As a result, I have developed a series of Microsoft Excel programs that can reveal many aspects about the PIAA Football Championships with a little research and compilation.

     This certainly includes the commonly known champions, district wins and participation, and also highlights the chatter about certain schools and the subject of whether there is advantages or disadvantages involved with their programs.  By this, I simply mean you can see plainly what schools have been outstanding and record-setting, along with those that haven’t.

     Everything here is available on many websites and in periodicals, and what I try to do is assemble these in one place, along with adding my thoughts on various aspects of the overall package.

     I explored a question that has not been mentioned, nor likely thought much about, and not of major significance, but as it is said – “inquiring minds. . . . ?”

     How many teams won their first out time at Finals?

     One hundred and twenty-four teams have been to the States.  How many won their first time out?  First, there are 33 teams undefeated in appearances from 5-0 (1); 4-0 (1); 3-0 (2); 2-0 (5); and 1-0 (24).  They had to have won their first game.

     Then, fifty teams are 0-fors, 0-3 (4); 0-2 (6); and 0-1 (40).  They had to lose their first game of course.

     The trick was determining whether the 41 remaining teams with multiples of wins and losses won their first game.  The search proved a 22-19 margin did win their first time out.  Thus, 55 – 69 is the record of first time wins, or .444%.

     This year the teams met in a new location after 24 years at Hershey.  Comments on the site at Cumberland Valley’s Chapman Field have been mostly positive, but as always, not exclusively so.  I thought the crowd looked more fitting than some of those lost in the 20,000-seat (I think) old Hershey Stadium.  And the turf field looked great and the praise for the package was high by announcers and pre-game show folks.  The sort of rural surrounding was pleasant on the eyes, as also was the Christmas-lit Hershey Park background the past 24 years.

     I like to see “new faces” at the finals and we had 4 newbies this season, the first time 4 were new since 2016 which was the first finals with 6 classifications.  These were Union Area, 1A, D7; Westinghouse, 2A, D8; and both 3A entrants, Neumann-Goretti, East, D12; and Belle Vernon, West, D7.  This guaranteed we would have a new and first-time winner in 3A.

     Three teams returned to finals from past years other than 2021.  These were Harrisburg, D3, 6A; Pine-Richland D7, 5A; and Steelton-Highspire, D3, 1A.

     Five teams returned from last year’s Chips and all were multiple-appearance organizations.  St. Joe’s Prep, D12, 6A; Imhotep Charter, D12, 5A; Bishop McDevitt, D3, 4A; Aliquippa, D7, 4A; and Southern Columbia, D4, 2A.

     The 4A McDevitt-Quips game was a rematch of 2021’s final.

     All five of the repeating teams have won a championship before and three did again, in St. Joe’s 6A; McDevitt, 4A; and Southern Columbia, 2A.  But Aliquippa lost its rematch with McDevitt, and Imhotep lost in 5A to Pine-Richland of D7.

     I thought the Belle Vernon vs Neumann-Goretti 3A 9-8 final game was a most interesting contest.  DEFENSE!  It was a defensive classic.  Not that mistakes and penalties did not play their part, but the defenses on both sides shined in this one.

     The Steelton-Union game in 1A was highly contested most of the way and a nice game to see.

     The 6A “no contest” was highly discussed as such pre-game, and thus no surprise.  The numbers (about 85 players), physical size, and much-discussed D1 prospects on the Hawks seemed evident from the outset.  They are reputed to, “going to be better” next year; but no one owns a crystal ball for certainties.

     Bishop McDevitt in 4A looked most impressive in their repeat battle with Aliquippa.  Talk of their possible return in 2023 due to returning players was also heard at times.

     And the Quips with 9 finals appearances (tied with 2 others) were a high multiple appearance program.  Nine is the highest appearances after the 21 of Southern Columbia (see list below).

     Southern Columbia in 2A has been at 60% of the PIAA finals (21 of 35).  It was their 8th consecutive appearance and 6th consecutive win.  They hold all of the “most” records of PIAA Championships – most wins 13; most appearances 21; most consecutive wins 6; most consecutive appearances 9 (1998-2006); most losses 8; and most consecutive losses 6 (in class 1A 1995-2001).

     The St. Joe’s Prep Hawk’s in 6A are also stringing appearances regularly.  They are the only eastern team to appear in 6A since there have been 6 classifications.  Thus their 7 consecutive appearances are just 1 behind Southern Columbia’s 8.  Because the Hawks have only been PIAA eligible since 2008; they have a 53% appearance rate of their time to make finals (8 of 15).

     Let us speak of multiple appearance teams in the championships.  Twenty-five teams have appeared 4 or more times.

Team:                              Appr.        W         L           Pct.

  This is all 25 teams that have appeared 4 or more times.  There were 12 teams that made 3 appearances.  A total of 23 teams have seen two appearances.  And teams that have made it just once total 64.   Of the 64 one-timers 24 are 1-0 and 40 are 0-1.  That totals our 124 teams to make the State Championships.

     The PIAA figure for football playing schools for 2022 was 555; so 22.4% of possible schools have made it once.  {This is skewed for schools once around that no longer are, or combinations of schools, or schools that dropped the sport; but it is the only figure we have for the purpose.  In 1963 there were 631 football schools, which seems to be the pinnacle.  The percentage is lower actually}.

     Let’s shift the 25 most attending schools to best winning percentages for another chart.

 School:                           Appr.         W        L           Pct.

       As seen, these schools can only be considered “elite” by falling in a 4-or more appearances class.  Eleven of the entries are .500 level or lower in wins and losses.  Also, I find it interesting that old power Berwick at .858 still holds the best win-loss percentage other than the all-winning schools.  In addition to the two all-winning schools here there are also the 3-0 (2); 2-0 (5); and 1-0 (24) to consider when listing by percentages.

     The East versus West in championship wins is a bit modified with the inclusion of various districts being shifted to the “other side” to balance the classification numbers.  However I will show it is only a difference of “one” right now.

     Three wins in 6A & 5A by D12 schools who couldn’t be further “East” are in the West bracket.  Four wins in the 1A bracket for the East are by Altoona’s D6 school Bishop Guilfoyle, not quite in the east; so in affect the 8 official more East wins are geographically only 7.  Pretty even for 35 years of championships.

     Another interesting aspect of the championships are the records of each district within each class and each districts overall numbers and percentages.  There is a vast disparity in our districts as to the number of schools in each classification and in the number of schools in general.  D7 – 121 schools; D8 – 6 schools.  D3 – 92 schools; D5 – 11 schools.  And so it goes.

     D7 the district which is a single entity as the WPIAL is understandably the major contributor of teams and championships as a district.  It is the only district strong in numbers of teams is each class, 1A – 30; 2A – 24; 3A – 20; 4A – 23; 5A – 18; and a declining 6A now at 6.

     And D7 prior to a major challenge beginning in 2008 with the start of the full District 12 inclusion, pretty much as they say, “ruled the roost.”   D7 has filled their half of the brackets 106 of 154 chances a percentage of 68.9% of the possibilities.

     As a result, three of the 6 districts on the Western side, D5 (none), D8 (3) and D9 (3) have had little participation at States.  D6 of 40 schools has filled 13 slots in finals for 8.5%; and other than D7; D10 was the most significant western provider of teams with 26 slots filled for 16.9%. NOTE – ‘filling slots’ is used as many teams have appeared more than once; number of teams filling the slots is less.

     The East is far more balanced in participation numbers with D12 at 32.3% (different base from the rest as only 19 years in PIAA).  Both D3 & D4 are at 22.8%; both D1 & D2 13.7% and D11 at 13%.

     Let’s look at the win-loss records for each District in each classification:

     There is the total wins and losses and each adds to 154 for the 308 slots that were filled from 1988 through 2022.

     Championships won are D7-56; D4-18; D12-16; D3-14; D10-12; D2-11 & D11-11; D1-10; D6-5; D8-1; D9-0; and D5-no appearances.

     Here are the total championships per district and teams vying and teams winning.  The percentage is the total for the number of winning teams divided by the number of those vying.

     If you add the teams vying column up and the teams winning up the results are 2 over in each case, because Mount Carmel and Farrell both won a championship in two different districts.  The number of championships at 154 is correct.

     A total of 50 teams have entered the finals without a win.

     I think a few observations on some district versus district could prove useful.

     Here is the total of entries in championships per each districts win-loss record.  Remember this is not the total of teams entering per district as we know of many teams with multiple entries.

      West ++ D7 – 106;  D10 – 26;  D6 – 13;   D8 – 3;   D9 – 3;   D5 – none.

      East ++   D3 – 35;    D4 – 31;   D12 – 29; D1 – 21;  D2 – 21;  D11 – 20.

     West entries at 151 and East at 157 are the exact 308 slots filled but the district-shifting between east and west in some classifications by certain districts account for the difference in count per side.  Straight on it would be 154 for each side.

     The West is obviously D7 dominant.  And while the East is nicely balanced, D12 has achieved its overall third position in only 19 years of participation out of the total 35 championships.

     I think a study of D7 versus D12 in head-to-head matchups would be interesting.  There are very few of the lower two classifications 1A & 2A in D12.

     Currently one 1A and one 2A.  There have been no contests between D7 and D12 schools in 1A.  The 2A school is West Catholic and is 1 and 1 in championship participation.  Their one win was versus District 7 in 2010.  In 2013 South Fayette D7 beat Imhotep Charter D12.  In 2A it is 1-1 D12 vs D7.

     From D12 and Bucks County in 3A was Archbishop Wood for most of the 3A participation.  They lost to D7 Thomas Jefferson in 2008.  In 2014 Wood beat Central Valley of D7.  In 2022 Belle Vernon D7 beat Neumann-Goretti D12.  In 3A it is 2-1 D7.

     In the 4A bracket, North Allegheny D7 beat LaSalle D12 in 2010.  St. Joe’s Prep when in 4A beat D7 schools Pittsburgh Central Catholic in 2013 and Pine-Richland in 2014.  In 4A it is 2-1 D12.

     By 2017 Archbishop Wood had moved to 5A and beat Gateway D7.

     By 2021 Imhotep Charter D12 was also in 5A and they lost to Penn-Trafford and Pine Richland in 2021 and 2022.  In 5A it is 2-1 D7.

     In 6A St. Joe’s Prep has been the entrant all 7 years of 6 classifications for D12.  Their record vs D7 is they beat Pittsburgh Central Catholic in 2016; lost to Pine-Richland in 2017.  They also lost to Mount Lebanon in 2021 of D7.  The 6A class is 2-1 D7.

     So in the 14 championship matchups between D7 and D12 is all classifications the count is 8-6 in favor of District 7.

     An interesting aside to this is that in 2018 and 2019 the D12-D7 matchups were in the semi-finals, the brackets being altered by the PIAA.  In four matchups Archbishop Wood in 5A lost to Penn Hills (2018) and beat Gateway, (2019)1-1.  St. Joe’s beat Pine-Richland and PCC for 2-0.  Most likely these would have been the championships if the brackets were not rearranged, and they would balance the D7-D12 thing to an even 9-9.

