2020 Week S10 (New York)
The 2020 seasons is finally winding down to a close. The penultimate week went through without an issue. Despite some other covid-related pauses in Section 6 in New York. The Section 6 semifinals saw two cancellations. Luckily, neither of them affect my games this week. But it did make things interesting.
To start, was one of two consolation games that were taking place mid-week. I went to a baseball game in Akron on Tuesday with my daughter instead of making the trek back to New York. However, Wednesday I was heading to Alden for the Chuck Funke Bowl between Akron and Lackawanna.
Tonight I'm in Alden, New York for the Chuck Funke Bowl between the Lackawanna Steelers and the Akron Tigers at the Alden Sports Park. Kickoff is set for 730pm. #122 @PaFootballNews #BeyondTheKeystone @ATigersFootball @LackawannaAthl2 pic.twitter.com/4WxSI0j0ik
— Sykotyk (@Sykotyk) May 5, 2021
The Chuck Funke Bowl is a consolation tournament that takes place for teams that don’t qualify for the playoffs in Section 6. However, only one game was played this year, a Class C matchup between these two rather deserving playoff teams who didn’t make the cut. Class C is the largest class of Section 6, and only letting 4 teams into the playoffs was a difficult hurdle to clear for most teams. Akron’s lone loss to Medina was enough to keep them out of the playoffs.
I left home a bit before 3pm on Wednesday, and got to Alden just after 6. I stopped at Mighty Taco, a small chain of taco fast food restaurants. It wasn’t bad. But it wasn’t good, either. Kickoff was slated for 7pm on the blue turf at Alden Sports Park. This would be my first game on non-green turf. It definitely made the photography interesting.
I had just seen Akron the previous Saturday. The second time this season that I had seen the same team in back-to-back games. Earlier, Abingdon (VA) hosted Gate City at Tennessee High’s Stone Castle and then the next week a road game on Friday at Wise Central. This was the first time seeing the Lackawanna Steelers play. They’re just southwest of Buffalo in an industrial area along the lake.
#122 Lackawanna v. Akron
Chuck Funke Bowl – Lackawanna v. Akron at Alden Sports Park in Alden, New York. #122 @PaFootballNews #BeyondTheKeystone @ATigersFootball @LackawannaAthl2 pic.twitter.com/7tqjMtRqvF
— Sykotyk (@Sykotyk) May 5, 2021
On paper, this looked like a close game. Akron, though, blew things open in the first quarter as they had done to Wilson the week prior. Three touchdowns, including a turnover, gave them a 21-0 lead after 1. Just before halftime, the forecast that hadn’t called for rain, saw spitting rain and I headed to my car for rain gear I hadn’t thought I’d need. The rain ended just early in the third quarter. But by then the game was so one-sided it didn’t matter much. Akron would tack on a couple more TDs in the third and would run away with the game, 39-0.
Chuck Funke Bowl – Akron 39, Lackawanna 0 – Final #122 @PaFootballNews #BeyondTheKeystone @ATigersFootball @LackawannaAthl2 @wny_football pic.twitter.com/4NXtR5l3eM
— Sykotyk (@Sykotyk) May 6, 2021
After the game, I had a long drive home. I made it all the way home on just one tank of gas. Which was a bit surprising to me. On Friday, it was all over again the same. Headed out on I-79 to Erie. And then up along the Thruway to Route 400 and stopped in West Seneca. Got the photos of the large water tower in Elma, and then headed to the school. Not realizing there was a welcome sign just past the turn off of US20.
Tonight I'm in Elma, New York for a NYSPHSAA Section 6 Class B Semifinal between the host Iroquois Chiefs and the visiting Olean Huskies at Lattimer Field. Kickoff is set for 7pm. #123 @PaFootballNews #BeyondTheKeystone @IHS_ChiefsFB @oleanstudents pic.twitter.com/jMrVufUvR1
— Sykotyk (@Sykotyk) May 7, 2021
Of the Friday night options, I wasn’t really set on any one in particular. I chose Iroquois-Olean because I thought it might be a good game. Orchard Park v. Clarence wound up being the best game. But, wanted to see Olean, a Southern Tier, against an Iroquois team I had seen a few weeks prior when they absolutely demolished Lewiston-Porter. Latimer Field itself, though, would be a new place for me to see a game. And it is a cool grass field. The visitor side is small, with the scoreboard mounted on the school behind the visitor sideline. The grass field was a bit soft from the rain that had passed through pregame.
