2024 Week 10 (Ohio)
Week Ten started on a Tuesday. In a rarity, a postponed game from earlier in the season was made up on a Tuesday before the regular season finale. In addition, I surveyed the schedule and settled on all Ohio games for the first weekend in a long, long time.
Luckily for me, the Tuesday night game was scheduled for 5:30pm. Which meant for an early night. I picked up my daughter from school and headed west. Due to time, I took the Ohio Turnpike west to the Lorain exit. And followed that north to Clearview. Only stopping for a burger at Wendy’s for pregame.
Unfortunately, I did not have my good lens. I had rented a lens for the previous weekend, and was going to rent it again if my lens wasn’t repaired by then. But I wasn’t going to rent it for a single day midweek for one game. So, it was my old 75-300mm variable lens. And with the afternoon kickoff, I was expecting most of the game to be during daylight.
Clearview’s Tom Hoch Field has been redone. With turf. Situated north to south, with a nice canopy, elevated communal area in the southeast corner of the endzone. The field house sits south of the stands.
#52 – Clearview v. Keystone
This was my first time seeing Lorain Clearview or La Grange Keystone. My only other time in this region was at Elyria when they hosted Lorain on a Saturday afternoon. The result of issues between the two fanbases. Though Clearview is unaffiliated with Lorain, it just shared the mailing address.
The game favored the home team, but they just couldn’t do much offensively. At halftime, the Clippers led, 6-0. In the third quarter, Keystone took the lead, 7-6. And then the end of the game went nuts. Clearview recovered the ball deep in Keystone territory late in the game. But couldn’t score. Going four and out. After another series by Keystone ended in a punt. Clearview had one last shot at a touchdown throwing a hail mary that was caught short and then a series of laterals that eventually moved the ball back to where it was thrown from before it ended.
After the game, we drove quickly back along the Ohio Turnpike back to home.
Two days later, I was back with my daughter heading to a game. This time, the choice was Canton Central Catholic. I only chose this one due to the fact I had put off going to a Stark County Holy War for quite some time. The two teams, Canton Central Catholic and Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas usually host their matchup on Thursdays in Week 10. And due to the disparity between the two teams, I found something else.
It was an easy drive over just about an hour to Canton. Taking Tuscararwas Ave west just outside the city limits to Lowell Klinefelter Field. Arriving nearly an hour early.
#53 – Canton Central Catholic v. Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas
This was my first time at this field. And my first time seeing St. Thomas Aquinas. And it wasn’t a great first impressive. The crowd was very subdued. Despite the rivalry. Mostly because the perception it was going to be so one-sided. Though the wavy brick wall around the field was interesting.
The first half was all CCC, and it was difficult to watch. After one drive, it all unraveled. As Canton Central Catholic jumped out to a 48-0 halftime lead. And went on to win 54-7. Though there was nothing competitive about the second half. A running clock and one team content to run it out while St. Thomas Aquinas finally found the endzone for a small bit of consolation.
On Friday, I was planning for two games in southwestern Cleveland and the suburbs. The Senate Athletic League, the league of Cleveland Metropolitan School District teams, play all afternoon games. Usually on Friday. I had contacted ahead to cover the Collinwood-East Tech game at James Ford Rhodes Stadium. I had plans for a night game at Brooklyn. Just a mile-plus down the road from Rhodes.
However, my day’s plans fell apart. Running a bit behind plans, I took the turnpike back west again to I-480. Following that to the State Road Exit. And then heading to the school. The field sits east/west just north of the school. It’s a decent sized facility. And found out that it was closed to fans. But, I was allowed in and was the only media at the game.
#54 – Cleveland Collinwood v. Cleveland East Tech
This was my first time seeing a game at Rhodes. There’s only a few venues left in Cleveland that I haven’t been to for Senate League games. After this day, I have John Marshall, Bump Taylor, and Dwayne Browder left for games. And only a couple of teams.
This was a close, but sluggish game. Neither team could get the ball rolling early. But East Tech found paydirt in the second quarter thanks to a 24 yard TD pass to Cameron Diamond, and sat on a 6-0 lead into the second half.
In the second half, Collinwood finally got on the board in the fourth quarter. A 50 yard catch by Marvin Lloyd tied it. While Dontrel Black Jr. added the winning points on a two-point pass reception. That was the end of it as the game finished quickly. In just under two hours.
Click HERE for article on pafootballnews.com
Ohio’s Senate League: Collinwood 8, East Tech 6 (PHOTO GALLERY)
I had planned to head west to Brooklyn for their game against Cuyahoga Heights. But with the early finish, I had time to head elsewhere. And wanted to find something closer to home. And had decided, ever so briefly, t go to Berkshire in Burton for their game against Chagrin Falls.
And then I got a call from my ex that I my daughter had left something at my house and I needed to get it that night. And it wasn’t going to wait for the end of a game and the long drive home and the time to get it over to her. My daughter was going to be at the Ursuline-Cardinal Mooney game. And I had originally planned to attend it but given the one-sided nature the rivalry had become, I passed on it.
Especially with the shot at a second game on Friday. But with the time, I had time to get to Stambaugh Stadium. But not enough to get home and then back to the field.
