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Around District 11: The Travels of Guy & Pam Week Eight: New Find!

Tagged under: District 11, News

| October 19, 2022

 

2022.10.  Pam and Guy hit three football games this past weekend, as well as college softball and rugby, plus racing.

 

We started on Friday at Schuylkill Haven.  We had been to this field twice in the past year, once for the SCFCA Senior All-Star Game last November, and once this spring for the Schuylkill vs. Colonial All-Star Game.  But to get the “Golden Ticket” for the stadium, we had to see Schuylkill Haven play a home varsity game there.

We have fallen behind the initial plan for the PSAC NCAA D2 games on Saturdays.  Too many other options get in the way.  Last Saturday morning and afternoon was again one of those days.  Kutztown University softball was playing a morning double header against Moravian, while on the adjacent field there was a rugby triple-header.  The Golden Bear women started off against Salisbury.  Then the men played a Rugby East conference match against Saint Bonaventure, followed by a JV (B-Side) game between the two.  We then headed to the Oaklane Quarter Midget Speedway to watch an hour of kids racing at their annual season ending Pumpkin Races, before ending the day at Muhlenburg College for the Executive Education Academy football game against Belmont Charter.

On Sunday, while Pam stayed home to prepare her presentations for the upcoming American Speech-Language-Hearing Association convention in New Orleans next month, Guy headed to Evergreen Raceway for a race in consecutive month #430 (since January 1987).

We capped off the weekend with a JV game for the 18th straight regular season Monday, a first-ever JV visit to Pocono Mountain West.

THIRD TIME WAS NOT THE CHARM.  The original JV plan was again to see Allentown Central Catholic play at their JV home of Percy Ruhe Park in Allentown.  For the third straight time, their home JV game was cancelled.  If it had not been for heavy thunderstorms the first time, this would not have become the thorn in the paw that it has.  But on the second and third tries, the games were cancelled on nice days with no explanation.  We have one more shot at Percy Ruhe this season, on 10/31 for the rivalry game against Bethlehem Catholic.

THE SILVER LINING.  Disappointed in ACC cancelling JV football again, we looked for an alternative.  The choice was Pocono Mountain West, where we had only been once before, for a varsity game last year.  Late in the season, it was dark when we arrived and we did not notice that the practice field had a large grandstand and full scoreboard.  Arriving in daylight on Monday, we noticed.

Guy often strikes up a conversation with the local personnel, and Monday was no exception.  When we started the idea to “See ‘Em All” in District 11 last year, seeing the fields where only the school’s JV teams play was always part of the plan for year two, this year.  Guy has friends that coach in EPC South and Colonial that provided us intel, and we made friends with Skook coaches from Nativity who did the same for those schools.  But we had no contact from EPC North, even though that’s the area where we live.  We assumed that none of the six true North schools played their JV games on different fields.  Some were confirmed, as we saw Pleasant Valley, ES South, and Stroudsburg JV games.

Last week we went to see Lehighton JV play at their Old Stadium, which they use when a varsity sport has a home game the same day as JV football.  Seeing a full-blown stadium almost right next to the turf field, Guy asked whether or not that might also be the case at Pocono Mountain West.  He was told that not only is the old varsity stadium at PM West is used for JV football, most of the JV games are played there on the grass.  Only on rare occasions do they play the JV games on the new turf field.

Although it would have been great if they had been playing at the old stadium Monday, we were happy to hear of another D11 field to explore in the future, while also upping the overall D11 total to 60.

So although we started the week down to our “Final Four” from D11 and we finalized Schuylkill Haven, we are still at four to go.  Unfortunately, it means that we won’t finish the current crop this year as planned, as both ACC and PM West only have one home JV game left on the schedule and they are the same day.  Best-case scenario is we will have to carry over one straggler to year three.

GAME 29.  FRIDAY OCTOBER 14, 2022.   PEN ARGYL GREEN KNIGHTS @ SCHUYLKILL HAVEN HURRICANES.  On paper this looked like a good matchup, both teams entering the game with equal 2-5 records.  But just like the game at Jim Thorpe two weeks earlier that was not the case.

Due to construction last season, the gate at the top of the stadium had been closed on our previous two visits.  The construction is complete, and the top entrance is open once again.

Our other trips here were for special all-star games, and on neither occasion was the home side refreshment stand open.  This was the first for us.  As we always like to sample something unusual if available, we went with the potato soup.  It was fabulous!  Whoever made it likes garlic, and in a happy coincidence, so do we!  Outstanding.  For our main course, we stuck with the burgers straight from the grill at the away side stand.  They don’t have fresh cut fries, but they do have crinkle cuts, the best of the frozen variety.

We thought the battle of 2-5 teams would be closer, but this was all Green Knights.  They put up 39 on the Hurricanes before calling off the dogs and giving up a pair of fourth quarter TDs, after the outcome was already decided.

GAME 30.  SATURDAY OCTOBER 15, 2022.   BELMONT CHARTER TIGERS VS. EXECUTIVE EDUCATION RAPTORS @ MUHLENBURG COLLEGE.  This was another game that turned out to be far less close than expected.  Executive plays their home games at Muhlenburg College.  Unlike every other regular season game we have gone to this year, you cannot buy cash tickets at the gate.  You have to buy them online.  At $7, they are already a buck or two more than most other D11 schools charge, but buying them online outside the stadium added another $1.40 fees and/or taxes to each ticket.  We are sure renting a college stadium is not inexpensive, and are not by any means saying they charge too much.  Just reporting the facts to help make people aware of what to expect.

Last year when we went to see the Raptors at Muhlenburg they had no food or drink available.  This year they did have some limited offerings.  However, not knowing this in advance we ate before arrival and thus bypassed the food stand.  Had we known, we would have eaten at least something at the game to support the school.  At least we know for next time.

We saw the game time listed for both 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. from multiple sources.  Note that the “PA Football News” site had the correct time of 6:00.  “Hollywood” called the crowd “sparse,” but I thought it was pretty decent on the home side.  Not surprisingly single A Belmont Charter, traveling from well outside the district, brought few supporters.

Guy is an Allentown city boy and always will be at heart, so he has a special affinity for the Executive kids.  Since Executive is not in a league and plays an independent schedule, going to see them play can also offer a chance to see teams we have never seen before.  Belmont Charter was an example.  A 6-1 single A school vs. a 3-3 double A school on a three-game skid should be a pretty good matchup.  Or so we thought.

Not gonna lie, Belmont Charter did not impress, basically in any facet of the game.  They really didn’t get close to scoring any points.  It was a fairly easy win for Executive, 28-0.  They very likely could have scored again near the end to start the Mercy clock, but chose not to run up the score.  Hopefully the Raptors are back on track heading to the PIAA playoffs.

GAME 31.  MONDAY OCTOBER 17, 2022.   EAST STROUDSBURG SOUTH CAVILIERS @ POCONO MOUNTAIN WEST PANTHERS.  After our third straight ACC JV cancellation, we looked for a JV game: 1) Not far from home, 2) Not a stadium visited this year, and 3) With an early start.  We found the perfect game at PM West.  Since they had no Freshman/Middle School game, the JV game started at 4:00.  Coach Matt Walters from ESS warned us to dress warm, as it would be much colder at PM West than in Effort.  Matt Walters is one smart cookie.  He told the story of leaving school in nice weather for a baseball game, arriving to find snow accumulating on the field and the game cancelled, then returning home where the weather was still nice enough for the team to hold practice.

Perhaps the smallest JV crowd we have seen in two years was on hand for the opening kickoff, with visitor side spectators outnumbering home side 19-14.  Quite a few more arrived as the game progressed, the early start time obviously having an effect.

As mentioned above, we were later told that most of the JV games are played on the grass at the old stadium, but this one was on the new stadium turf field.  Guy chatted with one of the referees before the game, and we talked about how the shortage of PIAA refs is getting worse.

This one was pretty much all ES South, as they pitched a shutout for our second straight game.  We will absolutely return at first opportunity to see a game on the old field, although since we just found out about it with only one JV game left this season, it may have to wait until next season.

