2024 Week 3 (Ohio & Pennsylvania)
I had very different plans for this week at the start of the season. Originally, this was another travel week. Planning a Friday night game in Eastern PA with a doubleheader in Waverly, New York. However, my Friday night plans changed and adjusted my Saturday schedule to accommodate it. Which was, partially, my original Saturday night choice.
For personal reasons, I had chosen to photograph the Cardinal Mooney game on Friday night. My daughter would be there. And I wasn’t going to miss it. But this ended my plans for New York. Which, in a way, turned out alright, as my planned Friday night contest between Canton and Athens was pushed back to Saturday as well.
Thursday, however, was up to a few options. In District 10, there were two games. Hickory was hosting Conneaut, while General McLane was hosting Oil City. I had originally chosen to cover the Hickory-Conneaut game as it was a short drive from home. And I had a long Saturday planned. And wanted to keep travel to a minimum.
But there was another option. In Richmond, Ohio the Edison Wildcats were hosting Southern Local. I had been to Edison before. Several times. My first wife was a Jefferson Union alum, and the old school building had eventually assumed the Edison name after a series of consolidations. But it was the old stadium behind the high school. A small grass field named Cartwright Field. It was about what you would picture for a small, rural district.
Meanwhile, Edison Unified Sports Complex, as labeled on the press box, featured all new turf field, LED lighting, and track. As well as softball and baseball fields. The old football field now the site of a large fieldhouse hosting the basketball and volleyball games.
It was also going to be my first time ever seeing Southern Local. Which was a surprise considering I had assumed I had seen them at one point while living in Steubenville. But I was mistaken. So, it definitely made up my mind which game to cover.
So on Thursday afternoon, I left Youngstown and headed west through Boardman on US422 to OH11. Taking the freeway south to East Liverpool. Past Patterson Field along OH7. And stopping at the rest area at the intersection with OH213.
I had been through this area once before. OH213 is a very windy, hilly road. And I took the long route through Stanton and by the old high school, which was part of the Edison consolidation. Their field still sits behind the school.
After going up and over a few hills, the route intersects OH152, which goes east/west and taking that toward Richmond. The school sits a couple miles east of the small town.
#30 – Richmond Edison v. Salineville Southern Local
I wasn’t expecting much from the game. All three options were rather one-sided in projections. With Edison a clear favorite. But then Southern Local jumped out to an early lead. And surprisingly, scored again early in the second quarter, to go up 12-0. And it seemed like an upset was brewing.
But Edison had other ideas with an 83 yard kickoff return on the next play. And if that didn’t demoralize the Indians, an interception that quickly turned into taking the lead, definitely did. In only a few plays, culminating with a 46 yard TD pass. Edison added another score late in the first half. And a 9-point lead felt insurmountable.
With a 21-12 lead, the second half felt like we were finally getting close to the running clock that was within range of the prediction. A touchdown midway through the third curtailed that, as Southern Local cut the lead to 28-18. Edison added one more score, that I missed while switching ends, to go up 35-18. Yet, still, in the fourth quarter Southern Local was not about to let up. Another TD by their QB Timmy Potts made it 35-24. With 11:15 left. Though they were making it close, it never felt like Edison was at risk.
And just a couple minutes later Edison would add the final score of the game from 9 yards out. A comfortable 42-24 victory for the home team. Edison was a 40-24 favorite in the game.
It was my first time seeing the Southern Local Indians. My 1,601st new team, and 228th team from Ohio. While Edison United Sports Complex was my 503rd stadium for a high school football game.
It was a quick walk back to my truck. And headed back on OH152 toward OH213. Opting to take OH152 instead to Empire. And nearly hit a deer just a few miles from the school. Luckily, I saw the first one and slowed. As the second decided to follow its friend. The drive down to the river wasn’t any better than just following OH213. But on OH7 took that north to OH11 and cut up through North Lima to OH7. Stopped for Sheetz. Found they had Mexican Sprite. Got one with some brats. And got home to process photos.
The next day, I went to Boardman with my daughter. Stopping at Southern Park Mall for a pic of the Yohio sign. Though technically not in Youngstown, it was close enough for me. I was going to get the welcome sign on I-680, but thought this would do.
With the threat of rain in the forecast, I decided to only take my zoom lens camera with me. And showed up at the stadium a little after 6pm.
I had been to Stambaugh Stadium several times in the past. Surprisingly only once for a Youngstown State game. But several times for Cardinal Mooney or Ursuline games. And my second time on the field.
I went out onto the field, started photographing things and found my daughter getting ready on the field as well. That was a fun experience as this was her first time on the field at YSU. She’s been on other fields, including Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. But this was her first college stadium.
