2024 Week 13 (New York & Pennsylvania)

2024 Week 13 (New York & Pennsylvania)

This was a week with a lot of driving. And many games. Thursday opened with three games planned in New York. It was my first time back to Orchard Park since 2019. Annually, Section VI in New York hosts their sectional finals at the home of the Buffalo Bills.

Before doing sideline photography, I was here in 2013 and 2014 for the Sectional Finals, as well as some MMAA playoff games when they were held here. Back when it was Ralph Wilson Stadium. And then in 2018 and 2019 on the sideline under the name New Era Field.

This year, it’s now Highmark Stadium. Not to be confused with the same named stadium in Pittsburgh.

On Thursday morning, I left home at 9am. Heading back up to western New York for the third straight weekend. Taking I-79 toward Erie and I-90 east and taking the Irving exit. Following US20 east to shunpike. US20 runs right by the stadium, and turned in and parked near the media entrance.

I had two different schools I was going to cover. I was on the list. Or, I was supposed to be. Standing at the media entrance, I was told I wasn’t on the media list. Nor was anyone else on CSP’s list. I was finally told to enter through the team entrance. Which is the southeast service entrance.

So, I was running out of time before kickoff when I had planned to be there quite early. And made my way around the stadium to the team entrance through the main service entrance. And walked in. Several others from CSP entered through there with me, but no one stopped me. I just walked into the team lockerroom, which is the main press room.

I didn’t have a pass, but was soon on the field and talked to several people from CSP and Section VI, that as long as I was there, I shouldn’t have a problem staying. Which was really comforting.

But, I had a game to photograph.

#67 – Clymer/Sherman/Panama v. Franklinville/Ellicottville

The first game of my weekend was the most interesting. I had seen CSP and Franklinville/Ellicottville play in a section final before. This was a rematch, for me, of the 2019 final that CSP won, 22-0.

This was my 18th time seeing CSP play. My most attended team in New York, by far. In fact, my third most attended team in the country, tying Aliquippa who I had seen my 18th time earlier this year at Blackhawk. This was my 4th time seeing the F/E Titans.

Like that first game Section VI title game between the two, CSP handled business and slowly pulled away from the Titans throughout the game, winning 33-8.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama Claims Section VI Class D Title With 33-8 Victory over F/E Titans (PHOTO GALLERY)

The second game of the day was Salamanca, another favorite of mine facing off against Portville for the Class C Championship. This was my 8th time seeing Salamanca play. Going 3-4 in previous games. This was my first time seeing them at Highmark Stadium. Though my second time seeing them in a Section VI championship. Losing to the Franklinville/Ellicottville squad in the covid-postponed, 2021 Spring season. That game was played in Franklinville, though. This was, also, my 5th time seeing Portville. A rematch of a 2021 spring game, a Section semifinal, that saw Salamanca win 6-0 in the snow on Mothers’ Day.

#68 – Salamanca v. Portville

This game I started on the sideline. But I had tweaked my ankle and knee and by the first full game on the sideline finished, I was just not handling the walking up and down the field well. Throw in some rain, and I wasn’t having a great time on the field. But I slogged through it for the first half.

Unfortunately for me, I had to call it there. To get to the pressbox, you have to go up the steps from the 50 yard line between the two bisected fanbases, and then to the elevator. It’s not the best setup for an NFL stadium. Hopefully the new venue being built across the street handles that move better.

Up in the press level, the main press box was closed. Instead, they were using two different press areas. One for photographers, and one for reporters. Though the photographer area was outdoors and I was planning to process the first game and first half of the second game photos. Preferably indoors.

So, got into the club level suite that was converted into the makeshift, and tiny, pressbox. And couldn’t watch much of the game directly as the two levels facing the glass were full.

But, I did get started at processing photos while Salamanca took care of Portville down on the field. Winning the second easy game of the day, 40-14.

New York: Salamanca Wins 11th Section VI Title in 40-14 Romp Over Portville

With the Class C final over, the reporter section cleared out. Very few stayed for the Buffalo-centric Class A Championship. This marked the 29th, and potentially last, game I attended at the Bills’ home stadium in Orchard Park. Though the new stadium is over a year away from completion, there’s a distinct possibility I won’t be back to Highmark next season. And even more potential that the new Bills stadium with a grass field might not host high school games going forward.

#69 – Sweet Home v. Buffalo McKinley

I spent most of the time getting the photos processed from the first two games. Wanting to keep myself from anything needing down late at night when I got home. As I wasn’t staying in New York.

It was another blowout. I personally had seen both of these teams previously. Both at this stadium, as well. Though first time against one another. McKinley is from Buffalo Public Schools. Sweet Home is from the suburb northeast of town.

Sweet Home built a comfortable lead slowly and surely, winning 34-0.

After the game, it was a long drive home to Ohio. I really had no photos to do. Other than a handful from the pressbox.

On Friday night, I had a few options for the WPIAL. And it was decided I’d be in Bethel Park. It was my first time at Bethel Park, though it was a neutral site game for Upper St. Clair and Peters Twp. Two teams I had seen before.

I took I-79 down to Bridgeville and cut east along several meandering roads and streets, and passed by Upper St. Clair, who while on the road were also hosting a playoff game at their stadium.

It was a cool, dreary night in Bethel Park. The two teams came in undefeated against anyone but eachother. USC having won the first matcchup in the regular season.

Entering Black Hawk Stadium, you are in the top level and walk down several worn concrete stairs down to the field level. The home side is the much more ‘imposing’ sideline, with the Peters Twp student section draped in white.

So, taking up residence on the visitor side gave the better backdrop. With both teams primarily in black and white, it was an interesting game to photograph.

