Adversity is something the Parkland football team knows well.

It’s also something the Trojans have handled with aplomb.

Following a 41-34 loss to Liberty in Week 6, Parkland reeled off seven straight wins by a combined score of 250-70 to claim their fourth straight Districts 2-4-11 Subregional title.

After three straight years of falling in the next round, the PIAA quarterfinals, to a Philadelphia Catholic League opponent, the Trojans finally got the monkey off their back with a 16-13 overtime victory over District 12 champion LaSalle College.

But the historic triumph certainly wasn’t without consequence. Do-everything quarterback Devante Cross took a pounding against the Explorers, but still willed himself to the game-winning touchdown en route to 111 yards rushing on 28 carries.

With Cross ailing and sporting a brace on his knee, Parkland once again stepped up and delivered Saturday against District 1 champ Upper Dublin.

Trailing 14-7 midway through the third quarter, the Trojans showed the same resolve that has gotten them to this point by scoring 23 unanswered points to knock off the previously undefeated Cardinals 30-14 and clinch a spot in the PIAA Class AAAA championship game.

“It means a lot,” said wide receiver Kenny Yeboah, who hauled in seven passes for 100 yards and a score. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so it definitely means a lot to me and my brothers.”

Despite trailing on the scoreboard, Parkland was never down – and it certainly wasn’t out – even in the most perilous moments of Saturday’s semifinal contest at Souderton High School.

The Cardinals erased a 7-0 deficit with touchdowns on their final possession of the first half and on their opening drive of the third quarter to put the Trojans in a 14-7 hole.

With the season hanging in the balance, Parkland answered the call with the same poise it has displayed all season.

“This came from within our kids,” said Trojans mentor Jim Morgans. “They’re not a rah-rah type of team; they’re not yelling and screaming. They just commit to what they have to get done. It’s really deep with these kids. They’re very close.

“I knew what we needed. Defensively, we were going to come out and play our rear ends off, which we do every week. But then we got the spark from the offense. We needed to get that type of spark from the offense. And once they got that, then they got after it.”

With Cross not at his best running the football, Parkland’s offense was spurred by utilizing the wildcat formation, which featured Nolan Ridgway running to the tune of 44 yards and the game-tying touchdown midway through the third quarter.

The role was one Ridgway, who also caught two passes for 50 yards, was prepared for.

“We had the same practice all week,” Ridgeway said. “They’re hard-hitting practices, and we always make sure we’re getting enough reps so we’re ready for the week to come.”

And it was a situation Morgans made sure his team was equipped to handle.

“We worked on it all week,” he said. “We’ve worked on it during the season, too, but we never really needed it. But we had a feeling (we would use it) because Devante was nicked up.”

The Trojans dominated the rest of the way.

Following an interception by Yeboah on Upper Dublin’s ensuing possession, Eric DiGirolamo (17 carries, 58 yards) gave Parkland the lead at 21-14 with his second touchdown of the game as time expired in the third quarter.

After a critical sack by Palmer Kerch pinned the Cardinals deep in their own territory on their next drive, a botched snap on a punt resulted in a safety, giving the Trojans a 23-14 advantage less than two minutes into the fourth quarter.

Parkland made the most of getting the ball back right away, as Cross hit Yeboah for a 48-yard score on the first play of the drive to set the final score at the 10:23 mark of the fourth quarter.

Though not 100 percent, Ctoss still proved to be more than capable of making plays with his arm, completing 16-of-24 passes for 240 yards and a score.

“Honestly, it’s not that bad. I just have to play through it,” the senior said of the injury. “One game. One game.”

That final obstacle standing between the Trojans and a PIAA state championship is Pittsburgh Central Catholic, which defeated Cumberland Valley 24-7 in the other semifinal last Saturday.

It will be Parkland’s fourth appearance in the state finals and first trip to Hershey since 2007, when it suffered a 21-0 loss to Pittsburgh Central Catholic.

“What an awesome feeling it is to take this group of kids and go back there,” said Morgans. “This is a heckuva group of kids. Their work ethic is unbelievable.

“You can’t stand in front of these kids and give them a big, rah-rah talk. They’re not buying it. They do it themselves. They refer to each other everyday as brothers, and that’s how they play, like they’re brothers.”