(EDITOR’S NOTE: The Times News is running a series of stories asking area coaches and athletic directors to remember their “Most Memorable” sporting event. Today’s Most Memorable moment comes from Panther Valley Athletic Director Kristin Black)

By Rod Heckman

rheckman@tnonline.com

Kristin Black probably shouldn’t have been at Panther Valley’s football game on Oct. 23, 2009.

After all, the Panthers’ athletic director was nearly nine months pregnant and wasn’t feeling the greatest.

Her husband tried to talk her out of going, but anyone who knows the PV graduate wasn’t surprised that she forced herself to be at that game.

As it turned out, it was one she will never forget.

“I wasn’t feeling well and my husband (Panther Valley assistant football coach Fenton Black) said why don’t you just stay home,” Black recalled. “He said he could cover for me. I told him I’d be ok, and that I wanted to be there because it was such a big game and a rivalry. I said what’s the worst that can happen. I said if something does happen, we’d just have to leave.”

While the something she was talking about - possibly going into labor - didn’t happen, something else did.

Both the Panthers and Tamaqua entered that Friday night contest with impressive 6-1 records, while PV also boasted a perfect mark in the Anthracite League.

The Blue Raiders were led by the running of Grif Griffiths and the arm of Ryan Palsgrove. Panther Valley countered with quarterback Casey Lawrence and receiver Jake Dunn.

Fans from both sides flocked to the stadium despite some rainy weather.

“The atmosphere, the crowd was awesome,” said Black. “It was the highest gate receipt I ever had for a regular season game ... The players were really into it. The coaches were into it, too.

“I think the game started late because of thunderstorms in the area. There was some kind of delay. I remember the game ended pretty late because it started late to begin with.”

It also ended late because of what happened two minutes and 28 seconds into the contest.

Panther Valley’s opening drive was stopped at the Tamaqua 36 when all of a sudden the stadium lights go out, the result of a car hitting a utility pole. For a brief moment, everything is dark. In a few seconds, emergency lights kick on to the delight of the crowd.

As this is taking place, Black springs into action.

“Every light on the west side of Lansford goes out. Every one,” she said. “The stadium takes over this strange vibe between the end of the last play and what is now happening. I run out onto the field, but I feel a little sluggish. Well, I forget I’m (almost nine months) pregnant.

“I literally ran the entire field, and people were trying to stop me. I knew where our maintenance supervisor was, and I just started running in the dark toward him across the field. His name is Smoky, and I knew he would know the situation, how long it would take for the lights to come back. That’s the first thing I did, I just started running over to him.”

As it turns out, on her way across the field he calls her and lets her know it will take 15-20 minutes for the huge stadium lights to relight.

Black then meets with the coaches and referees and decides to send the players back to their respective locker rooms to wait out the delay.

During the break, the fans engage themselves in some back-and-forth ribbing.

“The cheering, chanting and bantering that went on during that time was so fun,” said Black. “It’s what rivalries are all about.”

After the game resumes, the lights go out a second time.

“Later, the lights went out again,” Black said. “The first thing I thought was, ‘Oh no, here we go again.’ This time, though, there was no discussion. We just got the kids back in the locker rooms right away.”

As it turned out, PV used a pair of touchdown passes from Lawrence to Dunn and a Kevin Schaller 6-yard TD run to pull away for a 20-2 victory.

Three days later, Black gives birth to her daughter Millie.

“Between the circumstances and the bizarreness of the lights going out twice, that has to be my most memorable moment, although I also have to make note of Allysa (Vavra) and the other swimmers at states in 2007.”

Vavra, one of the most decorated athletes in the history of District 11, wins two gold medals that year and records a national qualifying time. Sami Vavra and Amanda Terray each place in their events, and the three combine with Nicole Taras on an impressive relay finish.

The four end up placing second in the team standings, getting beat out in the last event by Oakland Catholic, who had 13 swimmers there. The Panthers couldn’t compete in that final race because their members had reached their maximum amount of events allowed by the PIAA.

“It was breathtaking and unbelievable,” said Black. “Just to see Panther Valley athletes competing at that level was crazy. We may never see anything like that again.

“ (Allysa’s) arguably the No. 1 athlete in District 11 ever. She won gold 16 times at districts and won five state gold medals. She swam in the Big 10 and was the Big 10 swimmer of the year. She also swam at the Pan Am Games and at the Olympic qualifying trials. It’s hard for me not to pick that because it was such a great accomplishment.”

But it’s understandable why it finished second.

“I would do it all again,” said Black about making the decision to go to that football game. “I knew I’d be working the game. I knew I’d be working right up until (I gave birth). I’m not one to sit things out. I always want to be there.

“I love the sport. I love my job. I was in the zone at the time. When I’m at work, I’m just focused on doing my job.”