This was my 5th time seeing Upper St. Clair. And third time seeing Peters Twp. In fact, this was my second time seeing this very matchup. Peters Twp hosting a regular season game on a Thursday in McMurray. I had also seen Peters Twp in last year’s state championship against Imhotep Charter.

#70 – Upper St. Clair v. Peters Twp

After a scoreless first quarter, Upper St. Clair’s Jacobo Echeverria Lozano kicked a 27 yard field goal for the first points of the game. On the ensuing kickoff, Nick McCullough answered with a long touchdown return for Peters Twp. The extra point made it 7-3 and that was it for scoring.

On the last drive of the game for Upper St. Clair, a pass on 4th and 26 was nearly completed at the goal line, but the ball slipped free of the receivers hands as he went to the ground. Peters Twp closed the game with the ensuing possession. Heading to Acrisure Stadium next Saturday for a Class 5A matchup with Pine-Richland.

Peters Twp Indians Stave Off Upper St. Clair, 7-3 in Rain Soaked Semifinal (PHOTO GALLERY)

After the game, I made my way out of the overly crowded parking lot and headed north to PA51 and north into Pittsburgh. Stopping in town for a hoagie. And then driving home. I had a quick turnaround for Saturday. As I was making the drive back south to Norwin on Saturday.

After getting home and finishing photos, I got a quick nap and woke up early to head back south. I was happy that these games would have multiple reporters and other photographers, so that I could focus much more on just photographs and not rely too much even on the twitter updates.

But with limited time and a noon kickoff, I made a quick drive over to I-376 and south to the PA Turnpike. Paying the toll and driving quick to the US 30 exit so that I could head to Norwin’s campus from the east. Just accepting the toll costs.

Getting to the school though proved problematic, as you had to get media credentials from a small building far from the stadium. I made the mistake of stopping there for the quick interlude for credentials, and then had to go find permanent parking. Which was becoming limited. I ended up far behind the school and making it to the field just before the coin toss.

Not even time for a pre-game tweet.

#71 – Thomas Jefferson v. McKeesport

This was my first time at Norwin, and I spent much of the first game feeling it out. The visitor side sits on a hillside high above the field. While the home side feels aged and crumbling. Concrete cracking along certain pathways and stairs. It’s a large stadium and pressbox looks big enough for the games they’re hosting.

Norwin Knights Stadium has plenty of sideline space with the surrounding track. And a large fieldhouse sits to the left endzone from the home side.

Other than the venue, nothing new for this game. I had seen Thomas Jefferson 6 times previously, going 3-3 in games I attended. While this was my 9th time seeing McKeesport. Going 4-4 in previous games.

As seemed like a trend in other games this week, Thomas Jefferson slowly pulled away and won a rather convincing, 28-7 game over McKeesport to claim the WPIAL 4A title.

With the game kicking off at noon, and the next game starting at 6pm, I had some time to kill. At 2:21, I made my way from the field and the long walk to the far side of the high school to my car. And drove back to the main road, US 30, and found a Sheetz. I was originally planning to go eat somewhere as a sit-down restaurant. But, I also wanted to avoid showing back up at the stadium late. So, I ate at Sheetz. Or, rather, got food and took back to the stadium.

I ate, and then started processing photos and talked to a fellow photographer who had spotted me alone in the parking lot between games.

It was a bit boring, but I finished up photos, and got back into the stadium and got situated for the night game.

#72 – Pittsburgh Central Catholic v. North Allegheny

Again, it was two teams I was well acquainted with. I had seen Central Catholic 8 times prior, going 7-1 in those games. First back in 2004 playing Upper St. Clair in a WPIAL 4A Semifinal. Two weeks later in a state playoff against Erie McDowell in a game held at North Allegheny.

Regular Season games included a 2009 matchup in Wheeling with Youngstown Ursuline, who they beat 49-22 in a Rally In The Valley game at Wheeling Island Stadium. And 2010, with a Rally at the Wolvarena, when they beat Akron Buchtel, 35-6. In 2011, they played a neutral site game as part of a doubleheader at Gateway against Archbishop Wood in a cross-state Viking v. Viking matchup, winning 20-17 in a game televised on ESPN networks.

And lastly in 2012, at Seneca Valley in a televised Thursday night matchup, a game that was supposed to be a ‘home’ game at Fox Chapel, but was relocated after Central Catholic was unable host home games at the stadium. Seneca Valley won, 34-7 in what seems like a surprising result.

Elsewhere, was two WPIAL Championships, both victories, against Woodland Hills and Seneca Valley at Heinz Field.

North Allegheny, meanwhile, I had seen 6 times, winning 5 of those 6. First in 2010, when North Allegheny beat Woodland Hills, 21-14 at Heinz Field. Following up with their state championship win over LaSalle College, 21-0 in Hershey.

The next year it was back for another WPIAL title over Upper St. Clair. And in 2012, another win over Woodland Hills at Heinz. North Allegheny added a 63-28 win over Coatesville for the state title in Hershey.

The last time I saw them play was in 2023, losing the state championship game to Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Prep, 45-23.

As with other Central Catholic games, and the others earlier in the weekend, it was one-sided and North Allegheny slowly fell behind to a much more dominant Central Catholic squad. Pittsburgh Central Catholic 45, North Allegheny 14.

After the game, I drove back through the city. Taking US30 west toward Monroeville and Squirrel Hill, and onto I-376 to downtown. Stopping for a hoagie. Then heading north along I-279 to I-79 and following US422 west to home.

ECONOMICS

The total miles driven for the weekend was 707 miles. Total cost was $159.36. Of that, $23.01 for gas, $122.71 for food, and 13.64 for miscellaneous. Mostly tolls. Food was higher for two stops to Pizza Parma in Pittsburgh. Late at night after Bethel Park and Norwin.

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK