of three straight scoring possessions.

Danville held Loyalsock on downs on the next series, in the red zone, before a 47-yard pass from Gordon to Mason Raup in double coverage set up a 22-yard field goal for Johnson and a 10-7 lead.

Jaylen Andrews of Loyalsock pulls in a pass late in the fourth quarter as Carter Raup of Danville covers him at Loyalsock High School Friday night Sept. 16, 2022. Danville won 17-14. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The last Danville scoring drive started and ended with Carson Persing. He returned an interception 23 yards and also caught a fourth-and-goal pass for a four-yard touchdown and 17-7 lead.

Big returns went from keeping Danville in the game to helping it rally. No punt, kickoff, or interception actually returned by Danville gained less than 20 yards.

Persing returned a punt 79 yards and Johnson returned a kickoff 48 yards in the first half. If not for a field position advantage, Danville might have found itself down far worse than 7-0 at the half. As it was. Davion Hill’s 29-yard first-half touchdown run for the Lancers was the first points Danville allowed all year.

Hill finished with 140 yards on 30 carries, though the rest of Loyalsock’s big plays came through the air. Five Lancer passes gained at least 30 yards, led by Jaylen Andrews’ 5 catches for 127 yards.

A 40-yard completion from Gee to Gage Patterson set up a Gee 1-yard plunge to cut the deficit to 17-14.

Gage Patterson of Loyalsock comes is forced down a few yards from the endzome against Danville at Loyalsock High School Friday night Sept. 16, 2022. Danville won 17-14. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“The way they play defense, you have to take chunks out,” said Loyalsock coach Justin Van Fleet. “They’re a good defense, sound, and they bring a lot of coverages they mask well and you have to be a tactician. It’s a game of chess between coachings staffs and we were one play short here.”

The Lancers forced a three-and out after their last score, leaving plenty of time to rally on the game’s final drive. Andrews caught an 11-yard pass on a fourth-and-7 after Loyalsock committed a false start. Gee looked for another big play to Andrews, but an offensive pass interference dropped Loyalsock back to the 38 before the game-clinching interception.

The road doesn’t get easier for Loyalsock, as they visit Williams Valley (3-1) next week. But playing winning teams is how winning teams earn their reputation, so no complaints from the Lancers.

“Playing a strong schedule makes you stronger in the end,” said Van Fleet. “We’re in a heck of a run here, our first five games, four are in the top five in the state at the time we’ve played them. This was obviously a a big matchup, but we came out on the wrong side of the scoreboard.”

A ball slips through the hands of Will Burdett (7) of Loyalsock in the endzone in the third quarter as he’s covered by Aaron Johnson of Danville at Loyalsock High School Friday night Sept. 16, 2022. Danville won 17-14. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette