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Around District 11: The Travels of Guy & Pam Week Seven: We Gave Up a Night of Football…for Football

Tagged under: District 11, News

| October 13, 2022

Around District 11: The Travels of Guy & Pam

Week Seven: We Gave Up a Night of Football…for Football

2022.9.  Two games this week, one outside of Pennsylvania and one of the most elusive on the D11 HitList.

After going to a PIAA high school game all 16 Fridays last year, and the first six Fridays this year, we finally passed on high school football this Friday…for football.  Our friend Edward graduated from Rutgers.  He eventually moved south and became a librarian at the University of Alabama.  We visited him in Tuscaloosa, but not during football season.  However, Pam did get to check off one of her bucket list items when the three of us went to see Alabama vs. LSU in SEC Gymnastics.  A few years ago, Edward moved west and is now the librarian at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.  A couple of months ago, he emailed Guy that he was coming home to visit his mom, and would we like to join him for the Rutgers football game against Nebraska?  Of course we said yes, assuming the game was on Saturday.  But Rutgers was playing a rare Friday night game, thus causing us to miss our first PA high school Friday in two years.

On Saturday we again had to take a pass on the PSAC, as Pam’s best friend from college undergrad, who was also a school district colleague of Guy’s, passed away earlier this year from pancreatic cancer, and her memorial gathering was Saturday afternoon.  In the evening, we did have the option of Allentown Central Catholic football but instead went with Kutztown University D3 club ice hockey.  It was our 8th Kutztown team to see play this year.  Kutztown also fields a D2 team.  On Sunday we headed to the McCann Ice Rink in Poughkeepsie, NY for Marist College ice hockey and rink #166 for Guy, with Pam not too far behind.

On Monday we pulled a D11 thorn and were very pleased to see the Lehighton JV football team play at their “Old Football Stadium.”  Of the five D11 teams that play their JV games on fields different from where the varsity plays, this may be the toughest get.  That’s because they don’t play all of the JV games at the old stadium, just when there is a varsity game on the newer “All Purpose Turf Field.”  We tried twice last season for the old stadium, but struck out both times.  On Monday, there was a varsity girl’s soccer game on the turf field, and we were able to pick off the old stadium.

THE FINAL FOUR.  The Lehighton old stadium was number 55 of 59 for D11, all in two seasons.  We are now down to the final four, and with a plan.  Of the four, Schuylkill Haven and Pottsville have to be varsity games, and we have those scheduled for the next two Fridays.  Pocono Mountain East can be either varsity or JV according to our criteria.  They have a home JV game scheduled for October 24, and if they end up not playing that one they have their Week 10 rivalry game against Pocono Mountain West four days later.  The fourth is the ACC JV team who plays their home games at Percy Ruhe Park in Allentown.  Although we are 0-2 in attempts there for this year, they still have two more home game scheduled, on October 17 against Whitehall and October 31 against Becahi.  We are cautiously optimistic that they will play at least one of those games.  Note that the October 24 Pocono Mountain East JV game is also against ACC, so we need some cooperation there.

GAME 27.  FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2022.   NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS @ RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS.  On Friday we headed to New Jersey for our first college football game in that state, having previously seen the NFL Jets play at the Meadowlands.  Rutgers is a historical site for football, as it is “The Birthplace of College Football” in 1869.  That year the first intercollegiate football game was held on November 6 on the Rutgers campus in New Brunswick. Rutgers (then known as the Queensmen) defeated Princeton 6-4.  In a return matchup at the other campus, Princeton defeated Rutgers.  Historian Parke Hill Davis researched the sport and named “National Champions” for each year prior to the beginning of officially naming a champion at the end of each season.  He declared Rutgers and Princeton as “co-champions” of the first season of 1869.  You can now buy Rutgers tee shirts that declare Rutgers the “1869 National Football Champions.”  All in good fun.

Incidentally, Parke Hill Davis played for Princeton from 1890-1892, and eventually spent three years as a head coach of Lafayette College in Pennsylvania (1895-1897), before leaving football to become a prominent attorney in Easton, and was eventually elected District Attorney of Northampton County.

We planned to arrive early at the game so Edward could spend as much time enjoying his return to his old stomping grounds.  We had literally no traffic issues en route, arriving at 4:00 for the 7:00 kickoff.  Rutgers has what they call the “Boardwalk,” which is lined with about 20 food trucks and picnic tables.  We looked forward to that with great anticipation, and planned on eating there.  The band and cheerleaders marched through the Boardwalk on their way to the stadium, and a few minutes later the team busses passed by as well.  These were top quality trucks, and the food was great.  But high-end food trucks and major college football also means beaucoup bucks, and we quickly spent $90 on dinner, which included no alcohol and a pair of free sample Cokes.

When it was time to enter the stadium, we breezed right through with no line and no security hassles.  The game at the 52,000 plus seat stadium was announced as a sellout.  When the game started at 7:00, there were thousands upon thousands of empty seats.  Apparently traffic became a major issue for those coming after work.  During the middle of the first quarter, someone posted an online picture of the line to get in the stadium and it numbered in the hundreds.  People continued to arrive all the way up until halftime.  Motto of the story, if you go to a Rutgers game on a Friday, get there early and soak in all the pre-game atmosphere and activities.  The alternative is traffic jams, parking hassles, and lines to get in the stadium.

The renovated stadium is nice and we had a great view from our seats.  We always enjoy seeing a new stadium or arena.  It was a good game, with the first half all Rutgers, who led 13-0 at the break.  The second half was all Nebraska, who outscored the Knights 14-0 to eke out a one-point win.