#123 Iroquois v. Olean
NYSPHSAA Section 6 Class B Semifinal – Iroquois v. Olean at Lattimer Field in Elma, New York. #123 @PaFootballNews #BeyondTheKeystone @IHS_ChiefsFB @oleanstudents pic.twitter.com/THf8z2MVY3
— Sykotyk (@Sykotyk) May 7, 2021
The game opened with a bang. Iroquois returned the kickoff for a TD. Olean would score and make it 8-7 after opting for just the single point kick. So, seemed like a good matchup was under way. But, then Iroquois just kept pounding away. 16-7, 24-7, 32-7, 40-7. The two-point scores were just adding to the disparity. An interception returned for a TD on the final play was called back. Leaving it at 40-7 at the break. Second half was a slow trudge through an already determined game. Each team would score once. Olean with an 82 yard TD run, and Iroquois with a 58 yard TD pass. Iroquois would win, 46-15. They’ll take on Maritime/Health Sciences next weekend in the Sectional Final.
NYSPHSAA Section 6 Class B Semifinal – Iroquois 46, Olean 15 – Final #123 @PaFootballNews #BeyondTheKeystone @IHS_ChiefsFB @oleanstudents @wny_football pic.twitter.com/AM3lp8NCSg
— Sykotyk (@Sykotyk) May 8, 2021
After the game, I had a two hour drive to Corry, Pennsylvania. With my next game in Clymer, I didn’t want to stay up around Buffalo. And the cheapest hotel option was in Corry. About ten minutes south of Clymer.
The next morning was a drive into town. Stopped for breakfast at “Library Bar & Grill”, which is located at the old public library in Corry.
Inside the old Corry Public Library. #roadtrippin pic.twitter.com/dON0QqOytH
— Sykotyk (@Sykotyk) May 8, 2021
Cowboy Burger is good, though. #roadtrippin pic.twitter.com/QSzx55leMb
— Sykotyk (@Sykotyk) May 8, 2021
After that was a quick 15 minute drive to Clymer. It’s a short drive. But an interesting one. For all the times I’ve been in Corry, I’ve only ever taken this exact trip twice now. Strange, sometimes, how you can be somewhere, but never actually be there entirely.
This afternoon I'm back in Clymer, New York for a NYSPHSAA Section 6 Class C Semifinal between the host Clymer/Sherman/Panama Wolfpack and the Southwestern Trojans at Clymer Field. Kickoff is set for 230pm. #124 @PaFootballNews #BeyondTheKeystone @CSPfootball @swcsfootball pic.twitter.com/HImXlKaU3M
— Sykotyk (@Sykotyk) May 8, 2021
This was the 9th time I’ve seen CSP play. It was the 5th time I’ve seen Southwestern. In fact, I’ve seen both earlier this year. CSP several times for each of their home games, and Southwestern hosted Fredonia in the first week of the Section 6 season.
This was, for all accounts, going to be the best matchup of the weekend in Section 6. A two-time defending state champmion–CSP–against defending state runner-up: Southwestern. I had been to Clymer earlier this year for the first time as well. When CSP had hosted Springville Griffith.
#124 – Clymer/Sherman/Panama v. Southwestern
NYSPHSAA Section 6 Class C Semifinal – Clymer/Sherman/Panama v. Southwestern at Clymer Field in Clymer, New York. #124 @PaFootballNews #BeyondTheKeystone @CSPfootball pic.twitter.com/GMBUHlL0Gg
— Sykotyk (@Sykotyk) May 8, 2021
This game was a struggle for CSP. The opening quarter favored Southwestern, as they scored first and then added a field goal after CSP had scored on a 3 yard bulldozer run up the gut. But, Southwestern would score again, and halftime was a demoralizing, 17-6 score with CSP’s offense maligned. However, the start of the second half was a fury of offense. Only one TD with a two-point conversion as their second possession was a three-and-out.
