Documenting my travels and thoughts from around the country
New Mexico (Week 5)
Well, this Friday I was in Albuquerque for the day and found two games to see. Had I stayed over the weekend, I could’ve seen two more. But, these two would be it for the weekend. My third straight week with two games.
Both games were at the Milne Stadium complex off University Blvd just west of Central New Mexico community College and northwest of the University of New Mexico sports complex, and Isotopes Park.
Kentucky & Indiana (Week 4)
Another two-game weekend. This time crossing over state lines. On Friday night, I was in Florence, Kentucky and walked to the Boone County High School’s Owen Hauck Stadium to watch Boone County host Louisville Male.
Colorado (Week 3)
My first true weekend away from home netted two games in the Centennial State. Being in northeast Colorado, there wasn’t many options that I could easily get to Friday night.
I knew I could see Lamar host Kent Denver on Saturday afternoon, but still wanted a game under the Friday Night Lights. Almost every teams nearby that I checked was on the road. Every Greeley school was on the road or had played Thursday or play on Saturday.
So, I stumbled upon little Kersey, Colorado. Home of the Platte Valley Broncos. Located a few miles east of Greeley on US34, it is a small hamlet that serves as the hub of the eastern Weld County massive 243 square miles school district.
Pennsylvania (Week 2)
A little late getting this posted. This past week was a second marathon of high school football. In all, I totaled ten games in five days. It opened on Thursday night at Don Richards Memorial Stadium in Cortland, Ohio. Cortland Lakeview played host to rival Warren Howland. Was a fun game shown tape-delayed on local TV. Big crowd for a small stadium. The Division IV home team got crushed by the Division II visitors.
Kentucky (Week 1)
Another high school football season kicked off this weekend in Ohio and marked the first weekend of games for me. Suffering from withdrawal, I went all out for my first weekend under the lights. After an absurd 56 games last year, I’ve determined to see if that mark can be beaten. I’ve gotten off to a great start.
2010 Year in Review
I figured it would be interesting to those that have followed along my little high school football odyssey this year to give some numbers and some final thoughts.
I’ll start with some statistics before getting into my opinions of the games. In total, I’ve seen 56 high school games this year. I’ve seen games in 12 different states. I’ve seen games in 21 different venues in 21 different towns. I’ve seen 14 state championship games, 18 state semifinals, and 5 other playoff games.
Pennsylvania (Week 17)
It was by sheer happenstance that I found myself in Hershey, Pennsylvania on Friday morning. I didn’t plan it. It just sort of all came together like a dream. But, there I was, sitting in the parking lot next to the aging Hersheypark Stadium at noon.
Texas (Week 16)
Well, my travels found me in Dallas for the weekend. There were a few games I could’ve gone to, but only one that looked interesting. It was a 5A/4A state semifinal doubleheader at SMU’s Gerald S. Ford Stadium in Dallas.
In the UIL, the playoff dates, times, and locations are determined by the two participants by mutual consent (or by lot in the event of a disagreement). Denton ISD had two teams playing this weekend. 5A Denton Guyer and 4A Denton Ryan. By luck, they got their site selections for the semifinals and they chose to make it a doubleheader at Ford Stadium.
Pennsylvania (Week 14)
After the marathon last week, it was a little slower this week. Only six games in three days. An OHSAA Division VI State Semifinal in Steubenville between Shadyside and Mogadore on Friday night. Four PIAA District 7 (WPIAL) championship games at Heinz Field on Saturday. And a rollercoaster Browns-Panthers game in Cleveland on Sunday.
Wisconsin and Minnesota (Week 13)
This was a weekend I will not forget. I drove a rental car 1,050 miles. I attended sixteen, yes sixteen, high school football games. And, I did it all in a span of four days.
It would be four Wisconsin WIAA title games on Thursday, six Minnesota MSHSL semifinals on Friday, and six Minnesota MSHSL semifinals on Saturday. Sixteen games in 61 hours. This wasn’t just attending a sporting event. This was the decathlon of driving, sleeping, and watching football. Lots and lots of football. Continue reading “2010 Wisconsin and Minnesota (Week 13)”