2025 Week 1 (Ohio & Pennsylvania)

Back at home, the first week of games in the area were finally here. Only Pennsylvania does not start Week 1 (or Zero, as they like to call it–more on that later), so the only options available were in Ohio.

And there were some options. Just a couple miles from my house, Campbell Memorial was hosting Youngstown Liberty. Meanwhile, Jackson-Milton was hosting Vienna Mathews. And Niles McKinley was hosting Howland at famed Bo Rein Stadium.

Another reporter was going to go to Niles. And I was already deciding between Jackson-Milton and Southeast. Both just a few miles apart on the same road. I had never been to either stadium as Jackson-Milton had just opened up their new on-campus stadium. But I had never seen Southeast, at all, and their game against Akron Garfield was going to be pretty good. So, the choice made itself for me.

On Thursday afternoon, I did get a late start. I was finishing up my recap from my Georgia weekend, and had some things around the house to finish. So, I left just before 6pm and made the very short drive onto I-76 west to OH225, and into Palmyra. I had been down this road many, many times in the past. And have even taken some scenic detours past the high school. Just before 630pm, I was in the parking lot and situating myself to get over to the stadium entrance.

Now, the thing with Ohio is that they use location names (from zip codes) to individually identify each school. Garfield has an Akron mailing address. As does Southeast High School’s Ravenna mailing address. Despite being quite far from Ravenna itself. They are located in Palmyra Township in Portage County. As with many directionally named schools and districts, they’re the southeast portion of Portage County.

#11 – Ravenna Southeast v. Akron Garfield

After getting inside and taking a spot on the visitor sideline facing west. I was surprised to see a hot air balloon rising from the ground behind the home stands. And then, another. Giving me the perfectly rare shot of the opening kickoff. The lighting was much better, but aiming toward the sun does affect things.

It was the first time I was seeing the Southeast Pirates play. And in back-to-back regular season weekends, that I have seen the Garfield Rams. My first game was their week 10 home game at Kenmore Field against Akron East. And now seeing them on the road.

The game itself was a good one. One of the best on the season so far. Southeast started with a touchdown, and then had a small lead, 12-7 going into halftime.

However, the second half was mostly Garfield. Two touchdowns took a close game and made it feel one-sided. Southeast did score one more touchdown late in the game to cut the lead to 21-19. But that was all they could muster. A late drive struggled to move the ball and fizzled out with a fourth down near midfield going unconverted.

The next day at home, I made lunch on the grill. Chicken Legs and grilled corn. Only the leftover grilled chicken legs are shown.

I had a close game to attend. Or, rather, I had thought. My original early season plan was the first day of the games the Wolvarena. But I didn’t want the long drive home and back. And didn’t feel like it was worth getting a hotel room. So, I opted for a single game. But couldn’t settle which one I wanted. And then was talked into Clairton v. Imani Christian. Who were hosting their first home game at their newly rebuilt homme stadium.

But that was still going to be a long drive. It just was going to be over earlier in the night. And then, I saw that Grove City’s opener was moved from Franklin to Grove City College. It had already been scheduled for a neutral site due to their field renovations not being finished in time. Namely, the scoreboard was incomplete.

And, I had never been to a high school game at Grove City College. I had been to two games at Grove City’s Forker Field, however.

So, I had my game. And it was just about 40 minutes away. Driving east on PA208 at the state line, and taking that through New Wilmington, Volant, and by the Outlets into Grove City. I tried to snap a good photo of the welcome sign, but didn’t realize I had changed the shutter speed drastically. Which made it very blurry but I made the best of it.

Parking was said to be at the Forker Field, but everyone else as parking in the two lots closest to the field. Which is where I ended up and walked across the street from the south.

#12 – Grove City v. North East

No new team for me, but I did get one rare venue checked off my list. My 536th all-time. Grove City, like Garfield last night, were big favorites in this one. But I didn’t mind even if it were a blowout.

North East started things with a field goal. And built up a 17-6 lead over the relocated hosts at the break. The second half was Grove City constantly struggling to come back. Down 29-21, a touchdown and two-point attempt was close to tying it. However, the pass was incomplete due to pass interference. The retry was also incomplete. A touchdown to make it 36-27 gave just enough space for North East to hang on after a final Grove City touchdown, 36-34.

