Around District 11 With Pam & Guy: 124 Points in Minersville

Tagged under: District 11, Gameday Hub

Guy Smith | September 25, 2024

2024 Episode 20. Another three-game week for us, beginning with the crazy game in Minersville on Thursday night. On Friday, we visited the last of the six schools from outside of District 11 that were grouped with the district teams in subregions at some point from 2021-2023. The last to visit was the 6A Williamsport Millionaires from District 4. However, we are not done yet. This season, three 1A teams from District 2 are grouped with District 11 for subregional playoffs, thus adding them to our D11-Related list. More on them later. We didn’t go to a Saturday football game. We spent the afternoon in the gallery at Misericordia vs Wilkes NCAA men’s golf, before heading to Philadelphia for an ELO concert in the evening. Monday’s JV game found Guy heading to Percy Ruhe Park in Allentown to see the JV game between rivals Bethlehem Catholic and Allentown Central Catholic.

2024 GAME 32. SCHUYLKILL HAVEN HURRICANES (2A) @ MINERSVILLE BATTLIN’ MINERS (2A). There was a pair of Thursday games and the choice was Minersville, as the contest featured a showdown between two 3-1 teams. Schuylkill Haven lost their opener to Blue Mountain by less than a touchdown, but won big the next three weeks. Minersville won big their first three weeks, but against teams that are an aggregate 1-14. They lost their fourth game, but by less than a touchdown to undefeated and state ranked Williams Valley.

A very large crowd turned out for the Thursday evening game. The stands on both sides of the grass field were full. We like the downtown setting of the stadium, but on days with large crowds like this parking can be a headache (which is why we avoid Easton games).

What a great stadium for eating dinner at the game. They actually have not one, not two, not three, but four permanent food stands. And all of them did great, with long lines and selling out of many items. We’re going to make one big listing of the food items rather than repeat items multiple times.

Available at least one of the permanent stands: Hot Dog $1/$2 (add chili or cheese $.50, Pizza $2/$3 (Pepperoni $4), Nachos $2/$3, Soft Pretzel $1 Pierogies $2/$3, Mac N Cheese $3/Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese $4/Bacon Mac N Cheese, Buffalo Chicken Dip $3, Stewed Burgers $3, Baked Rigatoni $3, Turkey/Filling/Gravy $5, Hamburger $3/$3.50, Cheeseburger $4, Chili Cheeseburger $4.50, Popcorn $1, Chili $2/$3, Haluski $3, French Fries $3 (add chili $.50, add cheese $.50, Tri Taters $3, Chicken Fingers, Fried Pickles $3, Mozzarella Sticks $4, Funnel Cake Fries $5. Plus the usual assortment of drinks, candy, and snacks.

Where prices for the same item differ, it means that different stands offered the item for a different price. In addition to the amazing selection and amazing prices, there were several temporary smaller stands selling edible items. Most were home-made baked goods and such (gummy kabobs was a cool idea), but some of those had hot items as well. Guy took advantage of the lack of lines at those and had Chicken Noodle Soup $4, Hamburger Barbeque $3, and Pierogies $3. The former two were not available at any of the regular refreshment stands.

This was one of the strangest games we have ever seen. It almost looked like to save on transportation costs, both teams left their defenses at home. In the first half, Minersville couldn’t stop the Haven run, and Haven couldn’t stop the Minersville pass. The Miners led 45-42, at halftime!

The Minersville fans were relentless in their comments against the game officials. We can’t understand how a blue collar, hard work ethic community that no doubts rejects “wokeness” and hates socialism thinks that the number of penalties called against each team should be equal and if not it’s a sign of incompetence, malfeasance, or dishonesty. Perhaps it’s just better coaching or more disciplined players.

Eventually it became apparent that Schuylkill Haven could score at will on the ground. Every time. Minersville was hanging on, and it looked like the first time they would fail to score a touchdown, Haven would open a two-score lead and never look back. Then the Minersville QB was injured and was out for the rest of the game, and that’s all she wrote.

The final was Schuylkill Haven 72, Minersville 52. After losing the lead for the final time, Minersville never scored again. Haven had over 500 rushing yards, and ZERO passing yards. After five games, they are averaging an insane 420 rushing yards average per game. They never needed to throw the ball because Minersville was unable to stop the run. As Guy always says: If it’s working, keep doing it until they figure out how to stop it. Minersville never figured that out. Haven has scored over 55 points in each of their last four games, two of which they scored over 70. We can’t wait to see them play again.

The 124 points may have been the most we’ve seen in one game. And that was with the Miners starting QB out for the fourth quarter, and them adding no points to the game total in that stanza. What might it have been?

Our concern remains the ending times of Thursday games. This game ended very close to 10:00 p.m. There were still hundreds of kids, of all ages and many of elementary school age, running around on a school night. Whatever time they eventually got to bed, it was not good.

