2023 Week 11 (Pennsylvania & New York)

2023 Week 11 (Pennsylvania & New York)

I wasn’t supposed to be home this weekend. In fact, I had not even considered what games I might do. Which led me to some usual places instead. For Friday, I figured I’d head to one of the WPIAL playoff games near home, but not particularly interested me.

I also wanted to take my daughter again. So, that limited my options. So, with Greenville hosting a game on Friday night, it was an easy choice to head home. After getting my daughter from school, we drove straight to Greenville, and stopped and saw my dad until game time.

We then drove the few miles over to the high school and parked in my usual place. Over the years, Greenville hasn’t had an issue letting my daughter in with me. Even on the field. Greenville’s field is incredibly tight, so the sideline space is near non-existent. But, we stay toward the end where it’s open, and haven’t had an issue. Plus, at least now, she does take some photos when I bring my wide angle lens and camera in. Such as this game.

#52 – Hickory v. General McLane

This was a PIAA District 10 Class 3A Quarterfinal. Hickory is from Hermitage, just south of Greenville, while General McLane is from near Edinboro, just north of actually, along US19 toward Erie.

Going into the game, I didn’t think any of these teams this weekend would be new, for me. I didn’t look at my records, but I had just assumed that at some point I had seen General McLane. Mostly because I had been to their stadium twice. But for playoffs where they weren’t playing. It wasn’t until after the game, I had determined that I had not yet, in fact, seen General McLane play.

The game itself started closely, but Hickory ran away with in the second half. A pick six, in the third, iced the game. A 23-12 lead jumped to 30-12, and General McLane didn’t have much left in the tank to overcome a three score lead. In the fourth quarter, there was a long injury delay on the Hickory sideline that necessitated the teams coming back on the field for a 3-minute warm-up. The game, thankfully, ran quickly and didn’t go too long over three hours. Hickory would add on two more scores after the pick-six, to win comfortably, 44-12.

My article, and photos, from the game.

After the game, which lasted a lot longer than anticipated, we drove home. My plans were to take my daughter with me on the Saturday slate. But, she had, we thought, gymnastics, scheduled for Saturday morning. Turns out that wasn’t the case. But, I took her over to her mother’s to take her down. It was disappointing, because Clymer had installed a new playground directly behind the pressbox, that she would’ve loved.

In lieu of traveling with my daughter, my friend Dave made the trip up from Columbus and we carpooled from my place to New York. CSP was playing the lone afternoon game in the area. None in Ohio, western Pennsylvania, or New York except one.

It was a matchup I had seen before. In fact, I saw it earlier this year in Randolph. We left Youngstown, and headed north on OH11 to I-90, and stopped in Conneaut for lunch. And got a very late send off from Conneaut to New York. Taking PA8 down through to Wattsburg and east into New York. When we arrived in Clymer, the parking area for the school was packed, and luckily found a makeshift spot on the grass at the end of the row. Otherwise, the walk would’ve been a pain.

Also, the welcome sign entering Clymer was now missing. So, no pregame tweet. Just situated and right to the field to get ready with about 10 minutes to go.

#53 – Clymer/Sherman/Panama v. Randolph

These were Section 6 Semifinals in Class D. The winner would move on to play the Sectional Final at Highmark Stadium. The current name of the Buffalo Bills’ stadium. The game would be held on Thursday, and it was a bit disappointing that even if they advance I wouldn’t be there for it. Unfortunately, this season hasn’t gone as planned. At all.

CSP would jump out to a quick lead. Two scores halfway through the first quarter. Runs by Hinsdale and Catanese would give the Wolfpack a 13-0 lead. In the second quarter, Randolph would score on the first play, a 1 yard run by Maverick Adams, and it looked like they might make a game of it.

But, CSP would add a field goal by Hinsdale and a run by Catanese to go up 24-7 at halftime. One more touchdown, by Bryce Posker would finish the scoring, as CSP would win, 31-7. They’d go on to face Wilson, on Thursday, November 9th, at 5pm.

After the game, we talked to Coach Harper, and then headed out of town. Back west across NY474 to Wattsburg. South on PA8 to stop at a Dollar General. And a gas station bathroom. And then on to Edinboro along US6 and US6N. We passed by Sox Harrison Stadium first, and then found a small, but incredibly busy place, in Edinboro to eat. What looks like a dining car from the outside is the front to a corner diner named “Crossroads Dinor”.

There was a lot of great looking options. And I was going to get the pulled pork sandwich. However, the waitress guided me toward the Mac and Cheese with pulled pork. And it was a lot. The serving bowl took up an entire dinner plate.

The mac and cheese was a little more dry than I would like, but with the sauce from the pulled pork evened out, I think. Either way, it was worth the slightly higher price. The pork was the perfect consistentcy.

With time to spare, we then drove back over to the stadium and parked the in the small lot adjacent to the south endzone. I had been here a few times in the past, but this would be my first time on the sideline.

The game was for the Class 4A Championship of PIAA District 10. Though, Meadville and Corry were the only two teams in Class 4A. Corry, with a 3-6 record, were looking to play spoiler again. While Meadville were 7-2 and all but assured a spot in the next round. But that’s why you play.

#54 – Meadville v. Corry

Sox Harrison Stadium is a good stadium, but the field is a little rough. The black pellets of the fill are started to dominate, while the fake blades are smushed flat and give it a white shine at certain angles. It’s also lumpy in spots along the sideline. Unusual for field turf. But apparently this field has been in place for almost 14 years. The lighting is decent, but has dim spots. Meadville decked out in black from head-to-toe doesn’t help matters. Overall, it was a dreary look to the game. I wanted to brighten up the photos, but at a certain point they weren’t true to color. They were false exposures and I try to avoid doing that. To me they feel fake. So, a dim look will result in a dim photo.

As with the two other games this weekend, Corry came out on fire. A couple of defensive plays and some offensive firepower gave Corry the tying score, a 24 yard TD pass, to knot it up at 7-7 in the first. But Meadville wouldn’t be toyed with. They’d get a 20 yard run by Jacoby Thompson to reclaim the lead two minutes later.

After that, Meadville would pull away. A 16 yard run, a 10 yard run, a 3 yard run, a 1 yard run, and a 5 yard run would snowball Meadville’s lead into a 45-13 victory.

Brayden Miller with the Al Bundy Award on the final touchdown. To lift Meadville to be PIAA District 10 Class 4A Champions.

After the game, it was a quick drive west along US6N from town to I-79. And then I-79 to I-80 to I-376 to US422. I had to stop at the office first on my way home. And then parted ways with my friend.

Overall, it was a fun, albeit short, weekend of football. Sunday was spent watching football while finishing up photos and articles. With Dave just writing the Meadville game, my photos went with his story. While for CSP, I just was posting photos that can be found on my Flickr page.

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK