On the PSFCA Trail—East/West All Star Games

Tagged under: All-Stars, District 11, Gameday Hub

Guy Smith | May 21, 2024

2024 Episode 9. It was indeed another busy sports week for us, but we did manage to include spring football for the ninth week in a row. We started with a Wednesday race rainout at the Kutztown Fairgrounds Action Track USA. But a Thursday NCAA National Tournament double got things back on the right track, with D2 Baseball and D2 Women’s Lacrosse, both at West Chester. Friday it was D3 tournament Softball at Moravian, then the kids’ Quarter Midget races at Pocono Raceway. Saturday was D2 tournament Baseball at East Stroudsburg before another race rainout at Mahoning Valley Speedway that evening.

On Sunday the original plan was to take in both PSFCA All-Star games at Cumberland Valley. But we had forgotten about the SAE Baja college four-hour endurance race at the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport. So, we compromised and planned to see as much as possible at each site. The endurance race ran from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and featured cars from tech programs at 89 different colleges. The two football games were scheduled for noon and 5:00. We ended up watching the morning portion (2.5 hours) of the endurance race, leaving at noon and arriving at Cumberland Valley just before the end of the third quarter of the first game.

When we arrived at the Small School game, the West team was ahead 21-14.

There were quite a number of kids from District 11 on the East squad. Those included players from Palmerton, Notre Dame Green Pond, Williams Valley, Pine Grove, Northwestern Lehigh, North Schuylkill, Marian Catholic, Schuylkill Haven, Catasauqua, and Northern Lehigh. That’s a lot of D11 boys, perhaps due to the fact that half the coaches were from D11 including the head coach from Nativity BVM and two of the assistants from Tamaqua and Lehighton.

It was an exciting fourth quarter. The East drove to within feet of the goal line, but were stopped. Then on the ensuing possession, East tackled the West runner in the end zone for a safety to cut the lead to 21-16. East then scored to take the lead 22-21, went for two, and got it for a 24-21 lead.

West drove down the field with all running plays, using up most of the remaining time left in the game. Last year the East defense held and the West were stuffed at the one giving the East a 41-34 win at Bishop McDevitt. This year was setting up to be déjà vu all over again. The West had a fourth and goal from the one in the final seconds. Not wanting history to repeat itself, this time they went to the air and converted, taking their final lead with just five seconds remaining, winning 27-24.

It was great to see the Bricker’s Famous French Fry truck on hand for the games. Bricker’s fries are almost 7A, in a class by themselves. They’re so good, less successful fresh cut fry programs accuse them of recruiting their potatoes from Idaho. Also on hand in addition to the permanent main refreshment stand were a barbeque truck, Farm Show milk shakes, and sticky buns.

After the game we made our way to the Appalachian Brewing Company for dinner, but we saved room for more Bricker’s fries in the nightcap.

Back for game two, for the big school players. District 11 teams represented in this game were Nazareth & Allentown Central Catholic with players, and Southern Lehigh & Pottsville with coaches. In addition, D11 members of the cheer squad were from Pine Grove and Tri Valley, although they were both cheering for the West.

The nightcap was another great game. The West seemed like the team to beat most of the game, but several of their drives stalled short of the end zone. The East had trouble moving the ball, but connected on two long TD passes, the second of which made the score 14-13. The East went for two and the lead, and converted.

West still had time and based on how they could move the ball, a good chance to pull it out, but lost a fumble on a rare turnover and that just about sealed the deal. An East first down did in fact do so.

Last year East won small school, and West won big school. This year it was another 1-1 split, but opposite last year. It’s nice to have the two ends of the state share bragging rights. And all four games in the past two years ended with one score victories.

On the way out the nice folks from Cumberland Valley were getting rid of the remaining refreshment stand inventory by offering everything a buck. We picked up a pair of cheeseburgers and a two-pack of chocolate chip cookies for the ride home.

We have really come to enjoy our trips to Cumberland Valley High School. It’s a great place to watch football. They have all the state championship games in football, soccer, field hockey, and women’s volleyball, plus three spring football all-star games. Great facility (especially like the parking), but we also appreciate variety and also like to see other worthy facilities across the state get a chance to host big games as well.

Our weekend plans change all the time, but a tenth straight weekend of spring football is a shoe-in as there is no way we miss Big 33 on Sunday evening. Also plan on GEFA Saturday afternoon. Add in dirt track racing, NCAA D3 softball playoffs, paved track racing, the NCAA D1 men’s lacrosse national championship game in Philly, and more quarter midget racing. Eight events total for another busy week for us. Feedback Welcome: rtryfbar@aol.com.

GUY & PAM 2024 FOOTBALL SCORECARD (13 Games as of May 19)

Week 0—GEFA: Kickoff Classic (Central Columbia High School, 3 Games)
Week 1—GEFA: Bedford County Buffaloes (Claysburg-Kimmel High School)
Week 2—GEFA: Dauphin County Comanche (Koons Park, Linglestown)
Week 3—AIF Arena Football: Harrisburg Stampede (PA Farm Show Complex)
Week 4—GEFA: Berks County Raptors (Exeter Township High School)
Week 5—GEFA: Hazleton Mustangs (Gene Della Croce Memorial Field)
Week 6—GEFA: Wilkes Barre Warriors (Exeter Panther Junior Football Assoc. Field)
Week 6–High School: Schuylkill / Colonial All Star Game (North Schuylkill High School)
Week 7—GEFA: Coal County Nightmare (St. Clair Veteran’s Memorial Stadium)
Week 7–WFA Women’s Football—Harrisburg Havoc (Palymyra High School)
Week 8—High School: PSFCA All Star Games (Cumberland Valley High School)

On the Spring Radar. GEFA: Indiana County Crusaders, Williamsport Wildcats, Moshannon Valley Vikings, Keystone Bowl, All-Star Game. High School All Star Games: Big 33 Classic. Missed: Somerset County Miners (Home season ended), Monroeville Titans (Team folded).

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