Around District 11 We Go: The Travels of Guy & Pam Week 3, 2022 – PSAC Edition
Tagged under: District 11, News, Pennsylvania Colleges
Guy Smith | September 14, 2022
Around District 11: The Travels of Guy & Pam
Week Three: Tour de PSAC
2022.5. Another four football game week for Pam & Guy. We started out with a high school varsity game on Friday night. On Saturday, we began the latest of our quirky goals, a two-year plan to visit all 16 colleges (+1) in the NCAA D2 PSAC, dubbed our “Tour de PSAC.” After a racing rainout at the Kutztown Fairgrounds on Sunday, we were back on the high school trail Monday, a JV game at Bethlehem Catholic High School, one of the four regular alternate JV home game sites in District 11.
GAME 14. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2022. PALMERTON BLUE BOMBERS @ PALISADES PIRATES. Palisades was one of the six remaining D11 schools we didn’t visit last year or this. We had been to Palisades twice before, once traveling to see our Catasauqua Rough Riders play there years ago, and more recently, but still a few years back, for a neutral site playoff game.
We stopped in Bethlehem on the way to take Pam’s 95-year-old stepfather to lunch. Interestingly enough, my mother and Pam’s stepfather went to Allentown High School together, graduating in 1945 and were in the National Honor Society together. They had no contact for the next 45 years, until we became a couple in 1990.
There are a couple of unique things about Palisades High School. One, they are the only of the 47 District 11 football schools in Bucks County. The rest are in District 1. We do not know the backstory of why Palisades is in District 11, but the more the merrier. You can tell Palisades is in a county south of the rest of the district, because they sell “Italian Water Ice,” while the other D11 schools that sell that item just call it “Italian Ice.” And of course there is the way-cool pirate ship.
The Palmerton Blue Bombers were the visiting team, and looked to be the favorite based on their unblemished 2-0 record. Palisades entered the game 1-1.
We didn’t eat much at the refreshment stand, due to having lunch on the way. They had fries, but they were not fresh cuts. The most unique item on the menu was a “bowl of noodles,” booed by the Palmerton crowd who defended their home field haluskies.
This was one wild game, with no fewer than 13 touchdowns. Incredibly, it was almost evenly balanced, seven for the home team and six for the visitors. Not only did this game end as a one-score win for the home team, even with 13 TDs, no team ever had a two-score lead the entire contest.
One trend in high school football we do not feel is a positive step is the “time-creep” seemingly prevalent at the majority of games. Games keep getting longer and longer, and 48 minutes of play can now easily last three hours. It did on this occasion, with no unforeseen delay attributed to weather, technology, or serious injury. Chalk this one up to the referees, who seemingly spent more time huddled up than either of the teams. Why a dead ball flag for movement before the snap requires a several minute consultation is something beyond our pay grade (and then they waved it off). That’s why we just watch, I guess.
This nail-biter ended a 47-40 win for the Pirates; congrats to them on the win.
GAME 15. SATURDAY AFTERNOON, SEPTEMBER 10, 2022. GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS @ MILLERSVILLE MARAUDERS. Here we go. The plan is to see all 16 PSAC teams, plus former PSACer Mansfield play at home in the next two seasons. Targeting nine of 17 this season, with 3 of 8 being long-distance western division schools. We are saving the majority of the west teams until next year, when Pam is also retired. Guy has already been to six PSAC schools for games, Pam five. But as always when we start these quests, we reset the counter to zero and start over. More fun that way.
Thus, the Millersville Marauders became team number one. We had been to this stadium before for the NCAA D2 National Field Hockey Championship game won by Slippery Rock over West Chester. We had also been to campus before for a Women’s Club Soccer game during our 41-team Bloomsburg University “All Sports, All Teams, All In” tour. And Guy had been to the gym for Pennsylvania Kings minor league pro basketball. First time for football though.