I headed up through the stands, and over to the parking lot. Stopping for one last shot of a place I will probably never see a game at again.

After the game, I decided not to head back along PA208. A very rural route that I have had experience avoiding animals. So, instead, went north out of town to I-80 and drove that into Ohio and the Hubbard exit. And then south toward home.

I finished up photos. And was done around 5am. At just before 10am, I was heading south to the Wolvarena. Going US422 to I-79. And then hightailing it as fast as questionably legally possible to downtown.

Google Maps routing me differently because the HOV lanes were used for I-579/Veterans Bridge and Maps was routing everyone along I-279 to I-376. Instead, I took I-579 to Boulevard of the Allies, and took the exit down to I-376 and through the Squirrel Hill Tunnel. Then it’s a short drive down US30 through Forest Hills and Electric Avenue into Turtle Creek.

At the stadium, though, I had some issues. I did get parked, but not able to start photographing immediately. It was was deceptively hot for only the mid to high 80s.

#13 – McKeesport v. Delaware Valley

I had wanted to see this game. But it was over before it began. McKeesport returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Then, on McKeesport’s next two offensive possessions, a touchdown on the first play. All three scores by the same player: Kemon Spell. Who ended with five scores on the day.

As McKeesport slowly extended through lead, the fourth quarter–only 44-24–was run with a running clock. Which was good because cramping was a serious issue throughout this one. The final score gave McKeesport the win, 51-24.

By this point, I had made my way into the stands. I wasn’t feeling great, and the heat was getting to me far worse than I otherwise would expect. I was just in Georgia where it was the same temp with much higher humidity and was mostly functional. This, though, was more of a slow bake. The constant direct sunlight didn’t help.

With enough reporters and another photographer at the game, I opted to stay upstairs for the second game. Westinghouse was big favorites over Steel Valley. And I needed liquids.

#14 – Westinghouse v. Steel Valley

I spent much of the game in the top row trying to eek out as much shade as the pressbox would allow. While I was up there, I spent $14 on 4 gatorades, 2 waters, and 1 thing of chips. Sure, there was salt. But at this point I just went with the cheapest option.

Westinghouse, down on the field, was having a good time though were not pulling away as well as you would think. Barksdale for Steel Valley was doing everything to keep the Ironmen in the game. But eventually Westinghouse had a 22-0 lead on three scores. Late in the fourth, Steel Valley scored not once, but twice. Including on the final play of the game. To lose, 22-12.

Two reporters and the other photographer were done for the day at this point. And I had been prepping myself to be down on the field. The sun was low enough in the sky, the breeze had picked up some as the temperature dropped a little. And, I was feeling a lot better. So, went downstairs to take in all of the final game of the weekend.

#15 – Elizabeth-Forward v. West Mifflin

This was a back-and-forth type game until it wasn’t. Ryan Messina for Elizabeth-Forward and Armand Hill for West Mifflin were the two noteworthy players in this one. Both striving their offenses forward.

Elizabeth-Forward struck first, only to quickly be tied. And then again. At 21-14, though is when West Mifflin finally stumbled. Unable to score, and Elizabeth-Forward added their own score to go up, 28-14. And hold that through the end of the game.

I didn’t get the best photo of the scoreboard as I was hoping behind the players. The massive display was difficult to get the lighting right on. And it washed it out.

I walked out to the lot to my truck. And headed home. Back-tracking through to downtown where I stopped for hoagies I ordered from Pizza Parma in downtown Pittsburgh.

I then left via the 10th Street Bypass and north across the I-279 bridge to the North Shore and followed that to the familiar roads of I-279, I-79 and US422. Getting home just after midnight.

ECONOMICS

For the weekend, I drove 285 miles. And spent $53.19 on food. $14 at the stadium on Saturday and the rest on the hoagies Saturday night. I ate at home the other two nights. No money spent on gas, tickets, or miscellaneous.

I did see two new teams.

And two new venues, the second being Robert E. Thorn Field.