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2022 Week 11 (Fargo)

2022 Week 11 (Fargo)

In Minnesota, the football playoffs have two segments. The latter are the state playoffs. The eight section champions in each class conduct an 8-team, 3-week tournament culminating with state semifinals and finals at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. To get those 8 section champions, they conduct section championships. And in northwestern Minnesota, as many as they can are scheduled for the Fargodome across the border in Fargo, North Dakota.

A few years ago, I found this out at the last minute, but couldn’t attend more than just two of those eight games. I had prior commitments and couldn’t stay longer. However, this year, I planned to be at them all. Nine games over two days. Continue reading “2022 Week 11 (Fargo)”

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2022 Week 9 (Arizona & New Mexico)

2022 Week 9 (Arizona & New Mexico)

I knew early on I’d be in Arizona for Thursday and Friday this week. So, my biggest issue was finding a Saturday game. Suburban Phoenix had enough in the way of Thursday games and the obvious Friday night contests to choose from. Saturday, though? Not so much. I had thought that Lordsburg, New Mexico had a game on Saturday. It was actually for Thursday. So, I went over things and saw Las Cruces would have games on Friday night and Saturday night. Continue reading “2022 Week 9 (Arizona & New Mexico)”

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2022 Week 8 (Dakotas)

2022 Week 8 (Dakotas)

My week was not going to be a busy one. Being in the Dakotas, I only had a shot at a Friday and Saturday game. There were some Thursday games in Nebraska and Minnesota, but the time to get them, and the distance was just not feasible. So, I settled on one game on Friday near Aberdeen. And Saturday was initially going to be the lone Saturday game in Sioux Falls, but instead I headed north to the closest 9-man playoff game in North Dakota. Continue reading “2022 Week 8 (Dakotas)”

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2022 Week 7 (Indiana)

2022 Week 7 (Indiana)

Week 7 was planned the moment I found the schedule change. In Indiana, there’s two conferences that regularly will schedule an entire weekend’s worth of games at Ball State’s Scheumann Stadium. The Central Indiana Conference (CIC) and the Tri-Eastern Conference (TEC). I had been to Ball State twice in the past for CIC Days, but never yet had seen any of the TEC schools play, or a TEC Day at the stadium. So, when I saw that the TEC would have TEC Day (including an extra interconference game on Friday night), I had to make a return to Muncie. Continue reading “2022 Week 7 (Indiana)”

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2022 Week 6 (Tri-State)

2022 Week 6 (Tri-State)

So, I finally got home from my three week sojourn. Last week, I was in South Dakota for three games in my semi-regular stomping ground of Aberdeen. A town I’ve previously seen summer league baseball games. But, being home meant finding games for this weekend. I had an idea and then my Saturday opened up with one game in a place I’ve wanted to see for a while. But, with games in the Tri-State, I was all over the map. Continue reading “2022 Week 6 (Tri-State)”

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2022 Week 5 (South Dakota)

2022 Week 5 (South Dakota)

My second weekend away from home took my back to a familiar place. North Dakota. However, there was just the simple matter of getting there. And I had a group of games in mind. In South Dakota, there was two doubleheaders at Northern State University in Aberdeen.

Aberdeen is a city I’ve been to many times in the past. One of those towns that’s deceptively large. Located in north central South Dakota, I’ve seen several Hub City Hotshots games in the old Expedition League. But, never a high school game in town. In fact, I wasn’t even aware that Northern State had built their own stadium. Formerly, they played at the High School’s Swisher Field. Continue reading “2022 Week 5 (South Dakota)”

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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)”