2024 GAME 33. SELINSGROVE SEALS (4A) @ WILLIAMSPORT MILLIONAIRES (6A). We had been to Williamsport for the Crosscutters minor league baseball, the short-lived Williamsport Outlaws minor league ice hockey team that played all their home games outdoors, and of course the Little League World Series. But up until Friday, we had not been there to see high school football. Williamsport is in the top ten all-time winningest high school football schools in Pennsylvania, in tenth place with 743 wins.

Williamsport has a nice stadium with a huge number of seats on the home side. There is plenty of parking in the school lots. We liked the fact that you enter the stadium at the top of the seating, not at the bottom. We did not like that they did not accept cash at the ticket booth, on-line card sales only. Yet at the refreshment stand they did not accept cards, cash only. What’s wrong with letting people use what is most convenient for them, or at the very least be consistent?

The food options were limited, far less than the creative menus offered at the Skook schools. There were stands on both sides of the field, and the home side offerings were: Hamburger $3.50, Cheeseburger $4, Hot Dog $2.50, Cheese Dog $3, Chicken Fingers $4.50, Fries $4, Cheese Fries $4.50, Mozzarella Stocks $4, Nachos $3.50, Chicken Sandwich $3.50 (add cheese $.50), Soft Pretzel $3 (add cheese $.50), plus the usual drinks, snacks, candy $1-$3.

On the away side: Hot Dog $2, Hamburger $3, Cheeseburger $4, Chicken Tenders $4 (make any a platter of any of the above, which included fries and a drink, for $3), Mozzarella Sticks $4, Fries $3, Nachos $3, Pickle $1. Candy, snacks, drinks $1-$2. Nice of them to offer the visiting fans lower prices than on the home side.

Williamsport entered the game unbeaten at 4-0. However, the record of the four opponents was just 3-12. Selinsgrove, two school sizes smaller, was 2-2, but their two losses came against 5-0 and 4-1 teams, and both on the road.

This was a back-and-forth game, entertaining to watch. Williamsport had a 17-7 ten-point lead late in the third quarter, but couldn’t hold on. The Seals run attack wore down the defense, and they outscored the Millionaires 14-3 in the fourth quarter.

Williamsport had the ball with one last chance, but a lost fumble “sealed” the deal (pun intended). Selinsgrove ended up with 300 rushing yards. The final score, if you didn’t do the math in the last paragraph, was 21-20 Selinsgrove. Nice facility, great game. We were glad we made the trip.

2024 GAME 34. BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC GOLDEN HAWKS (JV) @ ALLENTOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC (PERCY RUHE PARK) (JV). Guy is solo for JV this season, at least has been in the first half. For the third week in a row, he again picked a team that plays their JV games on a different field than their varsity games. This week it was Allentown Central Catholic, who plays their varsity games at the J. Birney Crum Stadium but their JV games at Percy Ruhe Park.

Guy played football at both of the above locations, playing at Percy Ruhe (then Alton Park) for the Lehigh County Youth Association Bulldogs in 1972 against the Alton Park Comets. We won 7-6.

This was the “Junior Holy War” pitting the Allentown and Bethlehem Catholic schools. It was somewhat surprising that this game was even played, as ACC sometimes cancels their JV games as they don’t have a lot of players and don’t want to risk getting any hurt playing JV that they may need for varsity. On top of that, it was drizzling throughout most of the game. We are guessing that they wanted to play this one since it is their big rivalry game. Odd that it was scheduled for the fifth game of the season and not the last regular season game.

For the third straight week, JV game admission was free, and for the third straight week, there were no concessions available. There is good paved parking very close to the field. There are basically no usable seats, so people on both sides bring lawn chairs. The scoreboard hasn’t worked in ages and the crossbars are not level, but at least this year the restrooms weren’t locked, so that was a plus.

ACC only brought 19 players, while Becahi had a good bit more in both numbers and size. It might have been a lopsided game, but ACC played their hearts out and gave it their all. In the end, the better team, the Becahi Golden Hawks, won 20-12, a one score game. Was it worth driving to Allentown from the Poconos and standing out in the drizzle for two and a half hours alone? Of course it was. It was football.

Planning on four football games again this week. Feedback always welcome at RTRYFBAR@AOL.COM.

DISTRICT 11 TOP RATED TEAMS. 1A) Lackawanna Trail (D2 Subregion team). The top ranked true D11 team is Nativity BVM in 2nd. 2A) Williams Valley. 3A) Tamaqua. 4A) Blue Mountain. 5A) East Stroudsburg South. 6A) Liberty.