     District 3 has an interesting profile.  Their win-loss records per classification are almost all one-sided in either wins or losses.  From 1A through 6A they are 6-0;  4-0;  1-11;  3-4;  0-2; and 0-4.  D3 is the second largest district in the State with 92 schools and as can be seen active in all classes.  Four-A is the most balanced cell at 3-4, with unbeaten cells in 1A (3 teams) and 2A (3 teams) and no wins in 5A (2 teams) or 6A (3 teams).  The biggest struggle for D3 is their 3A cell at 1-11.     A total of five teams struggled mightily in this class with Manheim Central garnering the only victory.

     This is in no way a smear on big District 3 as the district’s Mid-Penn Conference is one mighty league of five Divisions.   It’s Capital Division has sent three of its six teams to the finals, Camp Hill winning the first-ever on-field 1A Chip.  That was, of course, in 1988.  It’s Commonwealth Division houses State College, Harrisburg, Cumberland Valley, and Central Dauphin, who have all appeared at finals.  The Keystone Division houses Bishop McDevitt that was so impressive in this year’s finals; and was there before.  And the district’s Lancaster-Lebanon League of 5 Sections shows about 10 teams that have been seen prominently in state playoffs with about half of them also having appeared at State Finals.  After D7’s 106 entries in States, no one beats D3’s 35 entries so far.

     As to the total participation and teams doing it per district here is the table:

     District/side:     Entries:    Teams:

     D7 – West        106          45

     D3 – East            35          16

     D4 – East            31            6   (Includes Mt. Carmel who was also in D11)

     D12 – East          29            6

     D10 – West         26          11   (Includes Farrell who was also in D7)

     D1 – East             21          10

     D2 – East             21            9

     D11 – East          20          11

     D6 – West            13           7

     D9 – West              3           3

     D8 – West              3           2

     D5 – West              0           0   (Total teams 2 over due to 2 teams played in 2 different districts).

     The two largest districts are one and two on the table and are D7 (121 schools) and D3 (92 schools).  D4 deserves its third position, but one school has 21 of the 31 appearances, or roughly 68% of the districts participation.

     D12 has pulled into fourth place in only 19 out of 35 championships indicating a strength in the playoffs and championships for certain.  D10 is the second strongest Western district in the numbers and so is in place at fifth.

     D1 is the district I have lived in almost all my life, of course the district I follow closely, and is the third largest district (70 schools), and the outright leader in big schools, 33 in class 6A (second is D3 with 19).  In 5A it has 24 schools; second to the 26 in D3.  From 1990 through 2004 D1 in the East ruled the large school 4A classification with 12 entries in 4A in the 15-year period.  That is 80% of the 15-year period.

     In the last 18 years of championships the D1 input has been four entries, 3A in 2007 (Garnet Valley – loss); two 4A entries in 2011 (North Penn), and 2012 (Coatesville, both losses).  Finally one 5A entry in 2019 (Cheltenham – loss).

     District One’s last win was 2003, 19 years ago.  North Penn over Pittsburgh Central Catholic.  What happened ???!?!

     I certainly cannot explain it.  From dominant to irrelevant.  But we have some factors to review.

     After the inclusion of D12 and the powerful Philadelphia Catholic League teams it is somewhat understandable, but that wasn’t until 2008.  However, the rise of Bethlehem Liberty of D11 was one of the reasons.  Liberty eliminated the D1-4A rep in three years – 2005, 2006, & 2008.  And still strong Parkland of D11 took care of the D1 4A rep in 2007.  That bridged the gap until LaSalle and St. Joe’s of D12 and the PCL began to be almost “unbeatable” by the other Eastern districts.

     Looking at the records one can easily see how it happened; why it happened is another matter.  What changed so much for District One?  I am not the only one that has been discussing this fact.

     I cannot address the subject of coaching because I knew and often spoke with coaches of the Suburban One teams in the 1990’s and just beyond.  I sat with many of them at games when they were scouting, always being courteous; asking them if I could join them and staying quiet except when it was obviously ok to comment or talk.  For about 12 seasons or so back then, my pre-season visits to their various teams practices usually resulted in a few minutes conversations with most of them.     It was one of the best experiences of my hobby; sitting with or talking to Mark Schmidt and John Chaump of Neshaminy; Mike Pettine Sr. of C B West; Mike Ortman and Bruce English at Council Rock North; Larry Greene, Bill Heller, and Craig Phillips at C B East; Mike Elko and Galen Snyder of Pennsbury; Biz Keeny, Bensalem & Wm Tennent, and Bob Hart, Athletic Director at Bensalem.  There were others that I met through knowing the coaches above that was also a thrill for me.  I spoke to the legendary Georg Curry of the Berwick Dawgs on a couple of occasions, as well as Dick Beck and Mike Pettine Jr. at North Penn; and Roger Grove of Norristown.

     The point of all of this is that since most of the above have left coaching, and unfortunately many have passed on, I did not reestablish my relationships with the new coaches coming in and no longer can assess the coaching based on such close contact with the coaches themselves.

     It would be unfair to try to judge coaching now, especially with all of the changes brought about in coaching by today’s society.  But, we all know that no team reaches its full potential without dedicated, proficient, and flexible coaches.       By flexible, I mean able to adjust to game conditions as well as conditions that may be particular to the culture of the institutions they are coaching.  It was never easy; but I think it is more complex today for sure.  And it takes far more assistants and special coaches today.  When I first followed high school football in 1951 teams had 3 to 5 on the coaching staff.  Today it is mostly in the teens as staffs.

     And for a few years now District 11 in the East is also mulling not seeing a championship slot for the last 7 years; not entering a team since the switch to 6 classifications.  It was again Parkland that made the last D11 slot in 4A when it was the largest class in 2015 and losing a competitive match with Pittsburgh Central Catholic 21-18.

     I can only access D11 teams that made the semi-finals in the years 2016-2022 to assess results that denied them a trip to finals.  In only 2016 (2 teams), 2017, 2018, 2019,  2021, & 2022 did teams from D11 make it to State semi-finals.   It was mostly a D12 opponent that kept them from advancing to finals, Imhotep three times, two different D3 teams once each; and D2 and D7 teams once each.

     Just as with District One, there is no clear-cut answer for D11 as to why things have changed so much since the shift to 6 classifications.

     And as far as D12’s Imhotep with its lackluster 1-6, .143 championship history; the team has appeared 7 times at States.  They had to win all their playoff games to get there 7 times, so imagine its overall playoff record.  As far as I can see Imhotep is 52-13 in playoff history for an .800 winning average overall.  It may not be totally accurate, but likely it is close.  The school was established in 1998 and was in the PIAA in 2004 as a D12 public school.  No D12 schools made the state playoffs before 2008 and my 52-13 record account is for 2008-2022.  Imhotep is formidable to say the least.

     Another observation I must note as I searched the Net for games to see this season (I saw 118 games) is the quality of good teams and fine football played this year in District 4.  Not the largest in schools with only one 6A (Williamsport), none in 5A, six 4A, 10 each in 3A and 2A, and 7 in 1A; I was impressed with the games I saw by Canton, Danville, Jersey Shore, Loyalsock Twp, Mount Carmel, Muncy, and of course, Southern Columbia, plus Troy area which I did not see.

     Canton Area 1A, was 12-2, losing only to Jersey Shore, and 1A State Champion Steelton-Highspire 21-28 in the State 1A semifinal.

     Danville, 3A was 12-1, losing only in the playoffs to Wyomissing, D3 by two points 19-21 in the State 3A Quarter-final.

     Jersey Shore, 4A, was 12-1, losing only in the playoffs to Allentown Central Catholic 31-38 in overtime.  The Bulldogs were an absolute scoring machine, scoring 708 points in 13 games an average of 54.5 a game.  They gave the fine Canton team their only regular-season loss 23-0, and credit Canton for keeping this the lowest score of the year for Jersey Shore.  They led the state in scoring most of the year; I have not seen the post-championship totals.

     Loyalsock Township, 3A, was 11-2 with their only two losses to Danville, a close 14-17 regular season, and 20-41 in the District 4 Class 3A Championship game.

     Mount Carmel, 2A, was 12-1, adding to their record as the team with the most wins in the State.  As they video stream all their games, I saw them all either live or the tape after the game.  Fun to watch.  After beating Southern Columbia regular season 35-21, their only loss of the year was in the 2A D4 Championship game to Southern Columbia 18-48; SC again to be the 2022 Class 2A Champion.

     Muncy, 1A, was 10-1 on the season, losing only to powerful Canton 7-42 in the Class 1A D4 Championship game.

     Southern Columbia, 2A did not have their “typical year”, but still won the State 2A Class Championship.  I saw a scattering of their games this year.  Regular-season losses this year were to Loyalsock Twp 10-27; Danville 14-49; and Mount Carmel 21-35. They were without at least one major weapon through most of the season, maybe more than one, due to injuries, but I think the losses to the teams they did lose to further stresses the good football of D4.

     Troy, 2A, I did not yet see, but if any tapes are still available may yet.  Troy Area was 9-3 this year with their losses to 3A Loyalsock by a point 35-36; strong 1A Canton 14-28; and in the D4, 2A semi-final 12-48 to a revived eventual state champion, Southern Columbia.

     Additionally, Milton Area, 4A had a fine 9-2 season, losing to Mount Carmel regular season 19-41 in a game that I saw the tape, and then in the D4, 4A semi-final to Selinsgrove, 0-30.

     This type of review would be similar I am sure in most districts, highlighting the teams with winning records, but I just took D4 due to Mount Carmel broadcasting all of their games and my continued interest in Southern Columbia also of the district.  If I can continue to find games to see in other Districts as well perhaps they will be dissected for review as well in the future.

     This year’s Championships featured only 5 different districts out of our 12.  These were 3, 4, 7, 8, & 12.  While it was nice to see D8 for the first time in 25 years, and five districts is the average of all championships; this average was established when there were only four championships a year and 11; not 12 districts.  I would like to see more districts per championship now that there are 12 slots each year to fill.

     This year we had two D7 vs D12 games, two D3 vs D7 games, one D3 vs D12, and one D4 vs D8. The following table shows the drought in district appearances.

     When you take this list into account along with the hope of seeing a new team or two each championship, you begin to think how great it would be if that new team was from District 5, 11, 8 or 9, even though we had a D8 this season and a D9 last season.  It had been many, many years since we had seen this for either district, so it is rare.

     We have spoken of D1, D3, D4, D7, D12, & D11 at some length, and three districts – 5, 8, & 9 just are too small with little participation to provide much of a stir against the big, and still bigger yet, districts. Of the two districts with three year absences we have discussed D1 and I would like to look at District 2 now.

     District 2 houses 33 schools, the same number as the record 33 Class 6A schools in D1. However there are only 2 class 6A in D2, along with 6 class 5A and 6 class 3A.  There are only two class 1A schools and D2’s largest categories are 2A with 7 schools and 4A with 10 schools.

