2024 Week 2 (New Jersey)
Another trip east to New Jersey. My third straight year going to the Battle at the Beach in Ocean City. Though, this year had some changes. Because the New Jersey schedule started on Labor Day weekend, the games could not all be played at Ocean City. Friday and Saturday would be moved. But it was still worth it.
I would have been on my fourth straight season but the first year had issues with the hotel reservation. I had reserved well in advance and for a pretty good price. The week of the games, the hotel cancelled my reservation and I was told, rather offhandedly by Hotels.com that I could simply rebook the room. As I didn’t lose any money on the cancelation. However, the price was nearly 4x the price I booked at six months earlier.
This year, I paid in advance. And the hotel was there when I got there. But had to jump through a bunch of hoops.
I did however, have to get there first. My daughter’s school was cancelled on Wednesday due to heat. And I had to stay home until her mother got off work. But I then headed out from Youngstown east along I-80 to DuBois. Where my friend and I picked up Protime, a well known prognosticator for PA Football News, to ride with us to New Jersey.
I had already filled up. And new that I just needed gas in New Jersey to get home. We stopped near Susquehanna Twp High School at a Cracker Barrel for dinner. It may not look appetizing, but the meatloaf was really good. As were the Chicken and Dumplings.
Following the turnpike east, I paid the toll to Philadelphia, and followed I-76 into New Jersey and onto the Atlantic City Expressway. Beelining it to Exit 17, and heading east to one of the worst hotels money could buy.
After many ridiculous requirements to get the rooms that were already paid for, it was an early night, for me at least, and ready and able for a full day of football on Thursday.
Waking up, it was a short drive east along US30, missing the turn, then going back along Shore Road through Absecon and down through Somers Point and across the causeway into Ocean City. Through city streets to the school and parking in the public lot southeast of the field. A little pricy, but being right at the field is worth the $20 expense.
#16 – Manchester Twp v. West Deptford
Recaps for the games can be found on PA Football News. My comments on the game are this was one of the better ones for the weekend. Manchester Twp was a new team for me to see. It didn’t feel as close as the score indicated, but West Deptford just couldn’t get over the hump to win it. Manchester Twp 26, West Deptford 21.
I had spent the whole game on the field and it had started cloudy. But by the second game, the sun was pretty common with intermittent cloud cover. The field heated up at times. Though was cool throughout.
After the game, it was in search of refreshments. The concession stand was part of the school’s cafeteria, and the media room was the other half. But this year there wasn’t anything setup. And the boosters running the concessions were unaware of any plans. So, I bought a Water Ice, mango flavor, and sat in the air-conditioning between games.
#17 – Mainland v. Atlantic City
I was back on the sideline for this next one. But only planned to be there for a half. It was my first time seeing Atlantic City play. And was disappointed as early plans for the Battle at the Beach called for the last two days to be shifted to Atlantic City High School. Before getting permanently relocated to Egg Harbor Twp where they’d be played this weekend. I had seen Mainland before.
Near halftime, I went up into the stands to take in the second half. Pacing myself for fourteen games over two days. Mainland would hold on to win, 30-18 over Atlantic City.
#18 – Ocean City v. Cinnaminson
With only one day at Ocean City, the host Red Raiders were forced to play on Thursday. And because of preliminary plans for the televised IMG-Bergen Catholic game, the Ocean City game was bumped to the earlier slot. The games were running behind schedule and this one didn’t help the itinerary.
Ocean City would win, but couldn’t get the running clock. Only winning 35-7, keeping the clock moving slow and pushing the night game back. With an hour scheduled between the third and fourth games.
Staying in the stands, Protime and myself headed over to the boardwalk.
I usually have gotten a Lobster Roll, but that was when there was food available for media. This time, I wanted a full dinner. So, got a Philly Steak Stromboli for $14. It was really good. But not really worth the $14 price tag.
Sitting down and eating that, I stopped for an oversized pretzel for $6. Which I ate most of it. Getting back to the stadium a few minutes before kickoff of the marquee game. One I didn’t have a huge interest in.
#19 – IMG Academy v. Bergen Catholic
This was now the third time I have seen IMG play. The first being the infamous Bishop Sycamore farce game in Canton. And last year’s matchup with St. Joseph’s Prep game at Ocean City.
It was projected to be one-sided. And it looked like Bergen might make a game of it. But IMG’s ability slowly ground down the Crusaders. A late touchdown made it respectable. With IMG winning, 27-14.
After the game, it was a quick walk out to the truck. And back across the causeway. I stopped at the Wawa for gas. Without looking at the price. Which was a mistake. In New Jersey, someone pumps your gas for you, so I told them to fill it up. It took exactly $40. Which seemed awfully high. Then found out that the gas was $3.319 instead of the $3.15 or so the rest of the stations in the area were priced. Its location probably why the price was at a premium.