Gannon headed east with a 1-0 record, winning their non-PSAC opener against Charleston, WV 47-10. Millersville was 0-1, losing their opener to Saint Anselm 28-10.
Millersville has 13 players from District 11 on their roster: Bethlehem Catholic (4), Freedom (2), and one each from Easton, Notre Dame, Whitehall, Pottsville, Parkland, and Pocono Mountain West
Fresh cuts were in the house, and based on both taste and price, Millersville’s “Bricker’s Fries” moved to the top of our “King of the Spud” rankings over “Jackie’s Fries” at Northern Lehigh, with North Schuylkill’s own rounding out the current podium. The main refreshment stand also had a pretty tasty sausage for five bucks.
A good crowd was in the home team stands, while not unexpectedly, not too many traveled all the way from Erie to Millersville to cheer for Gannon.
It was a hot one, but another good game as for the second day in a row, it was a one score game. Gannon won 16-10, but Millersville was still playing for the win on the last play of the game. That’s what makes football such a great sport.
By the way, the college game with 15-minute quarters lasted less time than the high school game the night before, as the refs didn’t require a conference call with nearly every hanky.
GAME 16. SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 10, 2022. INDIANA CRIMSON HAWKS @ EAST STROUDSBURG WARRIORS. We stayed until the final play, and then headed out for the second game of the PSAC double header. In the past, we had done football doubles that included one college and one high school game, and once we even did a football triple with a college game and two high school games (without moving the car). And we had done many days with multiple college sporting events, one being football. But until today, we had never done a college football double.
We decided that even if we missed the very beginning of the second game, we were going to stop at home to feed and flip the cats. We have cats that don’t get along, so when we are not home we lock one in a couple rooms and let the others free to move about the house. We stopped at home and let the one cat out, while locking two others into their two (a different two) rooms while we went to the second game. We call that “flipping the cats.”
We would have made it on time if not for the parking situation at ESU. They charge $5 for closer parking, while further away was free. Always wanting to support the schools where we attend games, we handed over $5. The problem was that by arriving late as we did (ten minutes before kickoff), the paid parking was already full. The students selling the parking were zero help in directing us, they just shrugged their shoulders (“I’m new”) and kept selling more $5 parking passes where there were no more spaces. Thankfully, a cop told us we could park past the end of a row where there was no actual parking space, assuring us that no one would ticket or bother the car. Because of the parking snafu, we missed the first series, but only by sight, not sound.
It’s not common to find evening games in the PSAC, the vast majority of them on Saturday afternoons. This was ESU’s only home night game this year. Our PSAC loyalties lie with Kutztown and Bloomsburg, but East Stroudsburg is closest to our home. After seeing this crowd ESU might want to rethink this for future seasons. This was our fifth time seeing a game here, and without question this was the best crowd of any of the five. It was a great crowd for D2.
The ESU roster is chock full of District 11 grads: East Stroudsburg South (4), Parkland (3), Becahi (2), Stroudsburg (2), Whitehall (2), Freedom (2), Easton (2), and one each from Dieruff, Salisbury, Liberty, Bangor, Northern Lehigh, Pocono Mountain East, Northampton, and North Schuylkill.
ESU has a small refreshment stand, one that would not hold up well against the Skook high school offerings. There were no fries. The most interesting item was a bratwurst with kraut, and we both tried one of those, Pam sans the kraut.
IUP came into the game 1-0 and unranked nationally, but they were included in the “others receiving votes” category.
What a game this one was! IUP looked like they could score at will and jumped out to a 20-0 lead. Suddenly, ESU discovered that their speedy receivers could get behind the IUP defenders and they used a long pass game en route to ripping off 28 consecutive points. Nearing the end of the game, it was knotted at 35-35. ESU got the ball but went three-and-out. IUP quickly drove into field goal range, and won it on the final play, 38-35.
Both college games had the team with the ball going for the win on the last play. For Millersville, it didn’t happen. For IUP, it did. What a game!