     When in 3A of the four class system, Berwick was the bellwether of the district with 7 Championship appearances and 6 victories and .858 winning percentage.  Still the best percentage of any teams with both wins and losses in Championship history.  But their last appearance was in 1997, a quarter-century ago.

     The late legendary coach Georg Curry led them in their glory years.

     He had been at Lake Lehman, eventually left Berwick for Wyoming Valley West, later returning to Berwick until he left again in very ill health.  The last information I have for him was that of 2013 and he was still active with 437 wins against 91 losses and 6 ties.  Dropping the ties his average was .828 in games won or lost.  He led the state in wins as of this 2013 date.  The Dawgs were 14-1 in 2013, losing in the 3A State semifinals 14-42 to Archbishop Wood of D12.

     After their 1997 State Chip win, the Dawgs never again managed to get to a final, but they had few very “down” years in wins and losses.  In 1998, 12-1, eliminated in playoffs by Strath Haven of D1.  In 1999, 8-3, losing to Valley View in the playoffs.  In 2000, 12-1 and 2001, 10-3; in both years losing to Strath Haven, D1 in the playoffs.  Coach Curry apparently coached through the 2005 season when the Dawgs were 7-3.  He returned to the Berwick team in either 2011 or 2012; I have no information for 2011, and he was back for 2012.  He was there in 2014 but I have no coaching information for the Dawgs after that.

     But the Dawgs continued to post winning seasons and playoff appearances from 2007 through 2019 making State playoffs in all but 2010 and 2011.

     In those years they were in Eastern Conference playoffs.  Each year was a winning record with 2010’s 6-6 the nearest to a losing season at .500.  It would seem the Covid 19 interruption was the final straw to push the Dawgs downward, in 2020 they were 1-5 in a short Covid season, in 2021 7-5, and in 2022, 5-7.   The 2007-2022 period the team was 133-59 for an winning average of .693.

     After 5 losses to Berwick (2 of which I saw), Manheim Central finally turned the tables and eliminated the 2004 Berwick team 16-13.  We mentioned the Arch. Wood 42-14 elimination of Berwick in 2013.

     As with the District One analysis of many teams from different districts eliminating different D1 participants since their last huzzah’s; it was many teams from different districts eliminating Berwick in the years following their 1990’s successes.

     We have spoken of the successes in St. Joes Prep, 4A & 6A, D12; Southern Columbia, 1A & 2A, D4; and Berwick, 3A, D2.

     How about Thomas Jefferson, D7, class 3A & 4A.  They came to the finals 5 times and won them all, 5-0.  They are the only team with that many wins unbeaten. First in 3A, they appeared in 2004 and beat Manheim Central, D3, 56-20.  Returned in 2007 and beat Garnet Valley, D1, 28-3.  Made two years in a row in 2008 and beat Archbishop Wood, D12, 34-7.  Sometime after that moved up to 4A.  After 11 years returned in 2019 in 4A to beat Dallas, D2, 46-7.  Finally, in again a 2-straight-year appearance in 2020 beat Jersey Shore, D4, 21-14, their closest game of the five.  Five appearances and all wins over D3, D1, D12, D2, & D4.  Another major success not often mentioned.

     Three examples of long-term strength of teams can be found in Pittsburgh Central Catholic of D7; Erie Cathedral Prep of D10; and Aliquippa of D7.

     PCC appeared in the first Chips in 1988 and won the first ever Class 4A on-field championship.  They returned in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015; and in 2016, for the first time in 6A.  Although they lost to St. Joe’s Prep in 2016 they were the first D7 4A champion and first D7 6A participant. A 28-year span of excellence.

     Erie Cathedral Prep of D10 has appeared in 9 championships, a three-way tie with St. Joe’s Prep and Aliquippa for the most appearances in States, all behind only Southern Columbia’s 21.  The Rambler’s were present in 4A in 1991, 1999, & 2000.  They were back in 3A for 2012 & 2015.  They returned in 4A for 2016, 2017, and 2018.  In 2020 they appeared in 5A.  A 29-year span of excellence.

     No team matches Aliquippa in this regard.  They were in the first Chips in 1988 and the last in 2022.  That is the complete 35-year span of the event.  Appearing in 2A, 3A, and 4A, the Quips were here in 1988, 1991, 2000, 2003, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2021, & 2022.

     PCC is 4-3; ECP 5-4; and Quips 4-5 for their efforts.

     Whether going home with gold or silver, the span of years is what we are pointing out for the three teams above.

     Of course, Southern Columbia, D4 has also amassed their numerous records already mentioned over the years 1994-2022, a 29-year span as well.

     The success of D12’s Archbishop Wood was a rather concentrated effort of  2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 in 3A; and 2016, 2017, & 2019 in 5A.  They earned a 6-2 record for their 8 appearances over a 12-year burst.  Their .750 winning average places them fifth in the order of teams that have both wins and losses in the PIAA finals.

     I hope readers will enjoy the basic figures, records, and discussions on the various high school football-related facets of the article.  Congratulations to all the 124 teams that have participated in finals, some many times.  We have seen some very fine athletes over the years and some great and startling on-field performances.  Lets hope this continues for many more years.

     Let me state at the outset that greater minds with greater resources than I have; have worked, and are I am sure always working/considering, the subjects; and we see tweaking of particularly the playoff brackets year-to-year.  I wish I had answers instead of further discussion but that is not the case.

     Geography and population are the two major constituents in district and classification considerations.

     Pennsylvania is basically a big rectangle about 170 miles times 283 miles with practically three straight sides (north, south, & west) and the eastern boundary dictated by the course of the Delaware River.  In the far northwest of the northern border with New York State, Erie County forms sort of a slanted chimney that interrupts the straight northern PA border and extends our state to Lake Erie.

     This geography is one major consideration in the breakdown of districts and of course, the cost and risk of accidents during travel is a major consideration in setting league schedules and also playoff sites.

     There are 67 counties in PA and their borders are generally anything but straight in geographic terms.  Many borders are determined by river or creek streams, particular roads or highways, mountains, and political issues among the counties.  Sizes vary.  Lycoming County in District 4 is our largest by area, Philadelphia County, which is a combination city-county government, our only such combination, is the largest by population.  It is in, and in fact, IS District 12.  Montour County is the state’s smallest land area county and is also in District 4.  Cameron County in District 9 is the least populated of our counties.

     Our Districts are comprised of combinations of various counties (67) plus one city that is not a city-county government, Pittsburgh.  So, 68 units make up our District structure.  Their size geographically and the population is also diverse and an issue of note.

     Our football champions are generally based on east versus west opponents per classification.  East Districts are 1, 2, 3, 4, 11 & 12 while the West are 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, & 10.  Six districts in each of East and West.

     Since about 2008 the PIAA has tried to rebalance the various numbers of teams in certain classifications for playoffs by placing a district on the opposite side of the bracket which skewers the pure East-West.  This is no distraction to the school and the students, fans supporting it I am sure.  If you win a state championship, no matter for either East or West, hooray!

     However, in 2019 St Joe’s Prep (Philadelphia) and Archbishop Wood (Bucks County) winning “West” titles seem incongruous.  Likewise, Bishop Guilfoyle (Altoona, PA) winning the class 1A title in 2014, 1015, & 2016 for the “East” is likewise strange.

     In my records, I like no note these differences with asterisks and notes.  There seems to be no answer to the riddle because if you shifted to North/South there would still be a great disparity in the number of schools in each classification within each district.  I will list each district in east-west format with the district followed by a number of schools in this order 1A-2A-3A-4A-5A-6A.

Eastern Districts

District 1 – 3 – 2 – 0 – 8 – 24 – 33.   Total 70 schools

District 2 —        2 – 7 – 6 – 10 – 6 – 2.  Total 33 schools.

District 3 —        3 – 7 – 14 – 23 – 26 – 19.  Total 92 schools.

District 4 —        7 – 10 – 10 – 6 – 0 – 1  Total 34 schools.

District 11 –        6 – 9 – 10 – 6 – 6 – 10  Total 47 schools.

District 12 –        1 – 1 – 6 – 7 – 14 – 11  Total 40 schools.

Western Districts

District 5 –         6 – 4 – 1 – 0 – 0 – 0   Total 11 schools.

District 6 —         14 – 15 – 3 – 3 – 2 – 3  Total 40 schools.

District 7 —         30 – 24 – 20 – 23 – 18 – 6  Total 121 schools.

District 8 —          0 – 2 – 0 – 2 – 1 – 1   Total 6 schools.

District 9 —          12 – 6 – 3 – 2 – 0 – 0  Total 23 schools.

District 10 —         11 – 7 – 15 – 2 – 1 – 2  Total 38 schools.

     Here we see the disparity in the number of schools per district, a high of 121 in one to a low of 6 in another.

     Would a merger of the two smallest districts (8 and 5) with others and a shift to 10 districts, not 12, help?  Again, I am sure greater minds than minds has considered it.  Both small districts (8 and 5) are in the now “West”, so a re-casting of the remaining 10 districts would be necessary or there would be 4 in the west and 6 in the east.  And scheduling and various league ramifications would also be necessary.  Naturally, feelings or politics would be involved in such modifications.

     It is interesting that the classifications of the schools in 6 classes are fairly consistent with the total schools in each classification.  These are 1A – 95; 2A – 94; 3A – 88;  4A – 92;  5A – 98; and 6A – 88.

     The problem is the vast disparity among the various districts in each class.  Only District 7 in the West has a good number in most classes with their shrinking 6A class the least due to continuing population decline in many communities.

     Only three districts are “big” in school numbers D7 – 121; D3 – 92; and D1 – 70.  Midrange districts include D11 – 47; D6 & D12, 40 each; D10 – 38; D4 – 34; and D2 – 33.  District 9 drops down to 23 total schools and then 11 of D5 and 6 of D8.

     Would a shift to 5 classifications instead of six help in this regard?  Here again, the shift from four to six classes for 2016 was a move to “better balance” the various size schools.  Would ten districts and 5 classifications help?  I certainly do not know the answers.

     I still like a competition between East and West as the two final opponents, otherwise, what could you call them?  Side “A” versus side “B” has no cachet.   Again North and South would erase the former status and start a new arrangement after 35 established championships; not favorable to my thinking.

     Many conversations regarding the annual championships has centered around two schools; two very successful schools, St. Joe’s Prep in 6A from D12 and Southern Columbia in 2A from D4.

     Back years ago such conversations were heard about Central Bucks West in 4A of D1 and Berwick of 3A in D2.  Very successful programs draw comments from many and the discussion falls into categories of favor and disfavor as well.

     But something I think you would find in most successful high school football programs would be excellent and proficient coaching, school and community backing, sufficient facilities, dedicated athletes, and a number of excellent, skilled, and/or talented players as well.  The last is the hardest to come by without all of the first-named assets.  Winning draws.  The object of playing is to win.

     Despite the current excellent records of the Hawks and Tigers, it will not be forever.  Ask C B West, Archbishop Wood, Berwick, Mount Carmel, and other schools that once seemed to be “unstoppable”, or a forever dynasty.

