2020 Year In Review

2020 Year In Review

Unlike in past years, I can safely say that 2020 was a year unlike any other. As the season neared, there was an increasing likelihood of there not even being a season. Covid-19 was having its way with most everyone’s plans. And at some point I had resigned myself to just going with the flow and see what happens.

And for better or worse, 2020 had turned into one of my most memorable and somehow enjoyable seasons I’ve ever had. My third full year covering games for PA Football News took me on a wild ride to places I both wanted to go but hadn’t and places I never knew I wanted to. And I managed to knock off a few bucket-list worthy locales along the way. Continue reading “2020 Year In Review”

2020 Week S15 (New York City)

2020 Week S15 (New York City)

I was rather certain that Week S14 was going to be my last possible week of high school football of the extended 2020 season. A trip to New York City isn’t cheap. And for just two games it was more for the novelty of it. I had wanted to see a PSAL game for a few years, so it was definitely a consideration. However, just like trips to Virginia to start the spring season, the cost becomes a issue. However, there was a new twist. There was an additional game on a Thursday afternoon. The schedule had showed Abraham Lincoln hosting a game on Friday afternoon at 3pm. Which would mean a slightly earlier start from home. But, there was a Thursday game at 4:30pm in Brooklyn. Now, three games, and with some planning ahead for a hotel, should make things a bit more manageable. It was just a matter of getting access to that game. Continue reading “2020 Week S15 (New York City)”

2020 Week S14 (New York City)

2020 Week S14 (New York City)

I wasn’t expecting any more football for the 2020 season. It was already the end of May when I found out that I was wrong. And I found it almost entirely by accident. After Section 6 of New York had completed their season on the 15th, I was mildly curious if any other sections had yet to finish their season. I was certain that the state as a whole had set the mid-May deadline for games in the Fall II season. But, I went to Maxpreps of all places and searched for NY schedules. Continue reading “2020 Week S14 (New York City)”

2020 Week S11 (New York)

2020 Week S11 (New York)

So, 2020 was unlike any other year. And though I’ll write a full recap of the season, this is the final week of games. My 34th weekend of high school football of the 2020 season ended with just two games. In Western New York. Most years, my season has ended at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. A few times elsewhere. Once at the NRG Stadium in Houston. Another time, I attended the three Burger King Bowls taking place in Boca Raton, Florida. Continue reading “2020 Week S11 (New York)”

2020 Week S10 (New York)

2020 Week S10 (New York)

The 2020 seasons is finally winding down to a close. The penultimate week went through without an issue. Despite some other covid-related pauses in Section 6 in New York. The Section 6 semifinals saw two cancellations. Luckily, neither of them affect my games this week. But it did make things interesting.

To start, was one of two consolation games that were taking place mid-week. I went to a baseball game in Akron on Tuesday with my daughter instead of making the trek back to New York. However, Wednesday I was heading to Alden for the Chuck Funke Bowl between Akron and Lackawanna. Continue reading “2020 Week S10 (New York)”

2020 Week S9 (New York)

2020 Week S9 (New York)

So, Week S9 went as planned. One of the first weekends where there wasn’t a single surprise. The only big question was which Friday game to cover. Traveling with my friend to cover the games, we compromised on our Friday and Saturday night games in New York.

The two SectioN Vi options on Saturday were Dunkirk hosting Maritime/Health Sciences and Wilson hosting Akron. Despite the drive, the Wilson game looked just a bit better for a matchup. Despite the 2 hour drive from Sherman and the tight winder to get there. So, for Friday, we went with the repeat pick. Salamnca was hosting Randolph at Veterans Memorial Park. Continue reading “2020 Week S9 (New York)”

2020 Week S8 (New York)

2020 Week S8 (New York)

Although Pennsylvania had one more week of games, my plans had already switched to New York and ending my season with four weekends in the Empire State. Primarily because the United X schedule had finished, and only one previously scheduled Saturday game made the 6 hour drive to Philadelphia a bit overkill. Continue reading “2020 Week S8 (New York)”

2020 Week S6 (Pennsylvania)

2020 Week S6 (Pennsylvania)

Though my plans showed last week that I would be in Philadelphia once again. That was not the initial plans. I wasn’t even planning to be in Pennsylvania. I had planned four games in New York. However, one big caveat was thrown in: Spring Break. With many schools in NY operating with spring break even if they were ‘open’, meant that many schools were a bit tougher to get ahold of. And that wasn’t to mention even more schedule changes. Continue reading “2020 Week S6 (Pennsylvania)”

2020 Week S4 (Pennsylvania)

2020 Week S4 (Pennsylvania)

This was my second straight weekend just in Pennsylvania. And unlike Week S3, there were a lot of changes and more changes up until the day of the trip.

Started at home, as most of these weekends do, and took I-80 to I-476. Though, I missed my exit, and instead had to backtrack on routes 115 and 903 back to I-476. I had intended to stop for food and gas at the Wawa, and my little faux pas had put me too far behind to backtrack along I-80. So, I stopped at the service plaza on I-476. There was a sign for a Quiznos. There was no Quiznos open. There also was a bus that had just stopped, making a huge backlog at the Burger King. So, Auntie Anne’s it was, for lunch. Continue reading “2020 Week S4 (Pennsylvania)”