Around District 11 With Pam and Guy: A Saturday Double
Tagged under: District 11, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs
Guy Smith | November 27, 2024
2024 Episode 29. Pam’s knee replacement surgery went well, and she is hitting the rehab hard, already ahead of all benchmark metrics for one week out. However, it is likely she will miss the last three weeks of the high school season.
With Guy solo, he initially chose three sporting events for the weekend: High school football Friday, college football Saturday, and college ice hockey on Sunday.
All four District 11 teams remaining alive in the brackets were scheduled to play Friday night. Parkland playing at Pennridge was eliminated from consideration as Guy has no interest in seeing Saint Joe Prep. Also, although we had not been there for D11 related football, we had been there a couple of times for men’s NPSL and women’s WPSL Torch FC soccer. Northwestern Lehigh was eliminated as a choice since they were scheduled to play at Hazleton, and we had already been there last season. The choice came down to Williams Valley at Berwick or Southern Lehigh at Shamokin. Guy chose Williams Valley, as both were new stadiums for him but Berwick was closer. For Saturday, the pick was King’s College for the NCAA D3 National Championship Tournament football.
Then it snowed. And by the time the flakes settled, three of the four Friday games had been postponed until Saturday and the entire plan changed. With the snow we had here in the Pocono Mountains, the cold and wet, the fact that Pam couldn’t go, and being sure there was no chance for a competitive game for Parkland, Guy decided to stay home on Friday.
By the time Guy got home from Friday morning Pilates class, Pam informed that all three Friday night games had been moved to Saturday afternoon. The decision was made to stick with the Friday choice of Williams Valley and axe the college game. But when we got home from Pam’s first post-surgery physical therapy session later that day, the Northwestern Lehigh game had been moved from Hazleton to Berwick, and to an evening start. Guy could double up with two games, both at stadiums with D11 teams he had never visited before. The new plan was Southern Lehigh at Shamokin in the afternoon, and Northwestern Lehigh at Berwick in the evening. In the end, neither of the games planned when Guy woke on Friday morning ended up being the ones attended the following day.
2024 GAME 59. SATURDAY NOVEMBER 23. 4A STATE QUARTER FINAL. SOUTHERN LEHIGH SPARTANS VS. JUNIATA INDIANS @ SHAMOKIN AREA HIGH SCHOOL. Guy’s first stop on Saturday morning was a yoga class in Brodheadsville. But he hustled straight from there to Shamokin. Making kickoff was either hit or miss, but plenty of available parking just before gametime made it possible to make it to the top of the stands just in time. The crowd for this was not that big, perhaps due to the late rescheduling to Saturday and a fairly long drive for both school’s fans.
This matchup pitted the 11-2 Spartans against the 10-3 Indians. The Spartans had lost their second game of the year to Blue Mountain, then made their second loss to Northwestern Lehigh a competitive one-score game. However, they were severely outplayed by Pottsville in the first half of the district semi-final, needing a furious comeback in the second half to snatch victory in the final ten seconds. If they got off to a start like that at this level, they would be toast.
Juniata lost three games, two of them to teams that ended the season with losing records. Of their nine wins, only four were against teams ending with winning records. But they played great in a surprising 27-7 win against then undefeated and 12-0 Shamokin the week before.
Having come straight from class and then a 1.75 hour drive to Shamokin, Guy arrived at the Kemp Memorial Stadium quite hungry. Shamokin, in addition to the excellent parking opportunity, had top notch eats. If this were a D11 school, they would finish high in the final annual snack bar rankings.
Each side of the field had a refreshment stand, and the combined offerings were as follows. Pierogies $5 ($3 on the home side), Mac & Cheese $5, Chicken Corn Soup $5, Dutch Pot Pie $5, Cheeseburger $4.50, Chicken & Fries $6 ($7 at the home side stand), Chicken Tenders $6 (called Chicken Fingers at the home side stand), Fries $4 (add cheese $.50), Hamburger $4.00, Hot Dog $2.50 ($2 at the home side stand or $2.50 with kraut or cheese), Pizza $3 ($2 at the home side stand), Mozzarella Sticks $4, Nachos $3, Buffalo Chicken Dip $3. One lesson learned as we delved deeper into the items and prices this season was just how often refreshment stands operated by different groups had different prices for the same items.