     As to the playoff brackets, the biggest talking session this year was a big gap in the Western D5 bracket when Erie Cathedral Prep had a month off (10/28 – 11/25) which included two weeks of byes with opt-outs by the opposition of D8 and D6.  The opt-outs are perfectly acceptable by policy and Cathedral Prep, who was a strong 8-2 with the losses to out-of-state powers lost to eventual state champion Pine-Richland 21-14.  You cannot be sure that the score would have been different without the month off; but perhaps?

     District participation from 1988 through 2022.

     A lot of discussions has been made since the PIAA allowed the inclusion, actually fostered the inclusion it has been said, of D12 in the PIAA in 2004 (Public league only) and 2008 (Phila Catholic League).  There is no question that a difference was felt since the entire District was admitted in the latter year of 2008.

     First, there is also no question that the D7 concept of the whole district being one league, the  WPIAL, has made it the dominant district in championship participation and the number of titles won.  It has appeared in every state championship from 1988 – 2022, and in many cases filled the entire side in the four state titles years of 1988-2015.  Only in the second championship in 1989 did D7 have only one entrant – Upper Saint Clair that beat D3 entrant Wilson West Lawn 12-7.  From then on no less than two entries per championship and many times 3, or the entire west side of 4.  Through last year (2021) D7 holds 102 state titles.

     As D12 is East (in most cases) it did not affect D7 in participation when it came to the fore.  At a quick look, it appears that D12 holds only a slim 1-game edge over D7 – 6 to 5 in all classifications combined.  {2022 results evened this to 7-7 D12 vs D7}.

     Naturally, the districts most affected by D12 would be the Eastern districts, and mostly in the higher classifications.  From 2004 through 2007, no District 12 public league team made it to the championships.  That all changed with the inclusion of the Phila Catholic League in 2008.  Since 2008 D12 has been represented in every championship, of course not in every classification.

     But unlike D7, who has had 45 different teams (2022 included) vie for a state championship, D12 in its 17 years of participation in the PIAA has sent only 5 different teams until a new 6th entry for 2022.  Having only 1 class 1A and 1 class 2A it is in the larger classifications that D12 has had the most impact.  Three-A and 4A when it was four championships a year, and 6A and 5A now which is 6 titles each year is where D12 shines.

     But as to a district dominating, I point out that as a district, D12 is 16-13 through 2022 in all classifications combined.  At .552 this is the 2nd best winning percentage of all districts, and first is D4 at 18-13 .581 and next is D11 at 11-9 .550.  District 7 is 56-50 and .529, and finally, last above .500 is D2 at 11-10 and .524.  All the other Districts are .500 or under in Championship wins and losses.

     I think that D12 has adversely impacted Districts 1, 3, and 11 to the most degree.

     In the first 16 years of Chips 1988 through 2003, District 1 ruled the Eastern 4A bracket with 11 appearances in 4A to D3 with 4 and D11 with 1.  The four years of PPL D12 only {2004-2007} swung to D11 who placed three teams in each of the 2005 and 2006 championships and was the 4A rep three of the four years.

     With the D12 entrance of the PCL, there have been no years from 2008 through 2021 without a PCL representative, which of course is also a D12 rep.  The only PPL team yet to have appeared is Imhotep Charter School which has appeared in four different classifications a total of 7 times.

     Conversely, both District 1 and District 11’s participation in the State finals dropped considerably.

     D1 has appeared only 3 times in the 2008-2022 (15-year) period.  D11 has also only appeared 3 times and has not been seen in 7 years, last appearing in 2015 when Parkland narrowly lost to Pittsburgh Central Catholic 21-18  in the last 4A game where it was the largest class.

     District 3, the largest eastern district and second largest overall to D7 in teams was among the first districts to play for both East and West in certain classes.  It is hard to determine what effect this had without a study of the district since 2008 with its wins and losses.  However, it seems to be an all-win, or all-loss district when you look at its 6 classes’ performances.  In 6A it is 0-4.  In 5A 0-2.  In 4A 3-4, the most balanced class.  In 3A 1-11.  Then it flips the other way in the two smallest classes, 2A 4-0; and 1A 6-0.  Undefeated in 2A and 1A with three different schools in each class establishing those records.

     District 11 has yet to appear in 6A or 5A but has a 4A record of 2-4, and winning margins in the other three classes – 3A 3-2; 2A 4-3; and an unbeaten 2-0 class 1A mark.

     The other two Eastern districts; 2 and 4; have been mostly smaller classification centered with only 2 class 6A and 5 class 5A in D2 and in D4 no 5A and only one 6A in Williamsport.  They would be somewhat less affected by the primary larger school strength of D12’s inclusion.

     District 2’s greatest participation in states was the first 10 years of Chips 1988-1997 when Berwick was a national power.  But they were represented every year in that period, sometimes with two reps per year.  After that, it was scattered appearances in 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2018.  In 2019 D2 had two entries for the first time since 1997; Dallas lost and Wyoming Area won.  That was their last participation now absent last three years.

     District 4 is basically being carried by a single entity presently, Southern Columbia in 2A.  The District still houses the winningest team in the state, Mount Carmel with 866 wins (2019 last noted).  But, first in 1A and now in 2A Southern Columbia carries the District with 21 championship appearances and 13 titles claimed, both records, or course.  It is only fair to mention that they also hold the record for the most losses in championship history at 8.  In 1A they are 6-7, and in 2A they are 7-1 for their 13-8 overall and have 6 consecutive 2A titles, another state record.

     Only 5 other teams from D4 have made the finals.  Also in 2A, Mount Carmel was 4-1 in five state title matches.  South Williamsport was 0 for 2, once in 1A and once in 2A.  Montoursville lost in a 2A final; Selinsgrove won its only final in 3A and Jersey Shore lost its only final in 4A.

     There is no doubt that D12 has made a major impact on the scene.  However, it has primarily been in the top two classes both when they were 3A and 4A and now 5A and 6A.  The Philadelphia Catholic League has been dominant since its 2008 PIAA entrance over the Phila Public League in general; in their annual Thanksgiving rivalries, and in playoffs.  But, as with Southern Columbia and Mount Carmel in D2; it has basically been two teams at finals from D12 causing all the commotion.  These were originally St. Joe’s Prep and Archbishop Wood.

     Another factor is the PCL includes schools not in the city of Philadelphia proper but in Bucks, Montgomery, and Delaware counties.  If this were not so, Archbishop Wood’s fine record would be in D1 as would LaSalle’s (Montgomery County) as well.  With the inclusion of the new Neumann-Goretti in 3A for 2022, D3 now has had six schools participating at States; not many for a 40-school district.

     St. Joe’s Prep in 4A and 6A is 7-2 in 9 appearances.  Archbishop Wood in 3A & 5A is 6-2 in eight finals.  Imhotep of Public League football in D12 has appeared in 2A, 3A, 4A, & 5A.  Imhotep is 1-6 in seven appearances.  LaSalle had appeared twice in 4A and is 1-1.  Likewise, West Catholic appeared twice in 2A and is also 1-1.  Neumann-Goretti this year lost a mighty defensive battle with Belle Vernon of D7, 9 to 8.  NG was the 5th PCL and 6th overall D12 team to appear at States.

     Everyone that is interested in Pennsylvania high school football is aware of the decline in general of the sport in PA.  The numbers are down.  There are a great number of football size and speed individuals in schools that are not playing football.  The reasons are likely many and diverse.  The risk of injury is certainly a consideration for some parents even though the “concussion problem” seems to have cooled down.

     But the local school near me offers football, baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, ice hockey, Lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, track, and wrestling.  Not to mention a flock of clubs and other extracurricular activities if you so desire. There are a great number of other choices to stay active in or out of sports.

     For years I have tried to count the players on the sideline when attending games or even seeing them on a video stream.  A lot of schools, including big classifications, do not have packed sidelines. And small-school-wise, I have counted some single-digit sideline troops along with maybe 12 to 15, or so.

     A factor unaccounted for in anything I have read is the vast number of children from other countries that have immigrated to the United States.  Many Asian and Hispanic, along with most other countries, do not have football in American terms.  Their football is soccer to us.  As noted in the recent World Soccer publicity, the U S is an underdog in that sport.  However, our schools’ soccer programs are taking many potential football players for certain.  And many times also provide a kicker for a football team as well, when scheduling allows.

     Reviewing what I said above about the sports and clubs available at the local high school, how possibly does a school promote and highlight its football program?  Some schools seem capable of doing it.  However, how in the Devil is it possible?  With all the other sports and clubs, along with the worsening security issues around schools and games, how do you promote football?

     And, when it comes to the state championship playoffs, how can we level the field?  Perhaps the move from four to six classifications did help that some as the average margin of victory the last two years was 13.2 (2021) and 16.8 (2022); down from ranges such as 32.3 (2004) or 27.5 (2015).  It seems 1999 provided the most competitive championships with an average MOV of 7.0 and four scores of 14-13; 21-7; 13-6; and 27-21.

     I am afraid that the sport of football is in for a tough road in Pennsylvania given all I have observed and somewhat some of what I have said here.  Hopefully not in the time allotted to me as I am well over the hill in age to most readers.  I saw my first high school football game in October 1951.  I loved it from the start and that love grew year by year; this year being my 72nd season.

     I also very much like the EasternPAFootball website and all through the year it is one of perhaps 10 sites that I visit every single day, all year, never an exception.

     I wish all the writers of comments on the Forum here best wishes and good health and safety in 2023.  I read them all although I seldom comment, as everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I am thankful for the interest shown in high school football.  About 250 days to high school football!!

WHAT HAS IT ALL MEANT?

When I first went to a game in 1951, just past age 10, I had no comprehension at all that I would develop a hobby out of high school football. It was just a chance to follow the local alma mater team and its ups and downs. Being age 10 in a crowd of 16- and 17-year olds and being readily accepted was my first social interaction, and pleasing to say the least. Joining the high school band in my freshman year enhanced the closeness to football and brought additional peer-age friends, and got me to every game the team played; seeing new stadiums and new teams.

Only in my senior year (1958-1959) did I decide to log the results of all of the teams in the Lower Bucks County League in a 3-ring binder for the 1958 season.

I also logged the statistics of every Morrisville game for this season; something never repeated.

Working locally at a bank starting in June of 1959, I was close enough and had the time to also see and log the 1959 season, and once I had two seasons of stats I was not going to stop; I had found a hobby, beyond just going to see games. Much later I backfilled the 1951 to 1958 Morrisville games seen seasons from programs I had retained from Morrisville games; and at some point much later on (possibly 2002) backfilled each of the other teams in my area from team histories purchased from Don Black, who formerly had the ePAsports website.

Perhaps the most fascinating thing of the first 65 years (so far) is the social and unlikely events that I have lived through this hobby.

First, my cousin, 6 or 7 years older than me suggesting I go with his “crowd’ to the first game. He was the oldest of 5 cousins in this family, and the youngest of the 5 as he aged looked very much facially like the late Bruce Stansbury, who coached at Morrisville in 1982-1988 and later Council Rock North and South. Without ever seeing the two side-by-side; to me the resemblance was uncanny.

