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 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 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 S5 (New York)

2020 Week S5 (New York)

Before this spring season hadn’t yet started, I had planned for as many weekends as possible in New York. Section 6, to be specific. But, Virginia, Maryland, and Philadelphia area games started first.

And though I was going to be in New York for the opening weekend, the weird Philadelphia schedule made the decision so easy. Philadelphia had moved almost all of their games to Thursday. With one game on Wednesday and another on Monday, of all days. Continue reading “2020 Week S5 (New York)”

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)”

2020 Week S3 (Pennsylvania)

2020 Week S3 (Pennsylvania)

This was the first weekend of the spring season where everything went as planned. With no changes to the original schedule. Although there was an added game. Originally, there was no Saturday night game in Pennsylvania.

Friday morning, I was up and early and heading out by 7:30am. I followed I-80 east to I-476. Stopped at the Wawa stuck in limbo between the two interstates. Got gas and a hoagie. Then headed south to I-276 and east to US1. And followed that to George Washington High School. Continue reading “2020 Week S3 (Pennsylvania)”

2020 Week S2 (Maryland & Pennsylvania)

2020 Week S2 (Maryland & Pennsylvania)

With Pennsylvania’s southeast corner starting Spring Football, I wasn’t thinking things would go perfectly smooth. However, I wasn’t anticipating the turbulance the first week would posess.

For the first week, there would be no Friday afternoon games. Just a Friday night game, and early Saturday games with just two Saturday night games. And then things went askew. Continue reading “2020 Week S2 (Maryland & Pennsylvania)”