GAME 17. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022. NAZARETH BLUE EAGLES JV @ BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC GOLDEN HAWKS JV.
The reason we headed to Bethlehem for this game is because while Bethlehem Catholic plays their varsity games at the BASD Stadium, they have a field at their school where they play their JV games. This was our second D11 “Alt-JV” site in the first three weeks of the season. The field has a full scoreboard, but no seating. Bring your lawn chairs. There were no refreshments available for the football game, but there was a refreshment tent with drinks and snacks at the adjacent soccer game.
A number of the District 11 JV games were cancelled due to the incoming weather, but this game, our first choice, went on as scheduled. It was the proverbial birds of prey vs. the birds of pray. We went from seeing the Crimson Hawks (IUP) to seeing the Golden Hawks. Might have to go see the Lehigh Mountain Hawks to complete the “Hawk Trilogy.”
The most vivid memory from our trip to Becahi this week was that it was the most gnats that we have ever seen assembled in one place at the same time. Seemed like millions of the annoying little pests. We’re sure it’s just a seasonal thing and not all the time, but they don’t need a turf field here, they need a crop duster!
People have noticed that we have been going to a lot of JV games. In fact, in 13 weeks (ten last year and the first three this year), we have gone to 13 JV games. The question we are most often asked is whether or not they charge admission for those games. The answer is usually not. Of the 13 games we have attended, all at different locations, 11 were free and 2 charged admission. Not charging were Northampton, ES South, Bangor, Stroudsburg, Nazareth, Southern Lehigh, Whitehall, Freedom (BASD), Allen, Freedom (School), and Becahi. The two that charged admission were Northwestern Lehigh (and tickets had to be purchased online), and Jim Thorpe.
Guy has a pet peeve about the JV games and yesterday it really affected the outcome. A lot of the JV games are linked with a corresponding junior high game, which is always played first. And almost universally they only allot 90 minutes for the entire junior high game plus the transition time between the end of the first game and kickoff for the JV. It NEVER happens. EVER. Every JV game that follows a junior high game starts late. How many years is this going to be the case before they adjust the scheduled start times to something realistic?
The JV game started a bit over a half hour late. The two teams played a scoreless first half. With five minutes to go in the third quarter and the game still scoreless, the referees announced there was lightning two or three miles away and called the game, which was still scoreless. Had the game started on time, they would have either finished or at the very least got darn close.
It wasn’t fair to the JV players. Perhaps they should consider alternating which game is played first. That would be fairer to both levels. Or if the junior high games must come first and they are allotted 90 minutes, then end their game when their time is up. It was certainly a disappointing ending to a very interesting defensive struggle.
This coming week we have seven sporting events on the agenda, albeit only three being football, and with one game outside of our D11/PSAC beat. Comments, suggestions, feedback welcome at rtryfbar@aol.com. Finally got the information we were looking for regarding the Lehighton JV football game sites. See you on October 10 at the old field.