One of the early older crowd members I met was a real home-team “fan” and supported the three major male sports, baseball, basketball, and football at Morrisville and drove to away games for all of them when possible. Through meeting him and being invited to join the crowd, I got to see away games in all three sports before I got my own car after graduation. And this included college games (Penn-Princeton football), the Harlem Globetrotters, semi-pro basketball in the Trenton area, and other events. During my army service years (1964-68), he got out of following most sports, and I only saw him once ever again in the bank.

But while still active for football at Neshaminy in 1961 or 1962, we met our Bensalem buddy. Bud 1, as I have termed him through the narrative, was older than all of us, but knowledgeable in sports, usually had a joke or two to spin when we met him, and was good company; even got me to a Neshaminy Booster Club meeting and coach-narrated game film of a Neshaminy-Allentown game at the meeting, about 1962 or 1963. I lost touch with him during my service time and first marriage (1964-1975). I did recognize him at a distance at some of the few games I saw in the time period just mentioned, but did not make an effort to chase him down and re-establish contact. In 1985 I ran into him at a Morrisville game and did reestablish a friendship that endured until his death at 89 in 2008 before that season started. Without a count I can say I saw more games with my Bensalem buddy than any other single individual. Most times were chance meetings, but for a period of two or three years after I re-met him, we did coordinate by phone for many games; after that it was more common knowledge of where either of us would be that determined some game choices. He was the source of three or four or more Suburban One League passes that enabled me to see a lot of free high school games.

The second posse member I met because I had a drum corps baseball cap on at a game when the member’s father recognized it and started a conversation.

It was the second drum corps that I had belonged to, and another twist, I had played with the first corps on that very War Memorial Field in 1962 and 1963 long before I saw a football game there. Likewise, I saw two junior drum corps (DCI) shows as a fan at Crawford Stadium in the mid -1970’s before I saw a football game there in 1984. Once I met this man’s son (Bud 2), there was a four person posse for games – me, Bud 1, Bud 2 and Bud 2’s dad for basically 1987-1991. It was likely 1988 or so when I introduced Bud 1 and Bud 2 and his dad; if not shortly thereafter.

What was the chance of a high school football nut like me having a brother-in-law that was originally from the Berwick area? In 1991 he suggested we take in some Berwick games as he knew the area intimately. When he married my wife’s youngest sister, he was living and working out of the Rocky Hill, NJ area and had matriculated at a central Jersey high school. I never really knew about his early childhood in the Berwick area until he mentioned going to see the Dawgs. From 1991-on he became Bud 3 and before long met Bud 1 and Bud 2 and his dad; and our group had grown to five for a couple of years until the all-too-soon passing of Bud 2’s dad in early 1993.

All the time 1985-1993 I became aware of how important this company at games had become. I still soloed to certain games if I wanted to see them, and I still saw more games than any of the other buddies; it was just me. But the most fun was when we all congregated at the same game; what laughter, game discussion, and how quickly time flew during those moments.

My second and present wife went to many games with me, but although she met and knew all my buddies and their wives; usually went with just me, when I had no one else to go with.

But more importantly, three different times in our now 37-year relationship; it was she that got me back on track for high school football when I was having some difficulty with it for some reason. I was truly blessed the second time around with a woman that fully understood me, and saw no threat to me enjoying a hobby outside of the practical routine of life.

Through her, the fourth Buddy relationship began when a classmate of mine all through high school came into the bank when she was working on a Friday afternoon in 1997 and posed the question as to whether I would be interested in a long trip the next day to Wilkes-Barre to see a CB West-Wyoming Valley West playoff game. He wanted to go and had no company for the trip. I knew him since first grade, but he was an athlete – baseball, basketball, and football up to his senior year, and I was not. We spoke cordially many times that I saw him at games beginning when I got back to it in 1968, but he had family, and other ex-Morrisville and Pennsbury athletes that he mostly attended games with. So this, in 1997 was new, and somewhat fleeting; it was 2001 to 2004 that it was mostly he and I and occasionally others attending games.

All Buds brought more to the table than just company; Bud 1 knew all the administration and officials at Neshaminy and Bensalem where he concentrated his interest. That’s why he often got two league passes a year, one from each school, and I was a big beneficiary of that situation.

Of the people he knew, I eventually became known with Bob Schopp, Sheldon Par, John Chaump, and Tom Adams Sr. and Jr., administration, coaches, and fans at Bensalem and Neshaminy. Of course, when I knew Bob Hart was at Bensalem; I already knew him from Morrisville High School. Surprisingly, he also knew me from school.

Bud 2 knew well enough to speak to, all of the old BuxMont coaches, including Mike Pettine Sr., and radio personality Jim Church, along with literally hundreds of other people; he was recognized by someone at almost every game we went to. In fact, he went with us (me and Bud 4) to Wilkes Barre in 1997 to see the game mentioned above. Over 100 miles away at a place where none of us had ever been before we hear a voice call out, “Hey _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _”; (Bud 2’s name of course). It was someone who knew him from Lambertville and also followed high school football. It wasn’t the only time it happened. Bud 2 was the most outgoing one of us all, always ready to strike up a conversation in a ticket line, in the stands; anywhere, anytime.

Bud 3, my brother-in-law, was quieter as was I, but if drawn into a conversation was all there, and with a soft-spoken, warm way toward others and their feelings. Key with bro was his knowledge of Berwick and the surrounding area. He knew it like the back of his hand and this was including the trip to West Pittston. And he knew right where Villanova Stadium was, which was one-up on me at the time. He also had no problem with long runs such as Berwick or Hershey, either. The fact that he was originally from Nescopeck, near Berwick, set us up nicely with the Berwick fans when we attended games there as outsiders.

Bud 4 knew all of the athletes of his era and somewhat beyond it, as he was always associated closely with Morrisville doings and also in various sports organizations in the county.

He also knew John Chaump personally as he had coached at Morrisville at one period. The same was true with Mike Ortman and Bruce Stansbury. He was friends of many ex-athletes from numerous schools.

I, as a non-athlete, brought only a deep love of high school football to the table. But, it was due to my pre-season visits to football practices that I began in 1993 on my own, that all of us expanded our knowledge with additional coaches around the league. In 1994 I got Bud 2 to join me, and eventually Bud 4 also joined, and we had some great talks with coaches at these pre-season practices. There was always rest sessions here and there, and depending on the coach and his specialty always time for a few words; we were soon recognized year-to-year, and became warmly greeted at most locations. It was a wonderful ride for a high school football fan.

Now completing 65 seasons, I have seen 913 games, an average of 14 games a season. Only one season missed entirely, no games – 1967. The number seen per year varies at every number between 1 and a top 32, except 19 and 31. No seasons produced total games seen of 19 or 31.

Total different teams seen sit at 157, and are from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, DC, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The top five teams in number of times seen are Pennsbury – 202; Neshaminy – 157; Morrisville – 139; Council Rock (& CR North) – 135; and Central Bucks West – 131. They are the only five teams over 100 views each.

Twenty teams I have seen no longer exist at all, or under the name that I once saw them.

I have seen many great games, many good teams; (it does not take a team winning a state championship for me to tag them “good”). My parameter for a good season is 7-3 a .700 winning percentage. Any win-loss record that exceeds or equals .700 is a “good” team. I make specific exceptions for 8-4 (.677) depending on an analysis of schedule and who they lost to; and all other win-losses speak for themselves. I have seen many fine high school football players without saying. Far too many in 65 years to make a list here. I also missed many of the great categories in lean years that I could not make games; and this I truly rue. I would be to a thousand games easily without about 14-15 lean years for high school viewing.

But it is the various incidents or occurrences that have happened that are keen in my mind as special to me that has made my hobby interesting.

I have given some examples, but here’s one special moment: In 1951 in the first and second games I saw at Morrisville, the Bulldog QB was Charles Galambos. As he was 16 or 17 and I was 10 I didn’t know him, but his sister Barbara was in my class grades 1-12. I met him as kicking coach at Pennsbury about 2008. Just last year (2015 season) before the Neshaminy at Pennsbury game Charlie and another man joined the two Falcon gatemen and me in pre-game conversation. Charlie, it was explained, was suffering some age ills and was in a care facility of some sort. When I told him that I had seen two of his games in 1951, especially the win 6-0 over Neshaminy, he lit up like a bulb.

We went on to name players from that team and he was seemingly very happy with the conversation. He mentioned John Krysa who loosened the ball that was flopped on in the Redskin end zone for the only score of the game. Sixty-four years later I talk with a man that played in the first game I ever saw! (I had spoken with him on several occasions when he was kicker specialist at Falcon Field in the mid 2000’s, but I am sure he wouldn’t have remembered that).

And John Krysa who he mentioned I had met at a Pennsbury home game and sat with him and others out at Neshaminy one game also. I do not see the notation, but the original meeting was likely the late 1980’s. His son played at Pennsbury.

At an early 2014 game I saw Tom Adams Jr. at a game and moved to sit with him. He was with another man and I was introduced to Pancho Micir, a man that was QB at Bishop Egan and took the Eagles to the PCL and City titles in 1966. Only this year (2015) in conversation with my sister, I learned that she once took tennis lessons from Pancho Micir.

Tom Adams’ father, T A Senior, besides being a Bensalem hall-of -fame athlete, was a pretty good country dancer before he passed, and I also learned that he and my sister danced together many times at various country dances. Go figure; it is a small world!

Jeff Johnson was a really good high school football player at Morrisville according to Bud 4, who knew him well. I just do not know the era, it was likely when I was not close to the Dogs in given years. But I got to know him to speak to at various Council Rock and other games. He was in the Council Rock Junior High coaching system. I saw him again to speak to at the Rock North-Pennsbury game this (2015) season. In 2005 Bud 4 and I journeyed to East Stroudsburg for a college playoff game against C W Post. In the Campus store pre-game, we run into Jeff Johnson and his daughter, who was attending East Stroudsburg.

Jeff also went there and I believe holds some sort of defensive record at the school. We all sit together at the game; afterward Bud 4 and I depart. Hour or two later, we run into Jeff at Hot Dog Johnnies, a well-know hot dog eatery on the Delaware River in northwest Jersey. None of this was planned, and a just happy coincidence among very nice people. (Not including myself, only others can make that decision).

This season (2015), I was totally surprised to be honored at halftime of the O’Hara-Wood Sunday October 18th game at Tennent as an army veteran. Eight of us, or so, were walked to midfield between the Wood cheerleaders who were in two rows with small American flags. Then a prayer was made over the PA system and a young lady sang two choruses of God Bless America. We were presented with camo shirts with appropriate wording, and a thank you to all servicemen was read. It was truly touching and I will always consider it a high honor among the events of my long time hobby.

Various coaches greeting any of the group of us with, “You guys are everywhere” was another thing we eventually prided ourselves on. I have mentioned numerous times in my narrative when this occurred. Mike Pettine Sr. doing it in Hershey at a game was probably the apex.

