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McCaskey first-year coach David Given, at the end of a long week and nearing the end of a long season, said Friday night that some of his players' parents "misperceived" his actions following a game four days earlier.
And Manheim Township coach Mike Melnyk insisted that Given misperceived Melnyk's playcalling late in Friday's game.
Township (4-2 Section One, 6-3 overall) beat the host Red Tornado 35-6, as Brian Souber ran 28 times for 192 yards and three touchdowns.
McCaskey (0-6, 0-9), which saw its losing streak reach 20, ends its season next Friday at Reading.
"Next week we're winning, guys," Given told his players before they broke their postgame huddle.
It had been Senior Night, and several players were in tears. Given, meanwhile, was angered when Township, which established that 35-6 lead in the first three quarters, passed three times on a possession in the final period — the last a fourth-and-15 incompletion by freshman quarterback Brennan Scott from the McCaskey 43 with just under six minutes to play.
Right before that play Given called time out and walked on the field. But before addressing his defense he barked in the general direction of the Township bench. Melnyk, who was standing perhaps 10 yards away with his offensive players gathered around him, likely did not see or hear Given.
But the two men quietly discussed the matter on the field afterward.
"We certainly weren't trying to embarrass anybody," Melnyk said later. "If he took offense, I certainly apologize."
Given did not sound assuaged.
"I may not have been here very long," he said, "but I have a long memory."
Given had left the field ahead of his team on Monday, after a frustrating 27-22 loss to Cedar Crest. He did not make himself available to a reporter, much less a group of angry parents who gathered near the team's locker room —and who were dispersed only when game managers summoned police.
"Everybody was hurting because of the loss," Given said. "One of our captains said, 'Please, no more speeches.' So we said we would shake hands, get in the house (i.e., the locker room) and talk about it (Tuesday). ...
The kids know what happened. It's just an unfortunate incident."
The Tornado had been unable to punch it in from the 1 late in that game, losing the ball on an errant pitch instead.
"Had we scored there," Given said, "the same parents who were complaining would have had a parade the next day."
Given said he did not discuss the matter with any parents in the days that followed. He and the players did chat Tuesday.
"The kids know what we're all about," he said. "We were fine. We didn't skip a beat."
They would, however, be happy to snap a streak next week.
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