For the most part we really enjoyed the entire experience, but there is a reason why we generally avoid D1 FBS football, or what we call Corporate Football.  Our main frustration is the endless media timeouts that slow the pace of the game.  If a team doesn’t snap the ball in 40 seconds it’s delay of game, but a TV sponsor can delay the game for five times as long and get preferential treatment, as money talks.  Games that used to last three hours are now pushing four.  We would have been just as happy at a Skook League game.

Only used to Penn State games at this level, where there are twice as many people, we were pleasantly surprised and impressed by how easily we got out and back on the highway after the game.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL IN NEW JERSEY.  We had read that Pennsylvania had over 60 college football teams, more than any other state.  While sitting at the Rutgers game, we tried to brainstorm colleges in New Jersey that had football.  We could come up with very few.  Back home, Guy tried to do a quick search to get a (very) tentative count, coming up with just a dozen.  NCAA D1 FBS: Princeton Tigers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights. NCAA D1 FCS: Monmouth Hawks.  NCAA D2: None.  NCAA D3: The College of New Jersey Lions, Montclair State Red Hawks, Rowan Profs, Farleigh Dickinson-Florham Devils, Kean Cougars, William Paterson Pioneers.  Junior College: Sussex County Community College Skylanders, New Jersey Warriors (Open to any NJCC student).  Sprint Football: Caldwell University Cougars.

GAME 28.  MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2022.   BANGOR SLATERS JV VS. LEHIGHTON INDIANS JV @ OLD FOOTBALL STADIUM.  We spent a lot of time at the Lehighton turf field last season, as a number of playoff games with D11 teams were held there.  With one of the best refreshment stands in the district, we like going there for the playoffs.

But this game was at the Old Football Stadium.  While we like the new one, we also enjoy going to see old places as well.  We think of this as a welcomed opportunity to get a peek into the past history of football at Lehighton.   Thanks goes to the girl’s soccer team, who had a home game that evening.  Otherwise, the JV game would have been at the turf field.

The double-header opened with a middle school game.  Lehighton is one of the few schools to charge admission, just a nominal $3.  However, we are not sure if they were still charging by the time the JV game started (late) around 7:00, or not.

As a result of having at one time been the school’s varsity stadium, this is far more complete as far as fan amenities than the other JV-only sites.  This stadium had 1) a refreshment stand, 2) seats, 3) scoreboard, 4) lights, and 5) permanent outdoor restrooms.  Freedom had only two of those five (seats, scoreboard), Becahi had only one (scoreboard), and Nativity didn’t have any.

We arrived during halftime of the middle school game, with Lehighton down 14-0.  With a great second half, they came back to win it 16-14.  In the JV game played before far fewer spectators, the Indians again prevailed by one score, 14-6.  Roll Tribe.

Hoping for two of our final four this coming week, Schuylkill Haven on Friday and Allentown Central Catholic JV on Monday.  Plus, the Executive Education Academy Raptors are a “tentative” first choice for Saturday evening.  Comments, suggestions, feedback welcome at rtryfbar@aol.com.

District 11 Power Ranking Chart Toppers (7 Games)

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

Interesting to note that in 3A, there have been three different teams ranked on top in the pat three weeks: North Schuylkill, then Notre Dame, and currently Northestern Lehigh.

Still three unbeaten teams: Emmaus (6A), Northampton (6A), and Tri-Valley (1A).  Three schools are winless as the Dieruff Huskies nabbed their first win, over Pocono Mountain East.  It will not be their last.  The other 41 have at least one win and one loss.

State Ranked (7 Games)

5) Emmaus Hornets (6A).  5) Northern Lehigh Bulldogs (1A—UP!).  7) Tri-Valley Bulldogs (1A).  8) Nazareth Blue Eagles (6A).  9) Northwestern Lehigh Tigers (3A—UP!).  HM) Notre Dame Green Pond Crusaders (3A).  HM) Northampton Konkrete Kids (6A).  HM) Allentown Central Catholic Vikings (4A).  HM) North Schuylkill Spartans (3A—IN!).  HM) Williams Valley Vikings (2A)

 

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: 55 of 59 (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. POTTSVILLE CRIMSON TIDE (2021–AWAY TEAM/HOME NEUTRAL PLAYOFF SITE)
  42. Salisbury Township Falcons (2021)
  43. Saucon Valley Panthers (2021)
  44. SCHUYLKILL HAVEN HURRICANES (2021—AWAY TEAM/ HOME ALL STAR GAMES)
  45. Shenandoah Valley Blue Devils (2021)
  46. Southern Lehigh Spartans (2021)
  47. Stroudsburg Mounties (2021)
  48. Tamaqua Blue Raiders (2021)
  49. Tri-Valley Bulldogs (2022)
  50. Whitehall Zephers (2021)
  51. William Allen Canaries (2021)
  52. Williams Valley Vikings (2021)
  53. Wilson Area Warriors (2021)

 

ALL-STAR GAMES THAT INCLUDED D11 PLAYERS

 

  1. Colonial League vs. Schuylkill League All-Star Game (2022 @ Schuylkill Haven)

55 Lehigh Valley All-Star Football Classic (2022 @ Nazareth)

  1. PSFCA East vs. West Small School All Star Game (2022 @ Bishop McDevitt)
  2. PSFCA East vs. West Big School All Star Game (2022 @ Bishop McDevitt)
  3. PSFCA Pennsylvania vs. Maryland Big 33 Game (2022 @ Bishop McDevitt)
  4. 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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