2025 Week 4 (Pennsylvania & Ohio)

This was a hectic week. And a hectic time getting things situated after the fact. It started with a very local game for me, and ended a couple hours from home in Fremont, Ohio.

With Pittsburgh City League scheduling an afternoon game on Friday, I figured on having a doubleheader Friday. But also with a long trip on Saturday I didn’t have a lot of free time. Thanksfully, I had less than 20 minutes drive to get to my Thursday night game.

There wasn’t a lot of options, and this was my second time getting to visit Socs Roussos Stadium. Located in Union Township, west of New Castle, it was slated to be a good game. Though their matchup with Riverside was not new to me.

I left home a little late, as the game was scheduled to kickoff at 6:30pm. Rather than the usual 7pm. But, the short drive made it all work out. And I was on the field by 6:10pm.

This was my sixth time seeing the Union Scotties and the fourth time seeing the Riverside Panthers.

#24 – New Castle Union v. Ellwood City Riverside

This game was in honor of 9/11, as it was on September 11th. Painted in the endzone were 9/11 memorials as well as the usual pageantry during a high school game.

The game started fast, with a quick score and a missed extra point try. Then a touchdown to make it 7-6. And a last minute field goal to give the visiting Riverside Panthers a 9-7 win.

A very quick drive home with a brief stop at Walmart in Union Township and I was ready to go the next morning. I finished things up, got ready for two busy days of football, and headed out.

I wanted to get to Pittsburgh early. Because parking at Cupples Stadium is a pain. And the afternoon games are especially so. I headed back east along US422 past Union Township where I was the night before, around the New Castle Bypass and over toward Portersville and onto I-79. Quickly going south despite a brief slowdown on I-279 into the city.

I got across the Veterans Memorial Bridge and the ever so short I-579 into downtown near the arena, and took 7th and cut across to the Armstrong Tunnel and across the 10th Street Bridge. Then back up Carson St to the stadium. Where I got to sit and wait for the aftermath of an accident at the corner of the stadium to be moved so I could continue. And found a single street spot next to the stadium after making one rotation of the streets around the east side of the stadium.

This was my 54th game in Pittsburgh between all the stadiums in the city, and 14th at Cupples Stadium. And my 6th time seeing the Allderdice Dragons play. But my first time seeing the Uniontown Raiders. It was not expected to be a close game.

#25 – Pittsburgh Allderdice v. Uniontown

This game was long. And very slow. Lots of penalties. Lots of stoppages. And was starting to question if I could make my night game in Brentwood. Though Allderdice were prohibitive favorites, they weren’t exerting their will like they should have been through the first half. And then broke away in the third quarter. A missed PAT keeping the running clock at bay until early in the 4th. And then the game moved swiftly. Finishing at 6:10pm. With Allderdice winning, 40-0.

Allderdice 40, Uniontown 0 (PHOTO GALLERY)

I was back in my car, and only had about 7 miles to get to Brentwood, but it was going to be close.

I got situated and headed out the PJ McArdle Roadway up along the hillside, up to the entrance of the Liberty Tunnel. A quick drive through the tunnel and onto PA51 toward the South Hills. Taking Marylea to Brownsville, and finally to Brentwood High School. Which was very busy. But I did find parking at the end of the park’s parking lot. And had a long walk to the stadium by kickoff.

I had little time, and stopped at the concession stand for gatorade and a pretzel. My first food of the day. Getting a birdseye view of the field. Like South Park, you enter from the top and all seating is on the home side. With the visiting team occupying the ‘home side’ sideline.

#26 – Brentwood v. Springdale

I had seen Springdale previously at Imani Christian years ago. At Graham Field in Wilkinsburg. But this was my first time seeing Brentwood. And this was, unfortunately, slated to be another one-sided game. I just didn’t realize how one-sided.

By halftime, Brentwood was up 42-0, and it really wasn’t that close. After a rousing halftime from the bands, it was shown that there was only 8-minute quarters for the second half. Coupled with the running clock, the game ended in just under two hours. With Brentwood holding the 42-0 lead until the end. Giving me some much needed relief and a quick drive home.

Brentwood Routs Springdale, 42-0 in first half dominance (PHOTO GALLERY)

I headed out Brownsville Rd, and then cut down to 51, and back through the Liberty Tunnel. But stopped at Pizza Milano on 5th. Which was hampered by construction and took a while to find a place to park. Getting a hoagie to take home and one for the road.

I started everything for photos, and got them done by 5am. And then a quick nap and out on the road before 11am. Taking I-76 west to OH14 to I-480 and getting back off on OH14. Getting me to Garfield Heights well before 1pm.