Meeting the coaches in one way or another beginning in 1994 was a special part of my hobby never dreamed of at the outset. I knew Coach Gordon Davies and Dick Lee of Morrisville in high school obviously, had them as teachers and Mr. Davies also drivers education. Although I was not an athlete I got along well with Mr. Davies who called me “Mac”. Mr. Lee was a favorite of our entire class of 1959. His son Rick Lee played at Morrisville, coached at Neshaminy and Bensalem, and I have sat with him at games, most prominently from 2013 through 2015. Spoke with him many, many times before that.

In my solitary viewing era 1968-1983, I made no effort to meet coaches, never thought about it. It was my wife getting a Morrisville schedule early pre season in 1993 that led me to try to get schedules at other schools by myself which I did. Then in 1994 we began touring pre-season camps as a regular part of the coming season. For whatever reason we developed an early, warm relationship with the CB East coaching staff, at one time Larry Green, Bill Heller, Tony Schino, Craig Phillips, and Chris Rittenhouse.

Another twist, Craig Phillips was the son of the head teller that was friends with my wife that got me back to the hobby, the first time for her in 1984.

He played for a good 1984 Morrisville team that my wife wanted to see. He didn’t know me upon our first meeting around 1996 until I told him my wife and his mom’s connection. He did know Bud 4 from Morrisville connections once Bud 4 started to do the pre-season tours. From our first visit to CB East, the staff truly seemed glad to see such interest by fans and welcomed us each and every season we did the tours. And Bill Heller, who ran a fishing business on the Delaware River offered to buy my house if I ever wanted to sell, and became the closest of associates; I still see him every summer as he still uses the area around me. He stopped to chat summer of 2015 and I chatted with him at the CB South-Pennsbury game this season. There is irony here too; Bill was on the 1960 Bensalem team and instrumental in laying one of only two defeats on the Bulldogs that season 19-13. He is really hobbled with bad knees now, and I do not envision much future football involvement for Bill. He got me my only sideline pass viewing of a game, CB East-North Penn in 2002.

Our second closest coaches’ relationship was Council Rock and later when it became CR North. This developed after Bud 4 joined our pre-season jaunts as he was a close personal friend of the Ortman’s from their years at Morrisville. Bud 4 had two sons matriculate at Morrisville and at least one played football, so he was both skin- and residence- connected at Bulldog land. But Mike and the late Buddy Ortman and Bruce English were wonderful to talk with and always warmly greeted us. I was offered a sideline pass twice for Rock games, but had to decline for various reasons both times.

I did my only scouting ever with the Ortman’s at a Bensalem at Tennent game when Buddy asked me to outline all of the starters and senior replacements in the program. Huzzah!

We met Biz Keeney when he took on the Bensalem job and spoke with him there, when he was scouting at other games, and again at Tennent when he moved there. This relationship was more of an, “I know you guys” when we saw Biz then some of the others. But we always had nice conversations.

Mike Pettine got to know me and Bud 2 from an actual invasion of his office at the school by us one time. Either after school or a non-school day, there was activity at the school and we were there for some reason; I think for a big pre-game ticket sale, and Bud 2 saw Mike alone in his office and said let’s give it a try. We said we were long-time high school football fans and just wanted to meet him and not bother him or stay if it was inconvenient. Mike was totally amenable to shooting the breeze and we must have spent a half hour or 45 minutes with him. Deep-voiced, he was a towering presence that talked with us as if we were old friends. He knew us by our first names from then on whenever we saw him. We only once visited a CB West pre-season practice however. But we saw Mike on numerous occasions thereafter and were recognized. I was the first person to greet Mike Pettine as he stepped from the bus in 1991 after returning from Altoona and the Bucks’ first state championship. Among a crowd of perhaps 500, I just happened to have the right spot for the bus that stopped with the door directly in front of me. I also had worked at the bank with Tony Rohach that was then a Bucks’ assistant coach, and also greeted him. Bud 3 and I had learned when the busses were due and had made the jaunt to Doylestown. It was around 9:00 PM.

Mark Schmidt and John Chaump, later Roger Grove were our main connections at Neshaminy. None of our group was closer to Mark than me for some reason. Bud 4 knew John Chaump from Morrisville coaching days. But, it seems that I was mostly solo when I ran into Mark Schmidt except at pre-season visits. And visits at Neshaminy were usually from a distance as they practiced on a field quite distant from the parking and we usually just watched from the lot.

But I ran into Mark a lot while he scouted other games or sometimes just seemed to be there watching. And I mentioned in my narrative that he seemed to be alone at times before his own games a lot. I talked to him at Truman and Neshaminy in a quiet moment before games his team was playing. I talked to him at Council Rock and Pennsbury while he was there scouting. He knew of an illness of mine that eventually required surgery; and he asked me about how I was doing from a year to another year; I found that amazing. I spoke with him as line coach for LaSalle at Tennent where they faced Wood and won in 2014; and for the last time to date at the 2014 Thanksgiving Day game at Harry S. Truman.

For some reason we didn’t seem to get to Pennsbury for pre-season visits until about 1997 and although I have met and talked to Mike Elko, then coach; I do not think it was until later.

Justin Fee was a contact there until I finally met Galen Snyder to speak with, somewhat after I had met his parents.

At times Bill Heller and Tony Schino were there, and I knew them from CB East, of course. I spoke to Galen at the Pennsbury-Neshaminy game this past season (2015). As luck would have it, on senior night a long line of parents-player-cheerleaders-band people lined up behind the temporary stands I was on and there was no movement for a while and Galen, Luke, and Mr. Snyder (Galen’s dad) were right alongside me. It was a night for family; I only exchanged a few pleasantries and left them alone.

And as fate would have it, I got to speak with two of the greatest coaches (there are many more) in Pennsylvania history in Mike Pettine Senior and the late George Curry.

When I attend games now, I usually look for a familiar face, and most times ask them if I can join them. I have never had a “no”, and the easy conversation after sitting that has occurred is an indication that the recipient of my company’s response was not truly “just politely offered”. After a few years of seeing Falcon coach Galen Snyder’s mom and dad in the stands, they insisted that I call them by their first names. Since the demise of the posse, I have also taken a page out of Bud 2’s book, and offered conversation to stranger’s and for the very most part have benefited with some nice response also.

I have struggled emotionally with the loss of the posse and loss of the known coaches and pre-season visitations that are no longer really likely. As age infirmities catch up with me, I miss games now that I would never have missed some 10-, 20- years back. Such is life.

I do not expect my high school football enjoyment to end until I cannot any longer physically, or otherwise, get to games. Even then, hopefully there is some TV and video stream coverage to see, and worst-case scenario, radio to at least hear the game. I also hope to maintain my written and computer logs even if I cannot for some reason get to games.

If I have any goal to achieve, it is likely only to try to get to the century mark someday in games seen in person. I would likely be 80 or 81 if I continue to get near 20 games a year; but Bud 1 saw his last games at 89; so I have a shot, fate willing.

And so whoever might have read this saga; has my life story 1951- 2015 as it pertains to high school football. What it has meant is precious to me. Hours of enjoyment; at one time a deep rooted live-or-die emotional roller coaster for a particular team to win, camaraderie with fans and coaches for a long period, trips to games I never dreamed I would see; games in the most beautiful weather and time of year, and in brutal weather; and a hobby I can augment every fall.

I am far from a high school football expert, and my records are for a small segment of Pennsylvania high school football, but I hope I can enjoy local high school football through my final year whenever that may be, as Bud 1 did at 89 years of age.

My thoughts about my high school football hobby continued on October 30^th when I made the Tennent at Truman game my choice for the night. But Pennsbury, both Rocks, Neshaminy, and even Bensalem were all “away”, my usual haunts; and Truman really was a normal destination. And the away destinations were Quakertown, North Penn, Abington, CB South, and Norristown; two I have never been to (Norristown and the present Abington stadium) and three that I don’t venture to anymore. In any case I thought Tennent (4-5) and Truman (2-6) should be a good game as the Tigers were getting healthy to a degree (no QB Lopez-Shefcyk though), and Tennent had wins against three practically winless teams.

But the Panthers looked to be snake-bitten from the get-go. The Tigers Paulson broke a 47-yard gallop early, 2-pt pass try failed and it was 6-0 Tigers. Stalling on their first possession the Panthers punt attempt was blocked and returned 52-yards to the house by the Tigers Akinwande. This time the 2-pt pass PAT connected and it was 14-0 Tigers. The next Panther punt was made cleanly, the only problem was that the Tigers DeLeon returned it 55 yards for a TD. Another missed 2-point try left it at 20-0 Tigers. Still in the first on another Truman possession, Freeman took it in from the 13 yards and the run PAT was stopped short, 26-0 Tigers at the end of one quarter. Tennent could not move the ball much at all in the first half.

In the second quarter Freeman had another short 4-yard TD and a Hirsch PAT kick made it 33-0. Next Freeman who was the Tigers QB hit one of the formerly injured returned stars Justin Fant on a 53-yard pass TD. Hirsch again kicked the PAT and it was 40-0 with still 6 minutes and 57 seconds left in the half. Another Tennent disaster nearly occurred when the tigers picked off a Tennent pass right at the Tiger goal line, but the Truman picker lost the ball while trying to break loose and Tennent recovered at the Truman 2-yard line. Costello than ran it in and averted the first half mercy clock 40-6 at the half.

Due to the score, the urge to get home to see how other important games were going, and a 20-minute senior bandsmen halftime, I decided to book it. Another factor was the Truman asinine practice of yellow taping off the area in front of the grandstand so no one can even walk there. If the stands were free of tape you could clear across them but the band area is yellow-taped on both sides so you can’t cross there either. The front of the grandstand taping is done after the initial crowd is in so if you sit on the far end of the home stands where I do, you have to go all the way around the closed end of the stadium to hit the concessions, restrooms, or leave.

In the future I will either abandon Truman or just always sit on the visitors side.

At least for this season, I decided to take my “zoo crowd” phobia head-on and Friday night see Neshaminy at Pennsbury and Saturday the Rock-Rock battle for the first time ever. This was a departure from all of the things that bother me now and a return to, “let’s give it a try.”

The Neshaminy-Pennsbury game was important this season; it is always important to these two schools and fans. But getting into the playoffs was a destination for the Redskins; a loss and they would not likely make it. The Falcons could have at least one home game if they won it; but would make the playoffs win or lose.

I shunned the big visitors side stands because of the possibility of “aisle sitting” and took a spot on one of the little additional 5-high bleachers near the visitors-side entrance to Falcon Field. Two years ago this worked fine and the bleachers filled with standees as I was on the top. This year this bleacher did not fill and I had all the room I need yet had a good field view. The game evolved as many between two good teams, basic and sound, defense pretty much ruling, with not much spectacular happening. Neshaminy had a determined opened drive capped by a Mason Jones to Zach Tredway 13-yard TD strike. The PAT was blocked, 6-0 Skins.

I think the top prize for the Skins should have gone to the D for this one. They pretty much held the Falcons in check the entire game. In the second quarter the Skins put together a 12-play 77-yard drive. Will Dogba carried the rushing load (31 carries – 197 yards for game) and keyed the drive with a 31-yard dash to the Falcons 2 yard line. Then on a fourth down play, Mason Jones got the needed two yards and McDonald made the PAT to make it 13-0 Neshaminy.

