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Hittin’ The Road With Travelin’ Matt – Week 11 (Spartans, Jaguars and Hurricanes)

Tagged under: District 11, District 2, District 7, Playoffs

| November 13, 2024


Each week Travelin’ Matt traverses Pennsylvania attending the hottest high school football games

and best match ups in the Commonwealth.  Follow his exploits each week

as he documents his journey from Week 0 to the Pennsylvania State Football Finals!

 

Thursday, November 7

4A Southern Lehigh (9-2) vs. 4A Pottsville (6-5)

 

Friday, November 8

4A #2 Thomas Jefferson (11-0) vs. 4A #4 Aliquippa (7-2)

 

Saturday, November 9

2A #4 Schuylkill Haven (10-1) vs. 2A Executive Education (6-5)

 

ROUNDTRIP – 720 MILES

 

Thursday, November 7

While the bulk of PA high school football playoff games are played on Fridays and Saturdays District 11 still contested at least one game on a Thursday and that allowed me to squeeze in one more “extra game” this week.

I had been on a roll attending closely-contested games and this playoff tilt kept my streak alive as Southern Lehigh scored the game-winning touchdown with just 9 seconds on the clock to garner a 41-34 victory vs. visiting Pottsville.  Despite trailing 34-20 at the half, the Spartans were able to fight back thanks to a strong defensive effort allowing zero points after the break.  The playoffs are often a “survive and advance” scenario and there was no better example of this with Southern Lehigh narrowly escaping with a 7 point win this week.

Check out some highlights from Southern Lehigh vs. Pottsville…

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, November 8

For my Friday night contest I headed west to catch a dandy 4A tilt featuring undefeated Thomas Jefferson and perennial powerhouse Aliquippa as these two storied programs battled in a District 7 semifinal.  Aliquippa entered the contest having won an improbable 16 consecutive WPIAL titles and while the Quips had lost two games during the regular season it was clear they would not relinquish their WPIAL winning streak easily.

From the opening kickoff, Thomas Jefferson took control of the game and did not let go racing to a 28-7 advantage by half.  While Aliquippa had an opportunity to claw back in the game TJ was too much for the Quips on this night en route to a convincing 38-21 winning tally.  High marks to TJ head coach Bill Cherpak and his Jaguar players as they head to the 4A WPIAL Finals next week.  Also a tip of the cap to the Aliquippa program for setting the bar high over their past 16 consecutive District titles.

 

Check out some highlights from Thomas Jefferson vs. Aliquippa…

 

 

 

 

Read the game story from Thomas Jefferson vs. Aliquippa below…

 

 

 

Saturday, November 9

Fresh off two exciting matchups the previous two nights I capped my week with a 2A District 11 contests featuring Executive Education visiting #4 state ranked Schuylkill Haven.  The hosting Hurricanes had tallied staggering point totals this season on the back of their powerhouse running game and they leaned on their heavyweight line again to record a 53-14 final score against an outmanned Executive Education squad.

In two games I’ve witnessed Schuylkill Haven play this year they’ve accumulated 125 points and their stalwart running back Niko Carestia has amassed 12 touchdowns.  Schuylkill Haven advances to the 2A District 11 final next week against Williams Valley in what should be a classic rematch of the two teams that battled to a 38-30 final in the regular season won by the Hurricanes.

 

Check out some highlights from Schuylkill Haven vs. Executive Education…

 

 

 

 

Read the game story from Minersville vs. Executive Education…

 

 

A full weekend of PA high school football games and more than 700 miles driven complete I wrapped up my 12th week and headed home to plan for next week’s schedule of contests.  This week I watched my 37th, 38th and 39th games of the season and I’m looking forward to another round of playoffs next week.

Follow along next week as Travelin’ Matt takes you on another PA High School Football journey.

 

2024 SEASON RECAP – 5661 TOTAL MILES (39 GAMES)

 

Week 0

Garnet Valley – 34  Coatesville – 19

Imani Christian Academy – 45  West Catholic – 6

Bishop Guilfoyle – 21  Bald Eagle Area – 0

 

Week 1

Manheim Township – 28  Central York – 10

Twin Valley – 40  Selinsgrove – 10

Harrisburg – 35  Bishop McDevitt – 33 (1 OT)

Troy – 8  Dover (DE) – 3

 

Week 2

East Stroudsburg South – 38  Whitehall – 7

Lampeter-Strasburg – 35  Cocalico – 14

Harrisburg – 7  State College – 6

Bethlehem-Liberty – 31 Stroudsburg – 14

 

Week 3

Bethlehem-Freedom – 38  Nazareth – 10

Scranton Prep – 28  Delaware Valley – 25

 

Week 4

Schuylkill Haven – 72  Minersville – 52

Central Bucks South – 22  Central Bucks West – 17

Pope John Paul II – 24  Phoenixville – 13

Bethlehem Catholic – 27  Allentown Central Catholic – 0

 

Week 5

Towanda – 40  Canton – 14

Danville – 34  Southern Columbia – 8

 

Week 6

Bethlehem-Freedom – 24  Bethlehem Catholic – 3

Central Bucks South – 14  North Penn – 6

Neshaminy – 38  Pennridge – 3

LaSalle – 35  St. Joe’s Prep – 34 (4 OT)

 

Week 7

North Schuylkill – 38  Blue Mountain – 14

Wyomissing – 34  Twin Valley – 24

Cumberland Valley – 24  Harrisburg – 21

Nazareth – 36  Bethlehem Catholic – 7

 

Week 8

North Allegheny – 28  Pine-Richland 21

Owen J. Roberts – 27  Spring-Ford – 25

St. Joe’s Prep – 48  Roman Catholic – 20

 

Week 9

Western Wayne – 42  Dunmore – 7

Shamokin – 21  Mount Carmel – 0

Lampeter-Strasburg – 20  Wyomissing – 7

 

Week 10

Lehighton – 29  Blue Mountain – 28

Downingtown West – 28  Coatesville – 21

Executive Education – 26  Minersville – 6

 

Week 11

Southern Lehigh – 41  Pottsville – 34

Thomas Jefferson – 38  Aliquippa – 21

Schuylkill Haven – 53  Executive Education – 14

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