So, I rushed over to Youngstown and arrived just twenty minutes or so prior to kickoff. I parked, got my cameras situated again. And batteries. And headed in. This was my first time here for an Ursuline home game and not a Mooney home game. So, was given a little issue getting in. But I was on the sideline and went and saw my daughter first. And setup camp on the Mooney sideline for the game.
#55 – Youngstown Cardinal Mooney v. Youngstown Ursuline
This was my second year in a row seeing the Youngstown Holy War. Something I never would’ve thought just a few years ago. But, you do what you gotta do. Not that doing at a game at Youngstown State is a bad thing. It was my second time seeing Cardinal Mooney this year, as I had been here for their game against Steubenville.
The game itself played out about as expected. Mooney struggled to move the ball while Ursuline found moments to take advantage. And found the endzone. Leading 16-0 at the half.
And added 16 more points in the second half. While rain was threatening in the distance. As I was walking out of the stadium, the rains started. And I raced home. And spent nearly an hour on a side quest.
Click HERE for article on pafootballnews.com
Luckily, my Saturday afternoon game wasn’t such an issue. Just a short drive west to Akron. Of the Akron City Series, only one stadium remained: Kenmore Stadium. The regular home field of the Garfield Rams. Formerly a consolidation of Kenmore and Garfield, but with a new building constructed, just under the Garfield name. They were hosting East. And both teams were new for me as well. The game had a lot of playoff posturing involved.
#56 – Akron Garfield v. Akron East
I parked in the small grass lot west of the field. And got in without my issue. The sidelines for the natural grass field were lumpy. It didn’t feel like a city game. There were bands, and cheerleaders. The old grass field and lively bleachers for a season finale was a great change of pace to the Senate League game the day before.
This game was one of the best of the year. And it was all because of the comeback that wasn’t.
Garfield trailed 28-12 late in the game. And scored a touchdown on a 49 yard pass. And a two-point conversion. Recovering the onside kick, and moving downfield quickly with just a few seconds left. On the last play of the game, Garfield scored with a diving touchdown. But the two-point attempt was a run up the middle that was stuffed by the East defense. Winning the game for them in the process. Garfield’s unbelievable comeback attempt fell short. But oh what a game it was, 28-26 for Akron East.
Click HERE for article on pafootballnews.com
After the game, I a short drive to Southington for my final game of the weekend. The game started at 6pm, so not as much free time. But I paced myself and followed a route northeast through Akron. I had planned to stop for Sushi at an all-you-can-eat Sushi place in Kent near Kent State. Only to find out that it was not all-you-can-eat. You were limited to just 10 pieces. Not ten orders. Not ten rolls. But ten pieces for the $29 price tag. I headed out through Garrettsville and stopped near Southington at the Crossroads Bar & Grille on US422. There I had some Jalapeño Poppers and chicken wings. Was a bit pricy but the wings were good.
I had been wanting to see a Southington Chalker game for years. Or, rather, a game at Southington. There was a brief time when the field lacked lights and all games were in the afternoon. I had seen them once play at Windham. But with their struggles the team didn’t play and then came back as an 8-man club team last year. And this year, for the first time, as a varsity 8-man team playing in the Northern 8 League.
#57 – Southington Chalker v. Holgate
I parked in the lot behind the old school building away from the field. A field which carries a unique name. The Wildcats play at Wildcat Acres. A small stand sits to the east side of the field, while visitors sit to the west. The field is sunken from the road and regularly saw horse and buggies cross behind the south goal posts and scoreboard.
I was the only news source at the game as best I could tell. I took up shop on the visitor sideline and though the lights were a bit dim and Southington Chalker was head-to-toe in black, I made it work.
Chalker opened up with a prolific scoring pace in the first half. Going for onside kicks with each touchdown. And unsuccessful attempts leading to defensive turnovers or stops in good field position. Southington raced out to a 62-8 halftime lead. And never looked back.
The Wildcats would add one more touchdown in the second half of the quickly moving running clock. To win, 68-8.
Click HERE for article on pafootballnews.com
Ohio 8-Man Spotlight: Southington Chalker 68, Holgate 8 (PHOTO GALLERY)
After the game, I made my way to my home along US422 and the Warren Bypass to OH7 and headed south through Hubbard.
ECONOMICS
For the weekend I drove 616 total miles. The gas cost was just $26.64. While food was $119. Most of which was at the Crossroads and the trip to Lorain for the game on Tuesday. Tolls total $36.60 for the two trips out toward Cleveland and points west.
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
2024 Statistics
57 Games
111 Teams
37 Stadiums
12 States
60 New Teams
29 New Stadiums
1,629 different teams
524 different stadiums
1,517 total games
NEXT WEEK
It’s the first week of the playoffs in Ohio and Pennsylvania. As well as consolation games in New York. Wednesday will be a consolation game outside Niagara Falls. Thursday will be a playoff game in Medina. Both new places, with three new teams. Friday will be a playoff game in Ohio between LaBrae and Smithville. Both new teams. While Saturday will be an afternoon game in Brookville (PA) and a night game in Hermitage (PA).
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/