2020 Week S11 (New York)

2020 Week S11 (New York)

So, 2020 was unlike any other year. And though I’ll write a full recap of the season, this is the final week of games. My 34th weekend of high school football of the 2020 season ended with just two games. In Western New York. Most years, my season has ended at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. A few times elsewhere. Once at the NRG Stadium in Houston. Another time, I attended the three Burger King Bowls taking place in Boca Raton, Florida.

However, with this spring season, I went with the old standards. Section 6 in New York had five championship games. No longer at the home of the Buffalo Bills, most of the games were expected to be held on Friday night. When the schedule came out, luckily, there was one game on Saturday. But, the four Friday games all coincided with each other. And it was a matter of deciding which of the four games to cover.

All four of them seemed, on paper, to be decent games. My first thought was the Orchard Park-Lancaster game for Class AA. But, though I’ve seen this exact matchup previously, it was going to be two teams I hadn’t seen this season. And, with the spring season, I did want to cover some teams I had seen previously.

The Class C game seemed to be the most intriguing. A Medina team, from northeast of Buffalo, that was going for their first Sectional Final since 1988 was hosting Southwestern, a squad I was well acquainted with. And seemed like a good matchup. But, the drive was a bit much and the other option was Class D, between Salamanca, who I would see for the 4th time, and Franklinville/Ellicottville, who I had yet to see this season, but had seen in previous seasons twice. The F/E Titans were going to be hosting their game at either host city, and it would at least be a new venue for me. However, it wasn’t in Ellicottville as I had expected. It was back in Franklinville, also host of F/E’s semifinal victory over Randolph. The reason being work that was taking place in Ellicottville.

So, Friday afternoon, my friend and I drove up from my house and followed trusty I-79 to I-90 to I-86 to Salamanca. Stopped for gas, before proceding through town and up at an angle to Franklinville. We arrived a few hours before kickoff and stopped at Frankee’s, a small roadside restaurant that had really good pizza and shrimp basket. However, it was their blackberry cheesecake ice cream that was the real showstopper.

After eating, it was a quick drive up the street to the schools. The high school is on the east side of the road, while the elementary school is on the west side with the field tucked behind it. Now, prior to the game, I did not know the name of the field. My only reference I found anywhere was Salamanca’s tweet simply listing it as “Franklinville Field”. Which was good enough for me. And when I arrived to the field from the parking lot, I did not see any sign anywhere. Though I did after the game. But, even searching for that name online yielded no results. So, it must not be publicized much at all.

126 – Franklinville/Ellicottville v. Salamanca

Now, this game started at 6:30, so it got a half hour jump on the other three games on the night. And for the start, it started like the last Salamanca game. Also, their matchup with F/E earlier in the year ended 7-0. So, A low scoring game was in the offing. However, F/E blew it open in the second quarter with three touchdowns. And quickly made it the most lopsided of the games going on. Orchard Park-Lancaster was 7-7, Jamestown-South Park was 7-6, and Medina-Southwestern was also a one-score game early.

I talked with the AD from Salamanca during halftime and parts of the second half, as well as some other staff who I had met previously at games. At least this one didn’t have any snow.

The second half, though, saw Salamanca get some offensive momentum, scored a TD. And had the ball again after a turnover but nothing came of it. And after a slow slog through the fourth quarter where it was clear Salamanca was not going to mount a comeback, the Franklinville/Ellicottville Titans won their first sectional title since 2015, 21-7 over the Salamanca Warriors.

After the game, we left the field and walked along the paved path toward the large playground behind the elementary school and that’s where I saw the name of the field emblazoned on a vandalized plaque as “Gerald Ottaway Memorial Field”.

Then, it was a short drive to Hamburg for our hotel for the night. But, we stopped as Jamestown’s game with South Park went to overtime. And watched it streaming from WNY Athletics on my one tablet. After that game, and a bit disgruntled that of all the close games, and 14-points isn’t lopsided by any means, we missed a good game.

We got to our hotel about 11. I finished pictures by about 2, and then went to sleep. Wake up at 9 when someone from maintenance pounded on our door before leaving without saying a word. Couldn’t fall back asleep after that. Uploaded the photos from the night before. And then headed out.

I had to make a stop at Lowe’s as my monopod, which was already busted from the second game of this spring season when a player had rolled into it, had broken completely. The bottom section had detached completely. And though you could pound it into place and might stay there, when I brought it from my car I must’ve left the end piece behind. Which meant holding the camera the entire time. While also having a camera around my neck.

So, we went to Lowe’s for a dowel rod. Which, if you’ve never carried a professional camera around a lowe’s, be prepared for a lot of looks. And a very nosy employee to tail you the entire time, as well. But, the big problem was that the 3/4″ dowels were too small, and the 1″ was too big. So, I hacked it together with a 3/4″ with gorilla tape to add circumference, and then wrapped the whole joint with gorilla tape. This was fairly solid. But meant that I couldn’t collapse the monopod down to get low angle shots at all. Which turned out fine because the Saturday afternoon game’s turf was surprisingly hot despite the 70F forecast.

After that, we went across the street from Lowe’s to the Uncle Ed’s Diner. A 50’s style diner that had a slew of specials. And aside from the Seafood Benedict, we went with the second choice, the Steak and Eggs with Sriracha Hollandaise.

