2025 Week 3 (Ohio)

Week 3 went off without a hitch. I wasn’t sure where I would be this weekend, so I wanted to stick around home in Ohio and Pennsylvania. But then Saturday had me traveling quite far. And staying close to home on Friday to accommodate that longer drive.

For Friday, there was only two options for games. Keystone hosting Union/ACV in Knox, Pennsylvania. And the other in Stow, Ohio between Stow-Munroe Falls and Cleveland JFK. I saw a game in Stow in 2015. But this would be my first time seeing Cleveland JFK. That, and there were already two people for PFN that was going to be at Keystone. No sense added more coverage to a single game. And my memory being the internet in Knox was very difficult to tweet out updates.

So, on Thursday afternoon, I got situated and headed west along I-680 to I-80 to I-76 to Kent. Taking OH43 north toward town. Passing through town, then west to Stow. The high school being on the eastern side of town.

This would be my third time seeing Stow-Munroe Falls play. Going 2-0 in previous games at home against Hudson and on the road at Shaker Heights.

#20 – Stow-Munroe Falls v. Cleveland JFK

I wasn’t expecting much from this game. The projection was not great. JFK had been outscored 133-0 in two games. Stow-Munroe Falls was 1-1. Stow-Munroe Falls started quickly, and it did not let up. JFK’s defense struggled on pass defense to open the game and quickly the Bulldogs were up 30-0 after twelve minutes.

The running clock was started for the second half up 37-0 before JFK scored with a two-point conversion by QB Aaden Shepherd. Their first points on the season. That also ended the running clock. But eventually SMF added another touchdown and win, 44-8.

After the game, I found my car back in the lot, thought bout going or food but decided to make something at home. Just stopping at Sheetz for some cheap gas before getting onto I-76.

On Friday night, I had a lot of options. But everything that was an option in Pennsylvania was a long drive. And I was expecting a nearly 2 and half hour drive on Saturday morning for a noon kickoff. And I did not want that. Friday was going to be close.

And a PA team was crossing the border and it was just 15 minutes from my house. Brookfield had opened their new stadium in 2024. And added field turf in 2025. It’s located at the high school. Though I missed seeing a game at their Addison Avenue stadium by the state line.

I got a later start than I planned leaving home, but it was a very short drive. Just getting to OH616 into Hubbard and following OH7 to OH82. Barely a drive. One of the shortest since games in Lowellville or Campbell.

#21 – Brookfield v. Sharpsville

This was my 4th time seeing Brookfield play. Road games at Mollenkopf Stadium against Warren JFK, a playoff game at Lisbon David Anderson, and more recently their shutout win at Newton Falls. 3-0 in games I attended. Sharpville, meanwhile, were 6-2 in the eight games I had seen from them. Only one being a home game.

This game seemed one-sided after it started. But Sharpsville kept it close through the first half. But a late touchdown by Brookfield’s Rico Smith made it 27-14 going into the intermission. After trading touchdowns in the second half, Brookfield added two scores to win comfortably in what became a contentious finish.

I was hoping the game was going to end quickly. It did not. It was nearly 9:45 when I got out of the stadium. I went home and finished up photos, but going much later into the night than I wanted. Eventually calling it a night around 5am. And waking up at 830am to get ready for the long drive west to Buckeye Central.

It was about 2.5 hours away. And the very early kickoff made it difficult to get going. But by 9am, I was out the door and heading west once again. US422 through Youngstown to I-680 to I-76. I did follow southeast around Akron on I-77 to I-277 and back onto I-76. From there, it crosses I-71 in Lodi and turns into US224. A bypass around Lodi and then exit west to continue through the rolling farm land of North Central Ohio. In New Haven, taking OH598 southwest to New Washington Road, which turns into OH103 heading into town.

I was disappointed that there wasn’t much for a welcome sign coming in from the east. Just the standard green city limit sign. In town, you turn south to cross the railroad tracks, and the athletic complex is a small driveway to the left. A large gravel and paved lot gives plenty of parking for one really aesthetically pleasing stadium.

#22 – Buckeye Central v. Fairport Harding

This was my first time in New Washington, ever. The small town vibe with corn fields surrounding the stadium grounds. Silos located to the northwest. It was a windy afternoon with a warm sky. Clouds dotting the blue background.

I had seen Buckeye Central back in 2011 when they were in the state championship game against Marion Local. But my first time seeing Fairport Harding. The Skippers are from east of Cleveland along Lake Erie.

The game kicked off and it was quickly apparent that Fairport Harding was the better team. Buckeye Central started complacent and indifferent. Only getting a fire under them midway through the second quarter to cut a 21-0 lead with a short touchdown run. The Skippers added another score in the first half to lead, 28-6.

Two more touchdowns in the third quarter started the running clock. Which sped through the fourth quarter as Fairport Harding won 47-6.

My night game was going to be close by.

Over four hours until kickoff. And was not even twenty minutes away. I brought my computer, and planned to find some place to watch the Ohio State game and process photos from the afternoon game.

But first, I wanted to drive around New Washington. I found the water tower, and found the best angle from the right distance to get a good shot of it. Then headed back through town and took OH103 to Celeryville. And stopped at the Varsity Club on 224.

While getting photos done, I had some wings. Though they did mess up my flavors. I ordered 15, with them split between cajun, hot, and mango habenero. Instead, I received 10 hot wings. Which was fine. They were very good.

I finished photos while Ohio State was just getting out of halftime. Finished my food, paid and headed out to Willard. Just a few miles up the road.

I had never seen either team play before. Willard Crimson Flashes and Vermilion Sailors. I had been to both towns, but also had never seen Terry King Stadium. So, this was all new for me.

#23 – Willard v. Vermilion

I knew coming into this one, that it was projected to be one-sided. Unlike the early game, I was hoping this projection was wrong. It was not.

I did like that the field had a food truck. Something you rarely see. And this one had all the desert/unhealthy foods.

Evan Kuhns was the gamebreaker for Vermilion. Scoring for touchdowns in just the first half. Giving the Sailors a 48-14 lead. With the running clock, I was hoping for a very quick second half. And it came close.

Vermilion added a score in the third quarter, while the two squads traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Letting Vermilion have a comfortable victory, 60-22.

And I was out of there before 9:30pm. But it was going to be a long drive home. And it was tiring. That little sleep was catching up with me. Luckily, the drive from Willard to Lodi was easy. The two-lane stretch over, I was going around Lodi and onto I-76. But that was tough. I was talking on the phone, but I could feel the drag of sleep.

I considered pulling off for a brief nap, but eventually made it to Kent and stopping for gas at the same Sheetz I had stopped at on Thursday. And then across the highway to McDonalds. Getting a sprite and some nuggets. Things picked up. I felt refreshed talking a brief walk. And the sprite helped.

I was then on my way home. The last hour or so to home without issue. But it was very long day. A long weekend, even.

But it ended pretty well.

ECONOMICS

On the weekend, I drove 389 total miles. Most of that on Saturday. The total cost was just $27.40 for gas and $57.16 for food. All food costs were on Saturday. $31.08 at the Varsity Club for wings, appetizer, sprite, tax, and tip. Gas didn’t need the last fill-up, but the cheap price behooved me to do it.

I added four new teams on the weekend: Cleveland JFK, Fairport Harding, Willard, and Vermilion. As well as three new stadiums.