2024 Week 9 (Four States)
After getting home the previous week, I had planned to be in New York for a CSP game, and couple that with a trip to Greenville Saturday night. Thursday was likely to be in Brooke County, West Virginia. So, Friday was the only open spot. And I was hoping to make it so that I would be in four states for the week.
#more
Thursday afternoon my daughter and I left from Boardman and headed south toward Steubenville. Stopping first for gas at Sheetz, and then at Dairy Queen in East Liverpool. After that, it was a quick drive south to Steubenville and across the Veterans Bridge on US22 into West Virginia. Following WV2 south along the river through Follansbee. About halfway between Follansbee and Wellsburg is Brooke High School. The only public high school in the county. A consolidation among Follansbee, Wellsburg, and West Liberty. The school sits just far enough off the road behind a Dollar General, but the stadium lights are easily visible through the valley as you pass by if you were unaware.
I had seen both Brooke and John Marshall in the past. John Marshall at the Rally in the Valley at Wheeling Island Stadium, and Brooke one time in 2013 when they played at Steubenville.
#48 – Brooke v. John Marshall
Parking was easy, as a Thursday night game was going to be less attended than a traditional Friday night game. Plus, the game was televised. My daughter and I got in through the visitor entrance and out onto the field. Brooke Memorial Stadium had plenty of sideline space. But it didn’t matter as the temperature was dropping and it was quite cool.
This game started close, but Brooke slowly pulled away. And what may be a first for me, Brooke kicked four field goals. Something I am certain I had never seen before. Even though I never took note of field goals in the past for a record. Winning 33-6 over the John Marshall Monarchs.
The game moved quickly after the contest was no longer in doubt. And we made a quick drive north to home. On Friday afternoon, it was another nearby game planned. I had a few options. But I wanted to see an Ohio game. And had settled on East Palestine and their quarterback. Rather than a PA game.
I did get the kickoff time incorrect. As it was listed at both 7pm and 730pm online. But it was 7pm and we made a late departure from home. Following I-680 south toward OH626 to OH165 into East Palestine.
East Palestine is noteworthy for the train wreck that happened in the city. There was a strong odor for a while but I hadn’t noticed a smell the past few times I was through town.
With the late arrival, I was surprised to see someone leaving the parking lot just as we pulled in. Expecting to have to turn around and find street parking. It was another cool night, but much more comfortable than Thursday.
#49 – East Palestine v. Leetonia
The Leetonia Bears were not expecting to be competitive in this game. And I mostly chose it for two reasons. I had never seen East Palestine before, and I was told that East Palestine’s quarterback, Owen Jurjavcic, was worth watching. During the game, he brought the team’s all-time season TD record. After already having the yardage record. But the game itself was not competitive. East Palestine ran out to a 38-7 lead after the first twelve minutes. And 52-7 at halftime. With my daughter, we went up in the stands to watch the halftime show. And then waited out the second half with a running clock. Though Leetonia cancelled the running clock late in the game. As East Palestine won, 52-26.
It was a very quick drive home on an early night. And after getting photos finished, was ready for the morning to make the long drive to New York for a 1:30pm game.
Leaving home, I drove up through Pulaski to I-376 to I-80. Following I-79 north to Saegertown. Following US6 east toward Union City and stopping at McDonald’s for some chicken nuggets and french fries.
From there, it was a short drive east along PA8 north to PA474 east into New York. There isn’t much of a welcome sign. But I did stop west of Clymer for their windmill welcome signs.
As I’ve said before, the three-team co-op of Clymer/Sherman/Panama rotates hosting duties among their three football fields. Today’s game was at Clymer Field in Clymer. My daughter was excited for the new playground that was built behind the pressbox. Meanwhile, other upgrades at the field were done to the home stands. Permanently aluminum structures rather than the portable bleachers sitting at ground level.
#50 – Clymer/Sherman/Panama v. Wilson
This game was projected to be one-sided. But CSP played a shaky game early and Wilson’s defense kept it scoreless through one quarter.
The two teams traded touchdowns in the second quarter. It was a warm day in New York, and the sun was unrelenting.
The third quarter, too, was scoreless. As CSP just could not put it all together and Wilson was playing a rather impressive performance of trying to keep pace. But it seemed likely only a matter of time before something to break.
Finally with 5:13 left in the game, CSP found the endzone a second time, on a 9 yard touchdown pass to Carter Brink from Tate Catanese. A two-point conversion made it feel insurmountable, 15-7. As Wilson was unable to move match the score and the game ended, CSP 15-7.
After the game, I stayed on the field while my daughter played more. Talking to a few CSP fans and coaches. And then made the familiar drive southwest to Greenville.
Retracing my drive south to Saegertown and I-79. Stopping at Walmart in Meadville to pick up some things for my dad, and for my house. Back on I-79, exiting at Cochranton and taking US19 south to cut west through familiar backroads to Greenville. Stopping to see my dad for a while. And then over to the school.
The parking was light for the game. As I usually park up past the fieldhouse. And walk down to the gate. They crowd was decent for a Greenville game today. But sparse compared to what I remembered in the late 90s.
#51 – Greenville v. Maplewood
This was the first time, ever, that Greenville played Maplewood. Although Greenville was at one time a much larger school in District 10 while Maplewood is a more recent incarnation of a few smaller rural schools. Until Greenville moved down to Class 1A, there just wasn’t much reason for these two to ever play. That, and Greenville was placed with the northern 1A schools in the regional alignment.
Maplewood brought a small but vocal crowd. And I made my way to the sideline where there was room for my daughter to far from the field. And proceeded to take photos of the game.
Greenville opened up a huge lead early, a 21-0 lead after 12 minutes.
Nick Solderich took up 17 minutes to score four touchdowns. And get the Al Bundy Award for four touchdowns in one game that I usually tweet out. And found out later that was inspiration for a Halloween costume. Greenville doubled their first quarter total, and led 42-6 at the half.
The second half moved quickly with the running clock. And my daughter and I sat up in the stands to watch halftime and the abbreviated second half. The second game of the weekend that we took the second half off to just watch the game from the stands. Greenville scored one last time, while Maplewood added two scores to make the final, Greenville 50-20.
After the game, it was an all-too-familiar drive south along PA18 to Sharon and US62 into Hubbard and points south to home.
ECONOMICS
The whole weekend took just 408 miles of driving. And cost a grand total of $83.53. Most of that was $56.16 for my daughter and I to east at McDonald’s and Dairy Queen. And $27.37 for gas at Sheetz.
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
2024 Statistics
51 Games
100 Teams
32 Stadiums
12 States
53 New Teams
24 New Stadiums
1,622 different teams
519 different stadiums
1,511 total games
NEXT WEEK
The big games on the schedule are an afternoon game in Cleveland on Friday. My first game at Kenmore Stadium in Akron on Saturday between Garfield and East. And Saturday night my first game at Southington Chalker’s Wildcat Acres when they host Holgate.
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/