Then it was past St. Francis High School and Peg’s Place, where we had eaten a previous trip up here, along Route 5, the Buffalo Skyway, into downtown and past Sahlen’s Stadium where the Buffalo Bisons usually play baseball. Though the stadium currently sits empty waiting for the Toronto Blue Jays to move in for the rest of the season.

And to a venerated site in Buffalo sports history: the Rockpile. The Rockpile being the nickname for the old stadium that stood on these grounds. Old War Memorial Stadium. A stadium that hosted many things over its years but especially known as the original Bills’ home.

The condition of the 1937 stadium was such, that Brock Yates of Sports Illustrated jokingly wrote in 1969 that the stadium, “looks as if whatever war it was a memorial to had been fought within its confines.”

It has long since been closed and demolished. However, two large memorials stand at the corners of the property. Protecting a seldem used baseball field and the football field. The whole complex known now as the Johnnie B. Wiley Amateur Athletic Sports Pavillion. Though the football field is known also only as Johnnie B. Wiley Stadium. It sits north/south with turf and a full track. The small stands are only a few rows tall on the west side, but run the entire length of the field. There’s a large thoroughfare behind the stands and small press box where the lockers and bathrooms are located. As well as I would assume concessions in a non-covid year.

Maritime/Health Sciences is a co-op between two charter schools in Buffalo. Started in 2018, they’ve become a force among the city schools. Western New York Maritime Charter and Health Sciences Charter formed their co-op rather than combining with the other ‘traditional’ high school teams in the city such as Bennett, South Park, McKinley, etc. And, unlike those schools, they now play outside of All-High Stadium and Riverside, and instead play their home games just at Johnnie B. Wiley Stadium northeast of downtown.

This title game, kicking off at 2pm, was the Class B Championship. And would feature a team that I had seen three times previously this season. Including just last week in their semifinal home win over Olean. The Iroquois Chiefs were making the short trip northwest to Buffalo.

127 – Maritime/Health Sciences v. Iroquois

The game started slowly. The punt team for MHS being the biggest issue. Two straight misplayed punts left Iroquois with the ball. But no points. While MHS’s punt team saw one get shanked on a rekick after a penalty. Again, no points. It was scoreless through the first half.

Second half opened with MHS finally getting on the board. And again. It was 20-12 late in the game when Iroquois got the ball and started driving. A TD by Blake Nolan from 3 yards out, followed by a PAT run by Nolan to tie it with 2:16 left.

In overtime, MHS would get the ball and squander their first shot. But Iroquois would do no better. A poorly played field goal attempt saw the ball get no height and easily blocked. To start out double-overtime, Iroquois would get the ball to the two yard line. But could not score. Instead losing yards. With the team gassed, Iroquois was unable to hold off MHS just running it at them. A 4th and goal to the right tackle was wide open to the endzone where Maurice Vaughn scored to win the sectional final.

Being on the field was exhausting, and dehydrating. It was very hot, and dry. Stopped at a McDonalds for sweet tea in Hamburg, as we took route 5 back through New York. Stopped briefly to see Lake Shore High School where I had seen a game a few years ago. And then on to Silver Creek after stopping for gas at the Big Indian in Irving on at the reservation.

I saw CSP play Silver Creek/Forestville in the 2019 season at the Grape Bowl. A very dark stadium for lighting. After a brief tour around the field, continued south along 5 to Ripley and onto I-90 after the toll portion ended. Got home shortly before 10pm.

And that concluded my 2020 high school football season.

Total cost for the weekend was $115 and mileage was 450 mi.

Photos of the Week

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

2020 HSF Wk S11 New York

Next Week

There is no next week. At least until August when the 2021 season officially begins. It feels strange. Back in mid-January when the Texas season concluded the first part of the 2020 season, and I new in a few weeks that more games would be played, this time it feels different. Not like a normal offseason. This is far too short. But, it feels strange.

So far, I do have some of my 2021 plans mapped out. To open the season, I plan to be in Georgia for 11 games of the Corky Kell Classic. Every year I say I’m going to games there, and every year something happens. Last year was Covid. The next week, I’m going to be in Ocean City, New Jersey. The Battle at the Beach takes place at Ocean City High School’s Carey Stadium. Eleven games over the course of three days. Two featuring Pennsylvania teams. I’ll be covering all eleven just a stones throw from the Ocean City Boardwalk.

The regular season, I’m hoping, is a bit tame with just games around Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York. The post season will start with a trip to Orchard Park, and the following week to Iowa. I had planned for games in Iowa one weekend and Minneapolis the next. But, I may be in Florida that weekend instead covering a home school tournament in Panama City. But, that is not set in stone just yet. After that, it’s six title games in Indianapolis, and Week 16 is a bit unknown. But after that is Pennsylvania’s six titles in Hershey followed by a two week trip back to Atlanta for the GHSA titles and then Arlington for the twelve UIL titles.

If all goes well, I expect to be at about 130 games next season. But that’s still a lot of moving parts to a very convoluted year already. But, we shall see. No matter what games I see, or where I end up, I know I’ll have fun doing it once again. If anything the 2020 season showed me was that, I need to just trust that things will work out. Somehow. Someway. And make the most of what happens.

2020 Statistics

127 Games
227 Teams
90 Stadiums
15 States

125 New Teams
79 New Stadiums

1,289 different teams
413 different stadiums

1,165 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/

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