And got a sandwich and some ice inside since the hotel seemed to lack an ice machine. And given the condition, probably wouldn’t chance it, either.
The next morning, it was a shorter drive to Egg Harbor Twp. Taking CR651 southwest to Delilah Rd. Which continues west, but suddenly deadends just outside the township line. But it did let me get the welcome sign photo. US322 east to English Creek Ave, which is the back entrance to the school and closest to the fields. Which are less than obvious. No signs at the road. Just a small gap in some trees.
#20 – Cedar Grove v. Schalick
Egg Harbor Twp has a fairly impressive sports complex behind the school. A long fenced in pathway leads you from the parking lot to the football field. A fieldhouse sits along the south endzone. The home side is on the east side. With a much smaller visitor side to the west. Trees line the west and north sides of the field. It’s turfed. And is my 502nd different stadium to see a game at. The first of ten for the facility.At best, the name of the stadium that I could find online was Silver Eagle Stadium. And it’s a fitting name. As I shy away from using Complex names to denote a football field or stadium whenever possible.
I had seen Cedar Grove previously, but this was the first time seeing Arthur P. Schalick. Their coach follows me on Twitter, and it was fun seeing them play though unfortunate that Cedar Grove simply stymied them the entire game. Cedar Grove would get the running clock going, 41-3.
With the large grass fields around the stadium, teams could warm up off site. And only a 7 minute delay was added to the clock for the start of the next game. A necessity for playing five games in one day.
#21 – Washington Twp v. Northern Highlands
This game carried on a string of one-sided games throughout the day. Northern Highlands was from near the New York state line. And though this game was close for a while. Washington Twp made the end anticlimactic. Winning, 23-8.
#22 – Cherokee v. Middletown South
By this point, we had learned that food was available at the concession stand for media. So, a couple of burgers with a slice of pork roll was had for lunch. As well as some gatorade. It was cool, so it wasn’t a bad setup. For Friday. Saturday would be a different story.
I had seen Cherokee before. Playing Holy Spirit in a game decided by a last second field goal. Middletown South is from the northeast hook that runs under Staten Island. It was my first time seeing them play.
It was not a close game. But Cherokee only toyed with the running clock. Winning a comfortable, though unnecessarily long, 30-0 contest.
After this, it was upstairs for the start of game four.
#23 – Montclair v. Winslow Twp
For much of the game, I thought this would be a one score shutout game. But the score finally moved and some late on-field squirmishes marred the outcome. A long delay led to a running clock. Which kept the now glacial pace of the game going. And Winslow Twp would prevail, 21-0.
It was back on the field for what was going to be the best game of the day. Or, that I figured. Holy Spirit and Millville. Millville’s Lotzeir Brooks was the star of the game. And I mistyped his name numerous times once autocorrect ‘remembered’ my incorrect spelling. Which I didn’t catch again the rest of the game.
#24 – Holy Spirit v. Millville
Millville are the Thunderbolts. And the first team I’ve seen from New Jersey that sported the state outline logo on their helmet. It’s common in Texas. And I’ve seen it at least once in Ohio. But first time in New Jersey. And this ‘good game’ i was expecting turned into the third straight shutout of the day. Millville prevailing, 35-0 while giving me one of my favorite photos of the day.
I stayed up late working on photos so that I would have the first two days finished. This included stopping at Wawa on the way back for ice and a Tastykake. After getting everything done around 3am, i was back out at 8am. Getting everything piled into the truck. And finalizing the room rentals with the front desk. And getting to the stadium a tad earlier than Friday now. 9:30am kickoffs aren’t great after a game ends around 10pm the night before.
So, knowing food was covered, got a Pork Roll upon entering the stadium. Like bacon’s slutty cousin, the Pork Roll tastes great, but with a saltier flavor than you are anticipating.
#25 – Highland v. Southern
I was hoping for a good game to start out the day. And unfortunately, I would see my fourth straight shutout. An agonizingly annoying stretch of games. Even some projected to be good matchups had gone one-sided. And this was no better. Seeing Southern for the first time, I was hoping they’d win. But they won in a straight-forward, unimpressive fashion, 17-0. A workman-like effort. Getting the job done but nothing particularly memorable about it.
#26 – Rancocas Valley v. Pascack Valley
Another major game. I was upstairs for the start. Planning to head down for the second half on the field. I had seen both teams previously. Rancocas Valley at Ocean City in the Battle at the Beach. While Pascack Valley was one of my few excursions to MetLife Stadium for Regional Finals years ago.
Alas, my shutout streak would end. Though in a way that was somewhat surprising. Rancocas Valley stormed out to a quick touchdown lead. And it felt like the game was going to be a runaway. And then Pascack Valley, and their QB, put on a clinic and kept chipping away at their defense. Adding score after score before prevailing, 31-14. Like Northern Highlands, Pascack Valley had a long drive home to the northern reaches of New Jersey. Near Mahwah.
