Documenting my travels and thoughts from around the country
Pennsylvania (Week 17)
It was by sheer happenstance that I found myself in Hershey, Pennsylvania on Friday morning. I didn’t plan it. It just sort of all came together like a dream. But, there I was, sitting in the parking lot next to the aging Hersheypark Stadium at noon.
Texas (Week 16)
Well, my travels found me in Dallas for the weekend. There were a few games I could’ve gone to, but only one that looked interesting. It was a 5A/4A state semifinal doubleheader at SMU’s Gerald S. Ford Stadium in Dallas.
In the UIL, the playoff dates, times, and locations are determined by the two participants by mutual consent (or by lot in the event of a disagreement). Denton ISD had two teams playing this weekend. 5A Denton Guyer and 4A Denton Ryan. By luck, they got their site selections for the semifinals and they chose to make it a doubleheader at Ford Stadium.
Pennsylvania (Week 14)
After the marathon last week, it was a little slower this week. Only six games in three days. An OHSAA Division VI State Semifinal in Steubenville between Shadyside and Mogadore on Friday night. Four PIAA District 7 (WPIAL) championship games at Heinz Field on Saturday. And a rollercoaster Browns-Panthers game in Cleveland on Sunday.
Wisconsin and Minnesota (Week 13)
This was a weekend I will not forget. I drove a rental car 1,050 miles. I attended sixteen, yes sixteen, high school football games. And, I did it all in a span of four days.
It would be four Wisconsin WIAA title games on Thursday, six Minnesota MSHSL semifinals on Friday, and six Minnesota MSHSL semifinals on Saturday. Sixteen games in 61 hours. This wasn’t just attending a sporting event. This was the decathlon of driving, sleeping, and watching football. Lots and lots of football. Continue reading “2010 Wisconsin and Minnesota (Week 13)”
Utah (Week 12)
I found myself in Salt Lake City on Friday and really had one option. The state semifinals were being playing at Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah on the east side of the city.
I’ve been to Rice-Eccles Stadium twice before. In 2008, I saw David Beckham score two goals against Real Salt Lake in a draw. And, two months later that year I saw Real Salt Lake beat up my favorite MLS team, the Columbus Crew, 2-0. Which was only reconciled by them winning the MLS Cup that year.
Missouri – Blue Springs vs. Raymore-Peculiar (Week 11)
This wasn’t my first thought for a game. I was expecting to spend this weekend somewhere else. But I made the best that Kansas City had to offer and take up a high school game in the eastern suburbs.
The Wildcats of Blue Springs High School hosted the Panthers of Raymore-Peculiar High School of Peculiar, Missouri. The game was an MSHSAA Class 6 First Round contest hosted by Blue Springs at their rather intimate Peve Stadium located just south of the high school.
Mississippi (Week 10)
I had a pick of several games today, and none of them were particularly high impact matchups. I decided on Meridian-Jim Hill due to the fact Meridian was a high powered team (#176 by Calpreps) on the verge of going 10-0 on the season. Jim Hill, on the other hand, is at the other end of the spectrum. Hailing from the capital, Jackson, they were 1-8 and not very competitive in general.
California (Week 9)
Spending the week in California wasn’t what I had planned, but I made the most of it. Spent Tuesday visiting my sister in LA and celebrating her birthday. The rest of the week was a blur and I found myself in Mira Loma, California with no means of ready transportation. Luckily, there’s a high school stadium less than a mile away that I could walk to hosting a game tonight.
The Jurupa Valley Jaguars (1-5) of Mira Loma were hosting the Norte Vista Braves (3-3) of Riverside in a Sunkist League contest at their 2,500 seat stadium at the corner of Etiwanda and Bellgrade. It sits as part of sport complex next to the high school. Natural grass field that has been beat to hell surrounded by an atmosphere killing track.
Well, another week, another state. This time it’s the home of Arbor Day, Nebraska.
Grand Island (5-2) hosting Lincoln East (1-6)
Pennsylvania (Week 7)
I was home in Ohio this weekend for the Steubenville-Massillon game, but that didn’t stop me from seeing some other games. On Thursday night in Pennsylvania, Cochranton hosted Erie Iroquois.