This was my first game at Garfield Heights. And first time seeing them. I had seen Muskegon once before. The Big Reds lost a Michigan State Championship Game I had attended in Detroit.

It was a beautiful, though overcast, day in suburban Cleveland. I arrived at the school, and was surprised at how little hustle and how little bustle there was between the school and stadium. If not for the players on the field, I wouldn’t have thought a game was being played in just under an hour.

I parked right up front, and was able to have plenty of time to get situated to get out onto the field.

I got out onto the field, and it’s a great venue. New turf and scoreboard courtesy of the Browns. The stadium is small but quite nice. New everything. Except lights. Hence the afternoon game.

#27 – Garfield Heights v. Muskegon

Muskegon was the overwhelming favorite but it quickly became clear that Garfield Heights was no pushover. While avoiding Lantern Flies, I got to watch one really intriguing first half. Where Muskegon came up with the lone score. In the second half, Muskegon expanded on the 8-0 lead to go up 15-0. But Garfield Heights would not go quietly.

A fumble return for a touchdown and a last minute drive that ended with a hail mary toward the endzone that was knocked down. Giving Muskegon the 15-8 victory.

Muskegon invades Ohio, defeats Garfield Heights, 15-8 in slugfest (PHOTO GALLERY)

The game ended fortuitously. As I was starting to eye the clock and realize I was starting to cut it closer and closer to making it to my planned night game.

But, I was still in line to make the long drive. My time was close, though. And I was hungry. Having nothing before the Garfield Heights game, I made my way down to I-480 and headed west. Before realizing I should’ve followed I-77 or OH176 north to I-90. Instead, I was going to be forced to take OH10 west and continue along US20. Which, also, was longer.

In Bellevue, I stopped at a McDonald’s briefly for a sprite and the $5 McDouble meal. Eating that on the way to Fremont. This was my first time taking a trip through the town. Before, I had only been on US20 to shunpike and was usually making up time as Fremont has a freeway bypass.

I took the old route 20 exit west into town, and stopped for the welcome sign. Then continued and turned north in town and followed the signs to the stadium. Given that this was St. Joseph Central Catholic and not Fremont Ross, the crowd was predictably smaller. And the huge Don Paul Stadium was more than enough to handle it.

I got to park in the grass east of the stadium and made my way through he visitor entrance. And then quickly onto the field. As I didn’t have a ton of time to be ready.

#28 – Fremont St. Joseph Central Catholic v. Southington Chalker

This was my third time seeing Chalker play. Once at Windham in 11-man and once at home against Holgate in 8-man last season. But first time seeing SJCC.

This game started on fire. With three touchdowns in the first minute and a half. And it continued. And the first half the game was really moving. Being on the field at an 8-man game with turf lined for 11-man does make for some tough optics. They were playing a 100-yard field. But the narrower 40 yard width.

In the second half things slowed for a bit before Chalker ran roughshod over the homestanding Crimson Streaks. Winning by a comfortable though deceptive margin, 62-44.

8-Man: Chalker Wins Offensive Showdown, 62-44 over St. Joseph Central Catholic (PHOTO GALLERY)

This game took forever, though. It was set for a 6pm kickoff. Part of my reasoning for taking it. While St. Mary Central Catholic in Sandusky was slated for 7pm. I had seen SMCC a couple years ago when they hosted Stryker at Perkins. But this year they were playing back at Cedar Point Stadium once again. a place I hadn’t been. But that extra hour really tipped the scale for me. And then, this game still ended later. One, the SMCC game went to a running clock. While this one didn’t and had a lot of stoppages. But, it was a fun 8-man game and indicative of what 8-man football can be when two even teams are playing one another.

After the game I had a long drive home. Almost three hours. Especially accounting for any stops. I wasn’t about to take the toll road, so I headed back the ‘other route’ I take from Toledo. That being US20 to US250 in Norwalk. Then US224 through to I-76 and into Akron. Following I-76 to the Kent exit. Stopping for gas at the Sheetz where I got it for just $2.429 per gallon.

Then headed home. About another hour to go.

And another great weekend of football.

ECONOMICS

Finances I can’t add right now as I don’t have the notes from Week 4. Which will be updated in the future for anyone that seriously interested.

For new teams, I witnessed four: Uniontown, Brentwood, Garfield Heights, and St. Joseph Central Catholic. And new stadiums at Uniontown, Brentwood, Garfield Heights, and Fremont.

(I made a very minor mistake counting games in my tweets. Forgetting to update it with the Union-Riverside game not getting a tweet because nothing in it was new to me)