#31 – Youngstown Cardinal Mooney v. Steubenville
Steubenville was the favorite in this one. And I was expecting easy work by Big Red. The crowd wasn’t nearly as impressive as I was expecting. The threat of rain, live television in Steubenville, and Stambaugh Stadium’s massive structure dwarfing the crowd that did attend.
And then Cardinal Mooney struck first. A long 70 yard kickoff return setup 1st and 10 at the 25. On 4th and 4, Carlos Gomez caught a 21-yard pass for a TD. Steubenville answered with a field goal. But trailed, 7-3 after twelve minutes.
The rain held off for a while, before the skies opened. Many stadiums in the area experienced delays, but at Stambaugh Stadium, the game trudged along. Mooney took advantage of this, and scored a short TD run, to go up 14-3. A minute later, a long pass to Ziare Scurry made it 14-11. Which would hold through halftime.
In the third, Steubenville’s dominance started to show, as Aiden Davis went in for six from a yard out. Not once. Not twice. But three times in the second half. Pushing their lead to 31-14. By this point, as the minutes ticked down, I was ready to leave. Rain had slowed to a nuisance but a storm was fast approaching again. Mooney slowed the game to a crawl to score one last TD. While I stood in the far endzone, they scored to the south endzone, on a 6 yard pass. I put the tweet out for it, and then waited for the final seconds to get the handshake shot. And leave. Steubenville holding on to win, 31-21.
I stopped at McDonald’s on the way home for a burger. And then did photos that night. Getting things done around 3am. And was up before 9am to head on a three-hour drive to my first game of the day.
Before the New York trip was cancelled, I had found that Port Allegany had a home game scheduled for Saturday afternoon. They regularly hold one afternoon game a year, for homecoming, after years without having lights. But this year they also had this game scheduled for the afternoon. It was a big game between two 2-0 teams.
I left heading east to PA218, to I-376. And I-80 east to Clarion. This is a familiar route to me. As PA66 is the easiest route to the northern reaches of the Allegheny National Forest. Along with most of Route 6 east of Warren.
I followed PA66 to Kane, and cut east to US6. Following it through Mt. Jewett and Smethport. And eventually reaching Port Allegany. Stopping for a photo of the welcome sign. And sending the tweet. Or, thinking I had. Turns out, the internet was not cooperative for me.
I drove up to the field, parking in the grass past the entrance, and walking in. I didn’t take my wide angle lens in again. Because of the threat of rain once again. I found the rosters from those selling programs. I would’ve bought one, but with rain, was just going to become a clump of paper fibers unless I walked it back out to my truck.
But it was then that I learned, trying to send pre-game tweets, that nothing was going through. And nothing would load, either.
So, I was forced to document the game as drafts. And post them after the game. Something I have had to do a few times.
#32 – Port Allegany v. Redbank Valley
It is rare, today, that I see a new team in Pennsylvania. Port Allegany marked my 258th different team in the Keystone State. It was also my 504th different stadium. It was strange that I had thought for the longest time that I had seen Port Allegany previously.
I had planned, a decade ago, to do a Sheffield game one weekend, and a Port Allegany game the next. But, Sheffield was having their one good year in forever, and I went back to Wolverine Mountain instead of the slightly longer drive to Port Allegany. And then every year since, I have passed on their afternoon game. Usually due to lack of a night game to pair with it. But not this year. Though it could be tight driving between the two.
Redbank Valley was the favorite in this game. But it never felt like it. The Gators opened up with a quick 22 yard TD run. Before Redbank Valley tied it at 8-8. A second Aiden Bliss TD made it 15-8. Before a safety set the score at 15-10 after one.
That’s when Tristan Kiser got off to a big day, with a 10 yard run for six. And then an 89 yard kickoff return for six. And followed with a 93 yard pick six.
The first half was dragging on. Taking well over an hour with still time remaining. I needed the game to take less than three hours to comfortably get to my night game. And as enjoyable as a 38-24 halftime game was, it was eating into my time.
Aiden Bliss scored early in the third, before Tristan Kiser scored his fourth touchdown of the day. An Al Bundy award winner that I didn’t note at the time. The 52-24 lead made it exceedingly close to a running clock. Just needing one more score and a quick finish to a great game that quickly got out of hand.
And Bliss did it, a second Al Bundy award winner in the same game. From 18 yard out on the ground. The 59-24 lead started the running clock with 1:37 left in the third.
Redbank Valley wasn’t done, however. Connecting on a 32 yard TD pass to cut the lead to 59-31. With 11:22 left. After a disastrously short punt, Rylan Rupp scored his second of the day, on a 29 yard catch, to cut the lead to 59-38. With 8:26 left, the clock continued to run. It almost felt like Redbank Valley could do it. Their quick strike passing game was working as Port Allegany seemed to be coasting the final frame away.