This week’s plan includes football on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Monday.  The schedule change will allow us a bonus game on Thursday, with ACC at home.  Friday it will be Pottsville for one of our Final Four.  Saturday we sort of get back on PSAC track at Kutztown.  And Monday the hope is another of our Final Four at Pocono Mountain East, although since that JV game is against ACC, we are not counting any chickens yet by any means.  If they don’t play, we will probably pick another game since it’s the second last week, perhaps Liberty.  Comments, suggestions, feedback welcome at rtryfbar@aol.com.

THE FINAL FOUR.  1) Pottsville Crimson Tide (V), 2) Pocono Mountain East (V or JV), 3) Allentown Central Catholic (JV), and 4) Pocono Mountain West (JV).

DISTRICT 11 POWER RANKING CHART TOPPERS (8 Games)

1A) Tri-Valley Bulldogs.  2A) Palisades Pirates.  3) North Schuylkill Spartans (Replaces Northwestern Lehigh Tigers who replaced Notre Dame of Green Pond Crusaders).  4A) Bethlehem Catholic (Replaces Allentown Center Catholic Vikings).  5A) Southern Lehigh Spartans.  6A) Emmaus Hornets.

Down to two unbeaten teams, Northampton (6A), and Tri-Valley (1A) as Emmaus lost to Nazareth.  It isn’t easy to run the regular season table.  Three schools remain winless.  The other 42 have at least one win and one loss.

CLINCHED DISTRICT 11 PLAYOFF SPOT (8 Games)

Tri Valley, Northern Lehigh, Palisades, Williams Valley, North Schuylkill, Notre Dame Green Pond, Northwestern Lehigh, Palmerton, Southern Lehigh, Whitehall, Emmaus, Nazareth, Northampton, and Freedom.

STATE RANKED BY PA FOOTBALL NEWS (7 Games)

5) Nazareth Blue Eagles (6A) UP!  5) Northern Lehigh Bulldogs (1A).  7) Tri-Valley Bulldogs (1A).  9) Northampton Konkrete Kids (6A) UP!  10) Emmaus Hornets (6A).  HM) Southern Lehigh Spartans (5A) IN!  HM) Notre Dame Green Pond Crusaders (3A).  HM) North Schuylkill Spartans (3A).  HM) Williams Valley Vikings (2A)

Northwestern Lehigh Tigers (3A—Out).

GUY & PAM’S 2022 FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

 

District 11—Every School Play Varsity or JV Home Game 2021 or 2022, a Varsity Game All-Time, and All Star Games with D11 Players (Bold = Still to See)

 

Current: 56 of 60 (2021-2022)

 

