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2022 Week 4 (New Mexico)

2022 Week 4 (New Mexico)

I was going to be in Texas this weekend. The oil patch was calling me. Friday morning, I was going to be halfway between Kermit and Mentone. Mentone is in Loving County, the least populated county in the country. The oil boom hasn’t necessarily changed that ranking yet, but the growth west of Kermit along route 302 is impressive. The road is being four-laned west of Kermit to handle all the oil and construction traffic. Thursday, though, left me with some options. And though Texas options were available, I decided to stick to New Mexico. Continue reading “2022 Week 4 (New Mexico)”

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2022 Week 3 (Ohio & Pennsylvania)

2022 Week 3 (Ohio & Pennsylvania)

This was another week close to home. Or, so it would seem. Over 700 miles driving around Ohio and Pennsylvania for four games. All at new stadiums. But, only one new team. The weeekend started with a decision on whether to do a New York game in Frewsburg or an Ohio game. Neither game was going to be close. Though, for the Ohio game I wouldn’t need to write anything. As I’d have a writer there. I’d also see River for the first time. So, I decided to make the drive south along the river. My Friday game was in limbo. I had planned for a single game at Blackhawk. Until I confirmed there was a doubleheader at Cupples Stadium. So, I was going to do the first game there between Carrick and Uniontown, and then head to Plum for their game against Shaler. That changed completely when I found out that Warren was hosting their home game at Youngsville. Continue reading “2022 Week 3 (Ohio & Pennsylvania)”

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2022 Week 2 (Pennsylvania & New York)

2022 Week 2 (Pennsylvania & New York)

After two weeks of traveling extensively, it was a little closer to home for Week 2. Still a lot of driving, however. Thursday had a lot of options in Pennsylvania. There were games at North East, Lakeview, Oil City, and Cathedral Prep.

I had originally planned for Cathedral Prep. Even though they were playing a Canadian power team akin to an IMG or Prime Prep in the US, they would be a new place for me. Until I saw that North East was also playing on Thursday. And my mind was made up instantly. Despite all the times Greenville had played North East in the past, I had never seen the Grapepickers in action. Let alone made it to a game at their home field. Continue reading “2022 Week 2 (Pennsylvania & New York)”

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2022 Week 1 (New Jersey)

2022 Week 1 (New Jersey)

Week One was a trip east to New Jersey. I had planned this trip in 2021. However, it fell through thanks to a hotel booking issue. Coming out of Covid, the rate for my room had nearly trippled, and the hotel decided not to honor my original booking.

But, this year, I was going to head to Ocean City for three days of football mere feet from the Atlantic Ocean. I had to leave on Thursday, and my schedule was a bit hectic. Lunch with family, and then taking my sister to the airport to fly home. And then, a long long drive to New Jersey. Via Baltimore. I’ll explain. Continue reading “2022 Week 1 (New Jersey)”

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2022 Week 0 (Georgia)

2022 Week 0 (Georgia)

For the second straight year, my football odyssey started in Georgia. Getting there, though, was a bit of an adventure. Traveling with my daughter, we had things planned out for some fun on the way. And then a minor oversight threw things for a loop. After getting 105.3 miles from home, I realized we needed to turn back as only her clothes were in truck. Continue reading “2022 Week 0 (Georgia)”

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2021 Year In Review

2021 Year In Review

After an unimaginable 2020 season, this year was a bit more relaxed. Though rushed. With the previous season ending in June, there was little downtime before the 2021 season started. This affected my usual summer plans, as well as made the financial planning a bit more precarious. I wasn’t sure, in the summer, just how much I would or could do. But, I was intent on doing as much as possible. And though a lot was ‘old’, there was a lot of ‘new’ thrown in. Including my month long trip around the middle of the country. Continue reading “2021 Year In Review”

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2021 Week 17 (Texas)

2021 Week 17 (Texas)

I’ve been to games in Texas every season since 2009. I have been to the Texas state finals each year since 2011. This marks the tenth championship weekend I had attended at AT&T Stadium (formerly Cowboys Stadium). The lone exception has been the 2015 games that were hosted at Houston’s NRG Stadium.

Also, the 5A doubleheader at San Antonio in 2009, and the single 1AD2 game hosted in San Angelo this past January. In total, I had been to 107 state championship games in four different venues. Of those, 94 were at AT&T Stadium. Though, I had been to 98 games at the stadium (adding a quadrupleheader in 2010). And 107 games in Arlington (9 games were down the street at Globe Life Park). Continue reading “2021 Week 17 (Texas)”

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2021 Week 15 (Pennsylvania & West Virginia)

2021 Week 15 (Pennsylvania & West Virginia)

Finally back in Pennsylvania for a weekend. However, the schedule didn’t want to cooperate. For the PIAA Semifinals, only a couple of Saturday games. And nowhere was that able to be worked into a doubleheader.

I had wanted to head to New York for the state championships. It had been a while since I had been to the Carrier Dome for games. However, my media request was on the basis that there’d be a handful of Section 6 teams making the state finals. That did not happen. Randolph, Jamestown, and even Maritime/Health Sciences failed to advance to the finals. Continue reading “2021 Week 15 (Pennsylvania & West Virginia)”

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2021 Week 14 (Pennsylvania)

2021 Week 14 (Pennsylvania)

After returning from Minnesota, I took the week off and tried to get my back in order. That somewhat worked. But I also had some personal scheduling issues crop up on Friday.

I had planned to take in one of the two days of the WPIAL Finals at Heinz Field. Another photographer was scheduled for Friday. So, I was just going to be there Saturday. And had planned to find a single available Friday night game. I was hoping to do either of the two games at Slippery Rock (preferred) or at Karns City. However, PAFN had coverage of those two games. And I offered to do the Mt. Lebanon v. McDowell game on Friday night. Continue reading “2021 Week 14 (Pennsylvania)”