Guy went with a hamburger and hot dog from the home side stand and then fries and the Dutch pot pie from the visitor side stand. All were good, especially the dog and fresh cut fries.
You don’t often see snow on the ground for high school games, but this game had rather large piles that had been plowed, ringing the turf field. In addition, there was still a lot of snow and water on the home side, which was not getting the sun.
After the closest of close calls at home vs. Pottsville, Southern Lehigh has been picking up steam. They downed Bethlehem Catholic from the powerful EPC by three scores, 28-7. But Juniata picked up steam with their win over undefeated Shamokin by almost the exact same score, 27-7.
Having seen Southern Lehigh play the past two weeks and checking the record and teams played by Juniata, we fully expected the Spartans to win. But nobody could have predicted the level of dominance shown. Southern Lehigh scored touchdowns on each of their first seven possessions, and quite frankly, made it look fairly easy. Their first string was never stopped. The only way Juniata could have won would have been to match them and score each time. They got very close once, driving inside the ten before fumbling inside the five. Southern Lehigh had both their run and pass games working to near perfection, not to mention their defense.
By the time the starters were pulled, Southern Lehigh was up 45-0. A late score against the subs prevented a shutout. The only chink in the armor was the after-touchdown conversions. Southern Lehigh advances to the state semi-final for the first time in school history in this sport.
2024 GAME 60. SATURDAY NOVEMBER 23. 3A STATE QUARTER FINAL. NORTHWESTERN LEHIGH TIGERS VS. SCRANTON PREP CAVALIERS @ BERWICK HIGH SCHOOL. Guy had plenty of time to make the drive to Berwick for the bonus evening game. This was another stadium that we had never visited, making two new District 11 neutral state playoff sites in one day. In other words, a great day.
Making it even greater was the fact that both of the D11 teams took care of business and won handily. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Northwestern Lehigh entered the game with a perfect 13-0 record. Add that to the 15-1 record last season, and the Tigers had won 28 of their last 29 games. Scranton Prep was 12-1, their only hiccup being a Labor Day weekend loss to an out of state team from New York. They were perfect in PA.
We had seen this matchup last year, a hard-fought battle on an extremely cold and windy Friday night. Northwestern Lehigh ended the Scranton Prep season last year and the Cavs were determined not to let it happen again
It’s almost embarrassing to publicly admit that we had never been to Berwick to see a game, given their legacy in PA high school football. Guy was excited to see the stadium for the first time, but wished Pam was with him. Pam was at home listening to the internet broadcast while icing the knee. Earlier in the day, she listened to the Williams Valley game while I was at the Southern Lehigh game, and we texted back and forth with updates.
Not knowing the lay of the land around the stadium or wanting to drive around in the dark looking for parking, Guy took the easy route upon arrival and paid $5 to park in the lot adjacent to the entrance.
If Guy had but one regret for the day, it was that he ate too much at the first game, because the food selection at Berwick was even better than at Shamokin. They had an outstanding selection with at least one item we had never seen at a high school football game before.
The selections: Berwick Football Champions Club stand: Walking Taco $4, Cheeseburger Soup $3, Chicken Noodle Soup $3, Korean Pork Tacos $6, Ham Rivel Soup $3, Mac & Cheese $4 (add pork BBQ $2), Pizza $3, Haluski $3, Sticky Buns $3, Hamburger or Cheeseburger $4, Hot Dog $2, Pork BBQ $5, Porketta $5, Band stand: Hamburger or Cheeseburger $3.50, Sausage Sandwich $4, Hot Dawg $2, Chicken Nuggets $3.50, Pierogies $2.50, Baked Potato $4 (toppings $.50 each: cheese, chili, kraut, sour cream, bacon bits), Soup $3, Holushki $3 (note different spelling on each side of the field), Nachos $3 (loaded $5), Pizza $2, Soft Pretzel $2, Marching Taco $3.50, Mac & Cheese $3.50, Buffalo Chicken Dip $3.
On top of that, they had an ice cream truck and they even had banana ice cream, which is Guy’s favorite flavor. The shocker was the rivel soup. Guy’s nana, hardcore Pennsylvania Dutch, used to make rivel soup when he was a kid. It wasn’t a particular favorite, but in 60 years of attending thousands of events, he can only recall ever seeing it on a menu three times: The Kutztown Fair, one time at a Reading Phillies game, and this time at Berwick. Guy passed on the rivels and went with the porketta.