This seemed to awaken the Falcon O and the ensuing 80-yard drive was highlighted by two long QB Alley bursts around the right side. It was capped by a Rupprecht 4-yard carry and Knop kicked the PAT, 13-7 Skins at the half. In the third quarter Neshaminy kicker Dylan McDonald hit a 33-yard field goal to increase the Skins lead to 16-7, while the defense continued to stifle the Falcon offense. Only with 3:32 left in the game did the Falcons Alley hit Luke Snyder for a 5-yard TD strike; with Knop PAT 16-14 final. As I was gone I do not know if an onsides kick was tried, but some sort of difficult kick to possibly handle must have been called for.

I braved an even bigger crowd for my first ever Rock versus Rock classic at Council Rock North Saturday night. I sat on the home side, a rarity at Rock, and pre-game with the “Mike” I had met this year after seeing him at games for years. But it got jammed and I moved just before the game, and that lasted just a half.

Just as the prior night this one had major implications for playoffs and Council Rock South would be eliminated with a loss and Council Rock North was also close to, if not eliminated, with a loss. The teams parried to a first quarter 0-0 stalemate. In the second quarter Brandon McIlwain got in from the two and Tyler Nowmos kicked the PAT, first lead CRN 7-0. Behind the rushing of Brendan Patterson the Golden Hawks answered with a drive capped by a QB Shaun Stackhouse 1-yard run, but the low PAT kick hit the goal post cross bar and was no good. As John Madden would say it went “doink” off the crossbar; 7-6 CRN at the half.

Council Rock South opened the second half scoring on a drive and Patterson 32-yard scamper and then he ran the 2-point PAT and it was the Golden Hawks first lead of the game 14-7. The rest of the third quarter was fittingly the Brandon McIlwain show as he carried the team with passes and runs and scored three times on runs of 3, 22, and 2 yards to make the score (with PATs) 14-14, then CRN 21-14, and 28-14. In the fourth quarter, McIlwain hit Tyler Nowmos for a 26-yard pass TD and Tyler kicked his fifth PAT of the night and it was 35-14 CRN Indians and that was the final score.

The crowd crush was huge, although certainly not unpleasant, and I got an idea. I watched the first half conclude from down by the main gate home side. Then I beat it to my car with thoughts that I could get home in time to see the second half that was video streamed and thus not miss any of the game. And I made it. I was home in time to get the computer up and witness the entire second half. Another first for me – half game attended – half game seen on video stream.

Even though all of the teams I would normally follow in the PIAA playoffs were away on 11/13-11/14; I did have a local option for a game – Cheltenham at Truman. Had I made my original first Saturday game at CB East on September 5^th, I would have opened and finished the regular season with Cheltenham away games, indeed a rarity; since I had only ever seen the Panthers once before, in 2003.

I expected a decent game as the Panthers were 4-6 coming in and the Tigers were 4-6 on the year also. And the two played to a 28-27 Cheltenham win the prior year. As it was a playoff night and games and results waiting to be discovered on computer at home, I knew I would stay only the first half most likely. Truman received the opening kickoff and on the second play from scrimmage, Lucas Gray bolted 50 yards to the house; the run PAT failed and it was 6-0 Tigers. That was it for the first quarter; as the Cheltenham offense could not seem to find a rhythm. In the second period a Tiger QB Freeman to Jackson screen pass resulted in a 49-yard romp to paydirt; the pass PAT failed and it was 12-0 Tigers. Later in the second Tiger kicker Tim Kenny-Schwartz hit a 22-yard FG to make it 15-0 Tigers. But Cheltenham got on the board when tall QB Branden Mack ran it in from 10 yards out, the kick PAT missed and it was 15-6 Tigers at the half, when I departed as planned.

The Panthers opened the second half scoring when Mack again ran one in from 16 yards out, and then also ran in a 2-point PAT to make the score 15-14 Tigers. The third quarter ended with the score remaining 15-14. In the fourth the Tigers answered with a Quinten Mulbah 6-yard TD run; Kenny-Schwartz kicked the PAT, 22-14 Tigers. The Panthers answered with an Abdul-Haqq 10-yard run and a Mack pass PAT to knot the game late at 22-all. Regulation time ended with the 22-22 tie. Cheltenham had scored last and won the OT coin toss and momentum seemed to be on the Panthers side. They chose to go on D first to see what they would need to do to win in response to how the Tigers made out on their possession. The tigers QB Freeman snuck it in from the 6 and Kenny-Schwartz hit the PAT and it was 29-22 Truman.

On the Panthers OT possession Browne ran it in from the 10 and the Panthers decided to go for two and the win. The Tigers flushed Mack out of the pocket and pressured him just enough to cause an overthrow to intended receiver Matthew Tuszl; final Truman 29-28 in OT. It was the Tigers third win in a row. In March 2016 it was announced that Mack will play at Temple.

On Saturday day-night 11/14/2015 I again eschewed live PIAA playoff games Quakertown at CB East 1:00 and Carroll at Wood (Tennent 7:00). Instead I opted to watch the video stream of Pennsbury at Downingtown West PIAA playoff game. This was an excellent choice, a good, very physical, back-and-forth, just enough scoring, exciting game. It was the Falcons ground and pound against the Whippets speed and finesse. They played dead even almost. They tied in regulation 28-28; the Falcons then scored in OT and on defense caused a first down loss, and three pass attempts, the last, a pick; to win the game 35-28. I made the right choice.

PIAA playoffs gave me an added opportunity for Friday night 11/20. Doylestown was the neutral site for the District One, Class AA Championship game between the Springfield Montco Spartans and New Hope-Solebury Lions.

This was ideal for me. Do-able distance and the big War Memorial Field should be no crowd problem for two 2A schools; and indeed it wasn’t. I sat high on the home side, about the 30 yard line and had nothing but space all around me. Two West Catholic coaches came up the near stairs and sat about six rows behind and to my right. Twenty-five minutes to kickoff there were 12 people in the away stands, but the game eventually had a good 2A crowd; nothing like the big schools followings.

Springfield Montco played a more difficult schedule for sure with its Suburban One American opponents such as Upper Dublin and Plymouth-Whitemarsh, and other 3A and 4A teams. They came in 4-6 including a playoff win over Bristol 26-12. New Hope-Solebury was having the best year of its (fairly new) existence coming in at 10-1; but this was against all A or AA class competition. A good game was expected. The 30-man Springfield squad elected to receive. On their first play from scrimmage, RB Ben Fisher took it off tackle, split two defensive backs and raced 78 yards to paydirt untouched. PAT kick good, 7-0 Spartans. Although both teams did move the ball, both D’s seemed to have the answer when needed. With 5:43 remaining in the first half, the Lion’s Jack McKenna broke one for 54 yards and with the PAT kick knotted it at 7.

Neither team had a band, and it was a very quiet, restrained halftime. Nothing much happened in the third quarter, and I left early in the fourth. After I left, very late in the game, the Lions mounted a drive capped by a Nick Garritano 1-yard plunge and good PAT to win the game 14-7.

I added my first District One 2A championship game to my resume.

I fully intended to see the Conwell-Egan-Truman turkey day game solo this year as I knew Bud 3 was not going this season.

I had also a now rare phone conversation with Bud 2 a few days before and he was wondering about the New Hope-Solebury, South Hunterdon Thanksgiving game move to the Wednesday night before to accommodate the Lions’ further playoff game on the following Saturday. He was considering that, or possibly an actual Turkey-day game, possibly meeting me at Truman. In the end one of my age infirmities ruled out a Thanksgiving game this year and I listened to it on WBCB computer radio.

Both the North Penn-Upper Dublin District One Championship and the following week Upper Dublin-Parkland Eastern Championship games were at Souderton, a stadium I have yet to visit, but certainly do-able if I wished to do so. The weather was certainly amenable, but I chose not to go to either game; when clearly I could have. I had set up the first game with my brother-in-law (Bud 3), and called and cancelled it the morning of the game. I knew Bud 2 would be there without contact, as this stadium is as close to him as North Penn’s Crawford Stadium; and he did see the Pennsbury-Coatesville game there the prior season.

But the thought of my leaving time for Bud 3’s, time then to Souderton to arrive an hour and a half pre-game, 3 hours at the game, and possible couple of more hours clearing the after-game crowd and trip home changed my mind. I just did not want to invest the time necessary to take in the game. For the second game there was no possibility of Bud 3 being available; and I had a family commitment as a result, so only under strained circumstances could I have made that one. But there is no doubt that the disappearance of the old “posse” of men that used to be willing and ready to travel to games, along with my aging and ailments, have curtailed my high school football viewing hobby.

Still, I made 20 games this season and that is the total I shoot for to classify a “good’ season, less is not as good and more is icing. My total stands at 913 games, and I have 18 additional TV/video stream/radio prior to the four state championship games which should give me 22 for the season. Most are TV/video stream, which means “seeing’ the games.

There are a few additional factors now playing into my hobby. I have several computer matrix programs that I use to update all 44 class 4A teams records in District One each week, and starting with week 5, I do my own playoff calculations for the 4A classification. This takes a great amount of time, especially the playoff calculations. And the fact that I have written 25 articles for easternPAfootball has added to my football interest while sitting at the computer keyboard. There are now seven high school football websites that I scan several times a day during the football season; of course EasternPAFootball the most prominent. It is possible now to enjoy my hobby without actually going to games.

But, I have no intention of not going to games as long as I am physically able and hope to hit the thousand-game mark someday.

Next time – Recap – What has it all been about?

I was very much looking forward to the 2015 season, and my Suburban One League thumbnail team write-ups for easternPAfootball that ran in January 2015 were an expression of that feeling.

It would be my 65^th season and the first game my 894^th. First goal for the year- get to the 900 games seen total; shouldn’t be a problem.

I soloed to the Wood-Pennsbury scrimmage and sat on the Pennsbury side for a change – not knowing anyone on either side normally. But by doing so I missed Bud 4 who opted to come on the visitor’s side, as far as I know, for the first time in several seasons. This year the teams played a four-quarter 12-minute refereed game, but with no play clock as a lot of time was used before plays, especially by the Falcons. Wood dominated the first half 28-0 on mid-season running form and Russo pinpoint passes. I switched to the Wood side at the half (but missed Bud 4; he might have departed) to talk with Mr. and Mrs. Snyder, as pre-game I had seen HC Galen Snyder and he said they would be there. Having known them for some time by first names now, at that scrimmage they confided in me that this was it for Galen, he would retire after the season. I had to live with this locked inside me the entire season until Galen made it public. I would not betray the trust.

My desire to see “new” teams led me to switch my planned Council Rock South at Pennsbury opener for Perkiomen Valley at Council Rock North instead. It worked to a tee, because of my love for offense in football the Falcons-Golden Hawks ended 13-6; this one saw 92 points put on the board. This one was a battle of the Quarterbacks – and 902 yards of offense; Perk Valley 329 passing and 217 rushing for 546 total, and CRN 225 passing, 131 rushing and 356 total.