#27 – Hammonton v. Oakcrest
On paper, Hammonton was supposed to win this one. But Oakcrest had other ideas. They scored first. And into the fourth, a slim 6-0 lead was all the separated the two. But the fourth quarter was unkind to the Blue Devils. Oakcrest, the Falcons, would tack on two more scores and make it a comfortable, dominating finish for what was a close game throughout, if though not in doubt. Winning 20-0 over Hammonton.
Now this day was a lot warmer, and muggier, than Thursday or Friday. And so liquids were required. Throughout the day, I drank six 20oz Gatorades, a water, and a can of Sprite. In addition to 40oz travel mug of sweet tea on the way to the stadium. And another mug or two full of sweet tea on the drive back. It was uncomfortably warm for only 83F with moderate humidity. But being on the field for most or five games after two full days of games can get to you.
#28 – Camden Eastside v. Cedar Creek
This was my fourth time seeing the Cedar Creek Pirates play. The first such distinction for a New Jersey team. The first time was the South Group Regional Championships at Rowan in Glassboro years ago, and the last three have been now in the Battle at the Beach. Eastside was a first time participant and my first time seeing them.
Eastside struggled, but their defense kept it close. A 20-6 victory for Cedar Creek was not as indicative as the score would indicate.
And the final game…
#29 – Egg Harbor Twp v. West Windsor-Plainsboro
I had planned to be on the field for the entire game. And had paced myself for it. I knew going in that it could be bad. West Windsor-Plainsboro was a co-op between WWP North and WWP South. The two schools in the district combining due to low numbers. Calpreps had the prediction favoring the visitors. But seeing the squad size, and how noticeably different the two teams were, it was just a matter of how organized EHT could be to win and by how much.
As a photographer, though, it was one of the worst games to try to capture. Egg Harbor Twp dressed head-to-toe in black. With chrome elements on the helmet, a la Oregon Ducks chrome wings, with square, gray numbers that confused me more than once. Meanwhile, West Windsor-Plainsboro United, as they were known, had black lids, black pants, black numbers on white jerseys, with just thin green and blue sleeve stripes to denote the two schools. Making photographing at high speeds difficult and my default setting reaching 12800 ISO regularly. Where I just eventually left it and only shooting nearside photos.
Mercilessly, Egg Harbor Twp, who I had seen before at the Battle at the Beach, extended their lead just enough in the fourth quarter despite a defensive miscue, to set the running clock in motion. In New Jersey, unlike other states, the rules go into effect at 33 points. Ensuring it is a five-score game, but also negating the risk of a missed PAT or two from curtailing the much needed mercy rule. Egg Harbor Twp would close out the night, nearly on time, with a 40-7 victory over their guests.
Leaving the school just after ten, it was a short drive north to the Atlantic City Expressway. Then west into Philadelphia via the I-676 route back to I-76 and taking the PA Turnpike west to Harrisburg. After cutting through the east side freeways of I-283 and I-83, it was north along US322 west with a quick stop in Duncannon. Where the Sheetz sits on a brief stretch of non-freeway after the bridge. I got ice for my mug and two individual Milo’s Sweet Teas.
Then continuing west to State College and following US322 west through to Woodland. Crossing the hill on the shortcut to I-80 and getting to DuBois sometime before 4am. Dropping off Protime, and the 90 minutes or so west to I-376 and my usually avoided route of PA218 west to Ohio and home. At night, I tend to drop south through Hubbard due to deer. But at 6am and driving slow as it was, I didn’t want to deal with Hubbard.
NEW TEAMS
ECONOMICS
Total trip for the weekend was 898 miles. With a total cost of $521.69. Gas accounted for just $40 of that. Though I ended at home with about 100 miles left to drive on the tank. Food was just $82. Mostly from Cracker Barrel and the Boardwalk. As well as two stops at Wawa and two stops at Sheetz. I spent $20 on parking and $5 on a souvenir program. I bought my daughter an $8 stuffed animal at Sheetz. And spent $366.69 for the hotel for the three nights.
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
2024 Statistics
29 Games
58 Teams
10 Stadiums
5 States
31 New Teams
7 New Stadiums
1,600 different teams
502 different stadiums
1,489 total games
NEXT WEEK
My plans include two games in Ohio and two in Pennsylvania. I originally had a different Friday night game in mind. But my daughter will be at the Cardinal Mooney v. Steubenville game, so I’ve decided on that one. Saturday will be two new stadiums in Pennsylvania. My first time seeing Port Allegany and a trip west Saturday night to see Cambridge Springs host Greenville at Baird Field. Thursday will be Edison’s new stadium in Richmond, Ohio.
For photos from this game, and others this weekend, click HERE.
For photos from previous weeks and seasons, visit http://www.flickr.com/sykotyk/sets/