Guy was a little less confident for our D11 team in this game than for the earlier game. The Cavaliers were tough as nails last year and fought hard. The game started out looking like it might go either way. In fact, the first quarter ended 0-0. The Tigers got a TD in the second quarter, but blew a chance to take a two-score lead into the locker room when just before halftime they turned a first and goal into a missed field goal. As Guy enjoyed both the Tiger band and his banana ice cream during the halftime break, he hoped that missed field goal wouldn’t come back to haunt Northwestern Lehigh.
The missed field goal gave Scranton Prep some momentum, and they came out hot, getting a big fourth down stop and giving them great field position. But the Tiger defense held, and when the Cavs chose to punt on 4th down instead of go for it, the momentum shifted and the floodgates opened.
The punt was returned for a touchdown, and Scranton Prep never got their offense untracked again. Huge credit to the Tiger defense. The running plays that were Prep’s bread and butter all year went for naught time and time again, as the Tigers defense plugged every potential hole. There were just no openings to run through.
Only a missed PAT on the final needed point prevented Mercy Rule, but the 34-0 shutout of a 12-1 team sent a pretty strong message about those boys from New Tripoli. Even with a close to even first half on the scoreboard, the final stats told the story. First Downs: NL-21, SP-6. Rush Yards: NL-235, SP-66. Pass Yards: NL-108, SP-13. Total Yards: NL-333, SP-77.
THIS WEEK
As we advance to the 15th week of the season, the state semi-finals, District 11 still has two teams alive in the state playoffs.
But before we get to that, don’t forget that on Wednesday evening the Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association (SCFCA) All-Star Game is at Schuylkill Haven Rotary Field. We first discovered this one on the morning of the game in 2021 and have not missed one since. Guy will be in the stands again this year, while Pam is home rehabbing from her knee replacement.
On Thursday morning three District 11 teams will be in action as Catasauqua visits Northampton in their 101st meeting, while Easton takes on Phillipsburg at Lafayette University. No game for us this year, as Pam can’t drive so we must travel together to have our Thanksgiving dinner with Pam’s 97-year-old stepfather in Bethlehem.
Tough, tough pick on Friday evening. Guy would equally love to see both Southern Lehigh and Northwestern Lehigh. Northwestern Lehigh again plays at Berwick. Love the setup, the food, and it would be an easy one-hour drive with likely little traffic issues. Southern Lehigh’s game is farther away and traffic will be much more of an issue. But Guy’s never been to Central Bucks West, and that draw of a new stadium gives this game the slight edge at this point.
Saturday is set for NCAA college football national tournament games. The favorite for Guy’s pick as of now is D2, where undefeated, nationally ranked third, and top regional seed Kutztown is hosting the number four regional seed and always dangerous Slippery Rock. Backup would be new for Guy and the obvious first choice if Pam could accompany, Eastern Kentucky @ Villanova in FCS. Or if Guy decides to travel outside PAFN territory for new ground, the D3 SUNY Cortland Red Dragons are hosting Endicott. Back next week with the report. Feedback always welcome at RTRYFBAR@AOL.COM.
GUY & PAM BLOG ERA TEAM SCORECARD
(2 Additions This Week: Shamokin and Berwick for D11 Related: State Playoffs @ Neutral Sites, Guy Only)
2021-2024
47/47. All District 11 Varsity Football Teams at Home.
7/8. District 11 JV Teams Playing at Different Locations Than Varsity.
11/11. D11 related: Subregional Teams, Special Events or Former EPC Teams.
6/6. All-Star Games with D11 Players.
10/16. Outside D11 State Playoff Game Sites with D11 Teams.
2022-2024
11/19. NCAA D2 PSAC Colleges Including Former PSAC Schools.
- NCAA Bowl Games, National Playoffs, or NFL.
2023-2024
14/20. GEFA 8-Man Semi Pro football.
2024
2/18. D11 Teams Playing Regular Season Games Outside D11. This is where the fun will be next year.
Total: 115 (Pam 107)
Plus 9 “Other”
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