After trading touchdowns in the fourth quarter, CSP was down just 24-21 and had Southwestern pinned deep in their territory with little effort to advance the ball. Forced to punt, CSP’s returner angled for a return, only to muff the punt and it was recovered by Southwestern. With renewed vigor, Southwestern was able to bleed the clock and CSP’s remaining timeouts for the victory. Southwestern 24, CSP 21.
NYSPHSAA Section 6 Class C Semifinal – Southwestern 24, Clymer/Sherman/Panama 21 – Final #124 @PaFootballNews #BeyondTheKeystone @CSPfootball @swcsfootball @wny_football pic.twitter.com/Qo2MP2kSUD
— Sykotyk (@Sykotyk) May 8, 2021
After the game, it was a bit strange. I didn’t have a long drive home as I did the two weekends in Philadelphia where I had no night game to attend. Though, one of those weekends I had given up the night game for the easier drive home.
So, instead I checked out the only restaurant in Clymer that I knew of, the Dutch Village Restuarant. Which is a bit akin to a Cracker Barrel. Huge gift shop area with various things to buy and take home. But, the restaurant was my interest. And got the ‘Pittsburgh Salad’, which is funny since to me, it’s not unusual for fries to be on a salad. But, venture far enough from Pittsburgh and it becomes a specialty.
Pittsburgh Salad at the Dutch Village Restaurant in Clymer. Definite must stop in the future. #roadtrippin #dinner pic.twitter.com/0JJTWV2YB3
— Sykotyk (@Sykotyk) May 8, 2021
I headed back to Corry for the evening. With the lone game remaining on the weekend over in Portville on Mothers’ Day. It was pushed back due to a covid pause, so had a bit of a long afternoon of nothing. It also was raining off and on.
So, rather than the quick efficient way up through Clymer to I-86 and east to Olean, I instead went across Route 6, a route that I love to take as there’s just something about it to me that feels like home.
I've spent so much of my life in this part of the country. Never lived here. But this stretch from Cambridge Springs to Smethport always feels like home. #roadtrippin pic.twitter.com/4cu5JjXROi
— Sykotyk (@Sykotyk) May 9, 2021
I had cut up from Warren along Route 59 past Kinzua Dam under a pretty steady rain. And then up Route 770 to Bradford. It’s a woodsy, hilly drive. With the rain alternating with spitting snow, it was a slower drive than normal. And I also had misjudged the gas I had used. I hadn’t stopped in Irving as I normally would on my way to Corry, so I ended up about a quarter gallon short from Salamanca’s much cheaper native gas stations. So, I put a few dollars in south of Bradford at the Kwik Fill, and then, since the restaurant of choice in Bradford was closed on Sundays, went through Salamanca and the back way to Olean. Drove through town and Bradner Stadium to Portville.
I stopped at Randy’s Fireside, a restaurant just off route 417. They had a special menu just for Mothers’ Day. So, I opted for the Prime Rib with the Salt Potatoes. They were out of the breaded mushrooms, so I had bruschetta instead as an appetizer. And Strawberry Cream Cake for desert. All three were magnificent.
Prime Rib and Salt Potatoes. #roadtrippin #dinner pic.twitter.com/MLvii3AGdg
— Sykotyk (@Sykotyk) May 9, 2021
After that, I drove by a friend’s old house I had visited during my teenage years, and headed back to town. Stopped at Dollar General for a new rain poncho, and over the school. By then, the rain had switched to a light snow. But, by game time it was a heavy snow. With huge, quarter-sized snowflake blobs.
Tonight I'm in Portville, New York for a New York Section 6 Class D Semifinal between the Portville Panthers and the Salamanca Warriors. Kickoff is at 6pm. #125 @PaFootballNews #BeyondTheKeystone @SalWarriorsFTBL @SCCSDWarriors @PCS_Panthers @wny_football pic.twitter.com/G01LJVHfgR
— Sykotyk (@Sykotyk) May 9, 2021
I’ve been through Portville many times in the past. But, had never really stopped before. The school is located just off the main road through town. A few blocks east. The fields are located west of the school sitting at the base of a larged, treed hillside. The football field is located along the parking lot and driveway beside the school. The stands are a bit elevated from the field thanks to a small hill. The ground, thanks to all-day rain had turned to a mush. Making traction difficult. And as the game would progress, become covered by snow.