  1. Allentown Central Catholic Vikings (2021)
  2. ALLENTOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC VIKINGS (JV—PERCY RHUE PARK)
  3. Bangor Slaters (2021)
  4. Bethlehem Catholic Golden Hawks (2021)
  5. Bethlehem Catholic Golden Hawks JV–High School (2022)
  6. Blue Mountain Eagles (2021)
  7. Catasauqua Rough Riders (2021)
  8. Dieruff Huskies (2021)
  9. Easton Red Rovers—Cottingham Stadium (2022)
  10. Easton Red Rovers—Lafayette College Thanksgiving Day Game (2021)
  11. East Stroudsburg North Timberwolves (2021)
  12. East Stroudsburg South Cavaliers (2022)
  13. Emmaus Hornets (2021)
  14. Executive Education Raptors (2021)
  15. Freedom Patriots—BASD Stadium (2021)
  16. Freedom Patriots JV—FHS Turf Field (2022)
  17. Jim Thorpe Olympians (2022)
  18. Lehighton Indians (2021)
  19. Lehighton Indians JV–Old Football Stadium (2022)
  20. Liberty Hurricanes (2021)
  21. Mahanoy Area Golden Bears (2021)
  22. Marian Catholic Colts (2021)
  23. Minersville Battlin’ Miners (2021)
  24. Nativity BVM Green Wave (2021)
  25. Nativity BVM Green Wave JV—High School (2022)
  26. Nazareth Blue Eagles (2021)
  27. Northern Lehigh Bulldogs (2021)
  28. Northampton Konkrete Kids (2021)
  29. Northwestern Lehigh Tigers (2021)
  30. North Schuylkill Spartans (2022)
  31. Notre Dame Green Pond Crusaders (2021)
  32. Palisades Pirates (2022)
  33. Palmerton Blue Bombers (2021)
  34. Panther Valley Panthers (2021)
  35. Parkland Trojans (2021)
  36. Pen Argyl Green Knights (2021)
  37. Pine Grove Cardinals (2021)
  38. Pleasant Valley Bears (2021)
  39. POCONO MOUNTAIN EAST CARDINALS (2022—AWAY TEAM/HOME PRE-2021)
  40. Pocono Mountain West Panthers (2021)
  41. POCONO MOUNTAIN WEST PANTHERS (JV—OLD STADIUM)
  42. POTTSVILLE CRIMSON TIDE (2021–AWAY TEAM/HOME NEUTRAL PLAYOFF SITE)
  43. Salisbury Township Falcons (2021)
  44. Saucon Valley Panthers (2021)
  45. Schuylkill Haven Hurricanes (2022)
  46. Shenandoah Valley Blue Devils (2021)
  47. Southern Lehigh Spartans (2021)
  48. Stroudsburg Mounties (2021)
  49. Tamaqua Blue Raiders (2021)
  50. Tri-Valley Bulldogs (2022)
  51. Whitehall Zephers (2021)
  52. William Allen Canaries (2021)
  53. Williams Valley Vikings (2021)
  54. Wilson Area Warriors (2021)

 

ALL-STAR GAMES THAT INCLUDED D11 PLAYERS

 

  1. Colonial League vs. Schuylkill League All-Star Game (2022 @ Schuylkill Haven)
  2. Lehigh Valley All-Star Football Classic (2022 @ Nazareth)
  3. PSFCA East vs. West Small School All Star Game (2022 @ Bishop McDevitt)
  4. PSFCA East vs. West Big School All Star Game (2022 @ Bishop McDevitt)
  5. PSFCA Pennsylvania vs. Maryland Big 33 Game (2022 @ Bishop McDevitt)
  6. Schuylkill League All-Star Game (2021 @ Schuylkill Haven)

 

 

TEAMS THAT PLAYED/PLAY IN D11 SUBREGIONALS OR OTHER RELATED TEAMS (2023)

 

  1. 2021 NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY LIONS (D1-3A)
  2. 2021 ABINGTON HEIGHTS COMETS (D2-5A)
  3. 2021 WYOMING VALLEY WEST SPARTANS (D2-5A)
  4. 2022 HAZLETON COUGARS (D2-6A)
  5. 2022 WILKES BARRE WOLFPACK (D2-6A)
  6. 2022 WILLIAMSPORT MILLIONAIRES (D4-6A)

 

  1. PHILLIPSBURG STATELINERS (FORMER EPC SCHOOL)

 

 

NCAA D2 PSAC & Related: Every School Play Home Game (2022 – 2023)

 

Current: 4 of 17

 

  1. Bloomsburg Huskies
  2. CALIFORNIA VULCANS
  3. CLARION GOLDEN EAGLES
  4. East Stroudsburg Warriors
  5. Edinboro Fighting Scots
  6. GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS
  7. INDIANA CRIMSON HAWKS
  8. KUTZTOWN GOLDEN BEARS
  9. LOCK HAVEN BALD EAGLES
  10. MERCYHURST LAKERS
  11. Millersville Marauders
  12. SETON HILL GRIFFINS
  13. SHEPHERD RAMS (WV)
  14. SHIPPENSBURG RAIDERS
  15. SLIPPERY ROCK ROCK
  16. WEST CHESTER GOLDEN RAMS

 

  1. MANSFIELD MOUNTAINEERS (FORMER PSAC—SPRINT FOOTBALL)

 

 

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