DISTRICT 11 UNDEFEATED TEAMS (5 GAMES). Liberty (6A), Freedom (6A), Tamaqua (3A), Northwestern Lehigh (3A), Williams Valley (2A). After just five games, only five of 47 teams are unbeaten. Pretty amazing. Six teams are winless.

PA FOOTBALL NEWS D11 STATE RANKED TOP 10 TEAMS

1. Northwestern Lehigh (3A–Same)
6. Williams Valley (2A—Same)
6. Lackawanna Trail (1A—D2 in Subregion with D11, Same)
8. Freedom (6A—Same)
8. Schuylkill Haven (2A—Same)
9. Tamaqua (3A—Up, Was 10th)
HM. Parkland (6A—Up, Addition), Liberty (6A—Same), Notre Dame Green Pond (3A—Same), Minersville (2A—Same), Nativity BVM (1A—Same)

Dropped Out: Nazareth (6A—Was HM)

GUY & PAM BLOG ERA TEAM SCORECARD
(Addition: Williamsport Millionaires, D11 Sub Regional)

47. PIAA District 11 Schools (2021-). Varsity home games for all District 11 schools that have football. (47/47)

7. D11 Alternative JV Game Sites (2021-). Seven of eight that we know of for schools that played JV games at fields other than where their varsity plays. Missed a 2021 Nazareth game when they played a JV football game at the middle school due to a conflict with soccer playoffs. (7/7 Active)

8. D11 Related–Special Events, Sub-Regional, or Former EPC Teams (2021-). Easton vs. Phillipsburg @ Lafayette College (Thanksgiving Day Game), New Hope-Solebury Lions: D1-3A (Sub Regional), Abington Heights Comets: D2-5A (Sub Regional), Wyoming Valley West Spartans: D2-5A (Sub Regional), Hazleton Cougars: D2-6A (Sub Regional), Wilkes Barre Wolfpack: D2-6A (Sub Regional), Williamsport Millionaires D4-6A (Sub Regional) Phillipsburg Stateliners (Former EPC).

6. All Star Games with D11 Players (2021-). Colonial vs. Schuylkill League, Lehigh Valley Football Classic, PSFCA East vs. West Small School, PSFCA East vs. West Big School, PSFCA Pennsylvania vs. Maryland Big 33 Game, Schuylkill League (6/6).

8. Out of District State Playoff Game Sites with D11 Teams (2022-) (G) Dunmore High School (Northern Lehigh Bulldogs), Bald Eagle High School (Allentown Central Catholic Vikings), Steelton-Highspire High School (Northern Lehigh Bulldogs), (G) Governor Mifflin High School (Pleasant Valley Bears), (G) Delaware Valley High School (Whitehall Zephyrs), Northeast High School Supersite (Nazareth Blue Eagles), Kutztown University (Northwestern Lehigh Tigers), Cumberland Valley (Northwestern Lehigh Tigers). Made this one retroactive and missed five from 2021-222 before adding this category. They were: Cardinal O’Hara (North Schuylkill Playoff Game 2021), Berks Catholic (Pine Grove Playoff Game 2022), Trinity (Executive Education Playoff Game 2022), South Philly Supersite (Northwestern Lehigh Playoff Game 2022), Germantown Supersite (Whitehall Playoff Game 2022). (8/13)

11. NCAA D2 PSAC Colleges (2022-). Eleven teams so far including former PSAC school Mansfield Mountaineers who now compete in Sprint Football. Still have six PSAC and two former PSAC colleges on the Hit List. (11/18).

7. NCAA Bowl Games / National Playoffs / or NFL (2022-). (G) D3 Delaware Valley Aggies, D2 Kutztown University Golden Bears, D2 Slippery Rock The Rock, (G) D3 Susquehanna River Hawks, New York Jets, New York Giants. D1 Military Bowl. (7)

14. GEFA 8-Main Semi Pro (2023-). 2024 Eight of 11 teams at home. 2024 three neutral fields: Kickoff Classic, Keystone Bowl, All-Star Game. 2023 three additional home fields. Note: 2023 Wilkes Barre Warriors (The Bog), 2024 Wilkes Barre Warriors (Exeter Panther Junior Football Assoc. Field) (14)

2. NEW FOR 2024! D11 Teams Playing Regular Season Games Outside D11 (2024-). Shenandoah Valley @ Columbia Montour Vo-Tech Rams. Executive Education Academy @ Central Columbia Blue Jays (3)

CURRENT TOTAL: 110

Other. NCAA D1 Rutgers Scarlet Knights, NCAA D 1AA Lehigh Mountain Hawks, WFA Harrisburg Havoc (Harrisburg High School & Palmyra High School), Harrisburg Stampede (PA Farm Show Complex), Selinsgrove High School (PIAA Playoffs), Fleetwood High School Tigers, Scranton Lions City vs. County Dream Game (Valley View High School)

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