NATIONALLY RANKED PSAC TEAMS (AFTER ONE WEEK)
5—Shepherd (Up one from 6)
18—California (up five from 23)
20—Slippery Rock (Up four from 24)
Dropped Out—Kutztown (From 14)
GUY & PAM’S 2022 SCOREBOARD
District 11 & Related—Every School Play Varsity or JV Home Game 2021 or 2022, and a Varsity Game at Some Point All-Time (Bold = Still to See)
Current: 50 of 62
- Allentown Central Catholic Vikings (2021)
- ALLENTOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC VIKINGS (JV—PERCY RHUE PARK)
- Bangor Slaters (2021)
- Bethlehem Catholic Golden Hawks (2021)
- Bethlehem Catholic Golden Hawks (JV High School) (2022)
- Blue Mountain Eagles (2021)
- Catasauqua Rough Riders (2021)
- Dieruff Huskies (2021)
- Easton Red Rovers—Cottingham Stadium (2022)
- Easton Red Rovers—Lafayette College Thanksgiving Day Game (2021)
- East Stroudsburg North Timberwolves (2021)
- EAST STROUDSBURG SOUTH CAVILIERS (GUY IN 2021, PAM WORK)
- Emmaus Hornets (2021)
- Executive Education Raptors (2021)
- Freedom Patriots—BASD Stadium (2021)
- Freedom Patriots JV—FHS Turf Field (2022)
- JIM THORPE OLYMPIANS (2021 JV, NEVER SAW VARSITY GAME)
- Lehighton Indians (2021)
- Liberty Hurricanes (2021)
- Mahanoy Area Golden Bears (2021)
- Marian Catholic Colts (2021)
- Minersville Battlin’ Miners (2021)
- Nativity BVM Green Wave (2021)
- NATIVITY BVM GREEN WAVE (JV—HIGH SCHOOL)
- Nazareth Blue Eagles (2021)
- Northern Lehigh Bulldogs (2021)
- Northampton Konkrete Kids (2021)
- Northwestern Lehigh Tigers (2021)
- North Schuylkill Spartans (2022)
- Notre Dame Green Pond Crusaders (2021)
- Palisades Pirates (2022)
- Palmerton Blue Bombers (2021)
- Panther Valley Panthers (2021)
- Parkland Trojans (2021)
- Pine Grove Cardinals (2021)
- POCONO MOUNTAIN EAST CARDINALS (SAW AT HOME PRE-2021)
- Pocono Mountain West Panthers (2021)
- POTTSVILLE CRIMSON TIDE (2021–SAW AS AWAY TEAM)
- Salisbury Township Falcons (2021)
- Southern Lehigh Spartans (2021)
- Stroudsburg Mounties (2021)
- Tamaqua Blue Raiders (2021)
- Pen Argyl Green Knights (2021)
- Pleasant Valley Bears (2021)
- Saucon Valley Panthers (2021)
- SCHUYLKILL HAVEN HURRICANES (2021—SAW AS AWAY TEAM)
- Shenandoah Valley Blue Devils (2021)
- TRI VALLEY BULLDOGS (ONLY VARSITY SITE NEVER SEEN)
- Whitehall Zephers (2021)
- William Allen Canaries (2021)
- Williams Valley Vikings (2021)
- Wilson Area Warriors (2021)
ALL-STAR GAMES THAT INCLUDED D11 PLAYERS
- Colonial League vs. Schuylkill League All-Star Game (2022 @ Schuylkill Haven)
54 Lehigh Valley All-Star Football Classic (2022 @ Nazareth)
- PSFCA East vs. West Small School All Star Game (2022 @ Bishop McDevitt)
- PSFCA East vs. West Big School All Star Game (2022 @ Bishop McDevitt)
- PSFCA Pennsylvania vs. Maryland Big 33 Game (2022 @ Bishop McDevitt)
- Schuylkill League All-Star Game (2021 @ Schuylkill Haven)
OTHER DISTRICT TEAMS THAT PLAYED/PLAY IN D11 SUBREGIONALS
- 2021 NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY LIONS (D1-3A)
- 2021 ABINGTON HEIGHTS COMETS (D2-5A)
- 2021 WYOMING VALLEY WEST SPARTANS (D2-5A)
2022 Not Yet Determined
OTHER
- PHILLIPSBURG STATELINERS (FORMER EPC SCHOOL)
NCAA D2 PSAC & Related: Every School Play Home Game in 2022 or 2023.
Current: 2 of 17
- BLOOMSBURG HUSKIES
- CALIFORNIA VULCANS
- CLARION GOLDEN EAGLES
- East Stroudsburg Warriors
- EDINBORO FIGHTING SCOTS
- GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS
- INDIANA CRIMSON HAWKS
- KUTZTOWN GOLDEN BEARS
- LOCK HAVEN BALD EAGLES
- MERCYHURST LAKERS
Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews
You must be logged in to post a comment.