Tomorrow night at 7 o'clock, you'll be able to catch Taylor and the Vikings at HersheyPark Stadium.
Yet again, they'll be pursuing an elusive Class AAA state title and the opponent will be Bishop McDevitt, of Harrisburg.
This is season No. 4 of the Catholic League's PIAA involvement and Wood has always made playoff runs.
In 2008, it fell in the final to Thomas Jefferson, 34-7.
In 2009, it laid a 28-0 semifinal egg vs. Selinsgrove.
In 2010, again in a semi, it was scorched by Allentown Central Catholic, 49-27.
"Those last two losses really haunt me," Taylor said. "It was rough not winning the state. I looked at those seniors, guys I'd grown close to, and it was hard to realize our days of playing together were over. I felt like I'd let them down.
"I mean, I didn't see things as my fault, but you start thinking, 'Was there one thing I could have done better? Was there one thing we could have changed?' . . . Long bus rides back. Just minor chatting."
Understandably, current Vikings such as quarterback Joey Monaghan, rushing Peoples cousins Desmon (Rutgers) and Brandon (Temple), tight end Colin Thompson (Florida) and wideout Nate Smith (West Virginia) are constantly basking in media attention. Taylor, however, is the only 3-year starter on both sides of the line (tackle/tackle), and he has become so accomplished his next stop will be Boston College.
(He promises not to begin pronouncing yard as yahd.)
Taylor has that classic squared-jawed lineman's look. In fact, you could pretty much picture him on "Monday Night Football," staring through your screen in hard-guy fashion while saying in a monotone, "Frank Taylor . . . tackle . . . Boston College."