And then Kiser added his fifth of the day. From 66 yards out. And went up 66-38 with 7:54 left. The rest of the game chipped away at the clock. Play after play. And neither team scored.
I had gotten to talk to Protime, a fellow football junkie, at the game. Who was writing the article for the game. But as soon as the final whistle blew, I got the handshake photo, and made a quick exit from the stadium and down the streets through town.
Just outside of town, I got internet working again as notifications and alerts popped up. And I stopped to send all my saved tweets. And then continued to head west along US6 to Smethport.
In town, I stayed straight on PA59 shortcutting to Warren. Along the way, you pass by Kinzua Reservoir and the similarly named Kinzua Dam.
It was starting to rain, so I just pulled up, hopped out for the photo, and jumped back in. Following PA59 to US6 in Warren. And taking the bypass around town to Youngsville. Stopping briefly at the Dairy Queen for my food of the day. Got the Flamethrower burger sans Tomatoes. And ate on the way. Following US6 with the intermittent rain rather than the ‘shortcut’ Google Maps wanted me to take along PA27 and some other backroads into Cambridge Springs.
It was a few minutes longer, but the trip around Corry and Union City was a much easier path to where US6 and US19 combine together near Mill Village.
With the slower driving and the stop at Dairy Queen, I got into the school by 6:45. And then was looking for parking. It was aggravating how discombobulated the parking lot situation was at Cambridge Springs. The main rows right near the entrance was extremely narrow with no exit. And many open spots that were just impossible to get into as many with large pickups seemed to refuse the idea of backing their tailgates over the grass, even staying wheels on the pavement. I left that row, and went searching elsewhere behind the school. Many spots were left inaccessible as the unlined spots were spaced out too far. I went back around the block outside the school, and finally decided I was just going to make one of those first row spots work. This time, backing in to the right around a van and beside a Ram truck. Which took some time, but finally got in the spot. However, there was no way I was exiting this spot early. I would need either the Ram or the minivan to move first.
I was close to the field. But still showing up onto the corner of the grass field, slick with rain, just before the players ran onto the field.
#33 – Cambridge Springs v. Greenville
The game was over as soon as it started. Greenville returned the opening kickoff for the touchdown. Just 16 seconds in, Greenville had the winning points. Going on to win via shutout, 17-0. In the second quarter, Jackson Leskovac went 30 yards on a pass from Cael Thurber, to double the lead to 14-0. Late in the third quarter, Greenville solidified the win, with a 21 yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, a late drive to run out the clock ended things. Giving Greenville the convincing Class 1A, Region 2 win, and a 2-1 record.
After the game, I left the school and stopped at the Dollar General for something to drink. But the store was closed with all the lights on. Heading south on US19, at the roundabout in Saegertown, I stopped at the Dollar General there. After also picking up something for the house, I followed US6/US19 south into Meadville. Taking the French Creek Pkwy freeway stub around the west side of town to the Smock Highway Viaduct across the tracks to I-79. Then I-79 to I-80 to Hubbard. And home.
Overall it was a fun weekend with three new stadiums, and two new teams. Friday was a fun night despite the rain. But so many other options available I passed on. There was talk of two different games postponed to Monday, but neither one panned out. Karns City and Smethport both rumored to play on Monday after postponing Friday night games.
ECONOMICS
The weekend was fairly cheap, considering the two longer trips. Total mileage was 476 miles. Of which 123 were on Thursday to Edison and 341 miles on Saturday for Port Allegany and Cambridge Springs. Gas was just $12. But would have been a tad more if I topped off when I got home. I did not. And food was $76. That included food for my daughter and myself. Steak’n’Shake, McDonalds and Dairy Queen. $12 at Dollar General Saturday. Including something for home. And $11 at Sheetz Thursday night.
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
2024 Statistics
33 Games
66 Teams
14 Stadiums
6 States
33 New Teams
10 New Stadiums
1,602 different teams
505 different stadiums
1,493 total games
NEXT WEEK
I plan to be in Nebraska. There is no Saturday games in the state. So, Thursday is preliminary planned to be Heartland Lutheran hosting Dorchester in Grand Island. Which would be my second game in Grand Island, at two different stadiums. And Friday night in Sidney, Nebraska. Where I was earlier this year. They host the Holdrege Dusters at Weymouth Field.
For photos from this game, and others this weekend, click HERE.
For photos from previous weeks and seasons, visit http://www.flickr.com/sykotyk/sets/