Prior to the 6pm kickoff, the Salamanca team entered the stands filled with their fans to the north end to give their mothers roses.
#125 – Portville v. Salamanca
NYSPHSAA Section 6 Class D Semifinal – Portville v. Salamanca at Portville Field in Portville, New York. #125 @PaFootballNews #BeyondTheKeystone @SalWarriorsFTBL @SCCSDWarriors @PCS_Panthers @wny_football pic.twitter.com/ilUBQzDMXq
— Sykotyk (@Sykotyk) May 9, 2021
With the conditions, field position ruled the day. Neither team could do much offensively. One good drive ended with a pick in the endzone. And then it was a successive back and forth of field position. Scoreless through one. Through two. And through three quarters. The game looked destined for overtime at 0-0, however Salamanca got the ball with little time left and went on a powerhouse drive down the field. Portville seemed stuck in the mud while Salamanca was fresh-footed and getting yards in chunks. Including a 12 yard TD run by QB Lucas McKenna that would be the only score of the day. Portville would end the game on a 4th down errant toss into the sideline allowing Salamanca to secure the win, 6-0.
NYSPHSAA Section 6 Class D Semifinal – Salamanca 6, Portville 0 – Final #125 @PaFootballNews #BeyondTheKeystone @SalWarriorsFTBL @SCCSDWarriors @PCS_Panthers @wny_football pic.twitter.com/c63QCnQGVk
— Sykotyk (@Sykotyk) May 10, 2021
After the game, I had a long drive home. Nearly 200 miles and just over 3 hours. Stopped in Erie at a McDonald’s for a sweet tea. And didn’t need gas. Got home about 12:30am.
For the four days, it was a total of $286.19 and 1,034 miles. One hotel was split, the other night was just $17 thanks to a discount. Renting hotels frequently has its perks. Only $41.80 on gas.
Photos of the Week
Next Week
There’s only two options left for spring football. Colorado and New York. And honestly, I’m not about to try for any more Colorado games this year. Saw a game in Eads, Colorado this past fall. Though there’s five games, it isn’t worth the hassle nor expense. However, New York has 5 games this weekend. But, four are basically at the same time on Friday. And one lone solitary game on Saturday afternoon.
Of the four games, it’s Class AA Lancaster v. Orchard Park, A Jamestown v. South Park, C Medina v. Southwestern, and D Franklinville/Ellicottville v. Salamanca. I think the AA game will be the best matchup, I decided to pass on it. I wanted to do either the Southwestern or Salamanca games. Being teams we’ve seen previously this spring. Salamanca, especially, favorable to PA Football News covering their games. I wouldn’t want to pass up an opportunity to see a 7-0 rematch immediately after Salamanca just won a game, 6-0. I like low scoring slugfests. And it’s one of three stadiums hosting Friday that I hadn’t been to previously. Medina, though, was the only ‘new’ team if I went that route.
For Saturday, there’s just one game remaining: the Class B final between Maritime/Health Sciences and Iroquois. I just saw Iroquois this past weekend. And would be my third time seeing them this season. I have seen Maritime/Health Sciences twice in their three year existence. One game at South Park back in 2018 at All-High Stadium, and last year (2019), at New Era Field in a Sectional Final.
This game is being hosted at Johnny B. Wiley Stadium, located at the site of the old War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo. it will be my first time at The Rockpile.
And it will be my 127th and final game of the 2020 season. Tying my personal best of 127 games from the 2014 season. Though, that was in just the fall season, obviously.
Friday, May 14
6pm Class D Final – Franklinville/Ellicottville v. Salamanca
Saturday, May 15
2pm Class B Final – Maritime/Health Sciences v. Iroquois
2020 Statistics
125 Games
225 Teams
88 Stadiums
15 States
125 New Teams
77 New Stadiums
1,289 different teams
411 different stadiums
1,163 total games
For more, and larger, photos from this weekend, click HERE.
For photos from previous weeks and seasons, visit http://www.flickr.com/sykotyk/sets/