Now senior and South Carolina-bound Rock QB McIlwain bolted for a 70-yard romp on the Rock’s first possession and then ran in the 2-pt PAT and it was quickly CRN 8-0. Then he hit Thompson with a 6-yard TD and again ran the 2-pointer, 16-0 CRN. But PV also had a fine QB and junior Steven Sturm ran in a 9-yarder and the PAT was kicked by Patla, and it was 16-7 Rock at the end of one. PV then scored first in the second quarter when Strum again ran 7 yards and Patla kicked the PAT 16-14 CRN. Sturm next hit Williams with a 65-yard strike; Patla kick to take the first PV lead 21-16. Rock now stormed back with another McIlwain 16-yard run, but a 2-pt pass PAT attempt failed and it was 22-21 CRN. Then Big Mac hit Nowmos for a 48-yard strike and McIlwain ran in his third 2-pt PAT, 30-21 CRN at the half. All 7 first half TDs were by arm or run of the two quarterbacks.

Obviously, PV made the best second-half adjustments and scored four consecutive times, 3 in the third and the first in the fourth. The scores were Sturm 3 yards to Jaworski; Arch 11-yard run; and Sell – two passes from Sturm, 2 and 5 yards. Patla 4 PATs.

This barrage led the score to be 42-30 PV at the end of three and my usual start out. I heard the fourth TD early in the fourth quarter as I walked to my car, 49-30 PV. After I left in the 4^th, McIlwain again hit Nowmos for 48 yards; the run PAT failed, 49-36. PV was not yet finished and a Williams 2-yard run; kick good, final 56-36 Perkiomen Valley. The Vikes finished 10-2, losing only to Spring Ford in conference and Pennsbury in the playoffs. I read in mid-December 2015 that PV Head Coach Scott Reed had stepped down.

I had all intentions of celebrating the opening of the new CB East home stadium on the first Saturday of the season. But the 11:00 AM kickoff time and an expected monster crowd for the opening just gave me second thoughts. I would get up there later.

The lure of another new team got me to Tennent that Saturday night for Allentown, NJ at Wood. Years and years ago, I used to follow in the papers the local, or Central NJ, teams at a glance, and at one time some of them were rated with PA local teams in the Trentonian newspaper polls. As far as I knew the Allentown Redbirds were a very rural farming-area team and not so good; but that was way back when. I would imagine farm land sell off and urban sprawl had caused growth in the system since way back then. Be that as it may, they were no match for Archbishop Wood.

It was another quarterback show of sorts. First, Wood’s Joe Davis took the opening kickoff 79 yards to the house. Dan Zanine kicked the first of many PATs; 7-0 Wood in a heartbeat. I learned that the Redbirds had played for their region championship the prior year and had returned the entire O line. Their blocking led to a 57-yard burst by Jordan Winston deep into Vikings territory. He then dove two yards for a score and the PAT knotted it at 7. Wood answered in one play from scrimmage after the kick off. Russo hit Mark Webb for 58-yards; 14-7 Wood. The Redbirds answered again by driving 80 yards in 15 plays culminating in a Winston 8-yard run; PAT – 14-14. In only three plays, ending with a Thompson 3-yard run and PAT the Vikes got up 21-14. It was all Wood from that point on: 28-14; 35-14; and 42-14 at the half. All three scores were Russo aerials – 28 yards to Webb; 51 yards to Jordan Johnson; and 59 yards to Thompson.

After the first score of the second half (Russo to Gillespie 18 yards), and 49-14 Wood, I left the building. Two more rushing Wood TDs – Nasir Peoples 34 and Jalen Reynolds 10, with one of two PATs made it 62-14 Wood after three. Second kicker Longenhagen’s first PAT was wide but he made the second. In the fourth, Allentown’s small, but quick RB Joe Mannio scored on a three-yard run to make the final 62-21. The Redbird’s were 5-4 before their last regular season game on 11/14/2015 which is the date I am writing this portion.

There is no question that one way or another I was a bit Brandon McIlwain enchanted this season and I believe for good reason. I had watched this fine young man and QB for the fourth season now as a starter. At first unconsciously I was scheduling the games for the opponents as well as the attraction. But I saw 7 of his 11 games this season, and I will be forever glad I did. Despite others opinions, I feel it’s not often you see a man of this caliber play in local football. I believe all of the well-deserved post season awards vindicated my position.

When the CB South Titans came to Council Rock for North 9/11 I got to speak with coach Tony Schino at the stadium bottom for a bit. He was still one of the few coaches I still knew to speak with. Today’s McIlwain show included him running for two TDs, threw a TD pass, on safety returned a pick 65 yards for a TD, ran in a 2-pt PAT and threw for two 2-pt PATs, a nice day’s work. He was responsible for 30 of the Rock’s 36 points. CRN won 36-29.

Rain near departure time kept me from Gratz at Wood Saturday night, 9/12 and seeing another new team in D12’s Simon Gratz. It was a 44-30 Wood victory.

My first Falcon Field visit of 2015 was 9/18 and was a double purpose CRN and McIlwain at Pennsbury. The Indians only scored 19 against the Falcons and Mac’s two runs accounted for 12 of that total.   The Falcons had rung up 35 points in the first half and the fast clock was in effect the whole second half. It was here that I noted that it would seem that the rest of the Indian team was not up to the caliber needed to guarantee a fine season for an outstanding athlete. The defense especially seemed wanting.

My wife joined me for Truman at Bensalem the next evening. She knew a former Bulldog that was now on Truman and was interested in getting out of the house and seeing him play and he did on special teams at times. The Owls were riding a 20-game losing streak back to 2013. But the critical hand of fate stepped in the late first quarter when the talented Tiger QB Mark Lopez-Shefcyk went down hard on a short run towards the Bensalem goal line right in front of where we sat in the visitors stands. It was serious; so much potential, he was done for the season. And it was not the only key injury to a possible fine Tiger team, three stars of the team would be out for extended periods; they were not deep enough to reach their potential. They won this game 21-7, and the Owls currently sit on a 28-game losing streak back to 2013; being 0-10 in 2015.

The historic visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia moved many games around and one was Roman Catholic-Archbishop Ryan rescheduled for Bensalem on Thursday 9/24. It was actually Roman’s home game. I have no stats as I follow neither team, but I always try to see some PCL games each year if they fall in my now short viewing range. It was a good game. It was tied at 7 and tied at 14 and Ryan was deep in Roman territory about to score when I left after three quarters. They did score, the final 21-14 Ryan.

On Friday night 9/25 Souderton at Pennsbury was the choice for my historic 900^th game in person.

I sat with former Morrisville athletes Bud 4 and Denny Poland and talked for a brief time with a man I had seen for years primarily at Council Rock North games. His name was Mike.

It was another solid Falcon performance 37-0 over what I had thought would be a much better Souderton edition this season. But this just did not materialize and the Indians finished under .500 at 4-6.

After passing on two 11:00 AM starts at CB East, I made my first visit to their fine new edifice for their third home game, hosting Council Rock North and Brandon McIlwain. This was a good one. Council Rock scored 26 points and McIlwain had a hand in all of them.

Brandon ran for two TDs, threw for two TDs and threw for one two-point conversion. Down 26-7 in the third quarter the Patriots prime RB Alex Gibson bolted 53 yards for a TD; Kittleson kick PAT and it was 26-14. Still in the third quarter, but after I had departed, CBE ran a wide receiver option pass Owen Griffith to Wes Verbit for a 56-yard TD. The score narrowed to 26-21 after only three quarters. But no one scored again and two lost East fumbles likely cost them the game. The evenness of the game was seen in some stats – first downs 17 each team; yards passing CBE 192, CRN 189; and penalties CBE 8-82 and CRN 8-85.

On Monday night 9/28 I capped a rare 4-game weekend counted as Thursday and Friday nights, Saturday afternoon and Monday night. I returned once again to where it all started 65 seasons back, Morrisville hosting Lower Moreland. Not used to winning seasons anymore the Bulldogs were 2-1 coming in this year. I sat with Bud 4 who rarely missed a Morrisville game home or away, and later another classmate of ours joined us. I also got to talk with AD John Hubiak a couple of times during the evening. A look at the teams physically told me that the Bulldogs were going to have to gang tackle. But it was a good even close game won by the Lions of LM 10-7. It seems that whether Morrisville has size and/or speed they lack experience. This year fully 10 freshmen and 10 sophomores were on the roster. There were only 3 or 4 seniors on the squad. They looked and played well, only inexperience mistakes seemed to hurt them. Second-year Coach Derek Savage seems to be doing well with the program overall.

Missed a game Friday night 10/2 due to winds and rain. CB East at Council Rock South was on the docket, but passed. I watched a video stream of Downingtown East and Unionville instead. Cary Angeline was as advertised for the Cougars.

Saturday 10/3 was still gray, windy and misty, but ok for a 2:15 Tennent at Council Rock North kick off. I got a chance to talk with Mike Ortman pre-game who was an advisor on the Rock North staff. He also said it was a wrap after this season for him. We shall see. In this one McIlwain threw four TD passes and did not carry the ball once. A blocked kick defensive score and run, both by Leuz of CRN helped the rout. The final was 53-0 CRN with subs scoring late.

That night I made it to Neshaminy early and got a perfect parking spot, when one of the parking attendants came up to me and said, “Did you know you had a flat tire on the right rear of your car?” Not being particularly adept in mechanics, I opted to try to get it home rather than affix the doughnut in the parking lot. So I missed that game and it cost me a tire. I did get home, almost on the rim.

The Friday night rain moved the Falcons home game with Abington to Monday night and gave me that one. The Ghosts were suffering terribly this season, I can’t believe Woody with the big “A” was very happy. Another rout ensued and the teams got “chippy” as sometimes happens in lopsided games. Both teams were flagged 13 times and for Abington 100 yards and Falcons 125 yards and a possible ejection (it was not announced, but I saw an official give the thumbs “out’ sign). The final was 52-21 Pennsbury.

Rain, thunderstorms right at departure time caused me to pass on CB West at Council Rock South Friday evening October 9^th. So I watched the Pennsbury at Bensalem video stream. For the second straight game the Falcons scored exactly 52 points, this time 52-12.

I returned to CB East’s new stadium for Saturday 10/10 not realizing it was the dedication of the stadium game. That meant political speeches, oh boy. But some well- deserved thank you’s were included and that was fine. Tennent had ideas of ruining the day for the Patriots. Their Dakota Wherrity hit a 25-yard FG, 3-0 Panthers which held up for most of the first half. CB East was without starting QB Lamb and it showed; they could not get a sustained O going in the half. In the closing seconds of the half, a drive by East finally reached paydirt on an Alex Gibson 2-yard plunge and PAT and the half ended 7-3.

Although it was a perfect fall day for football, bright sun, cold breeze, pleasant atmosphere, it was also another homecoming (and I sit though about every school’s each year), I did not want to do it again and I left at the half. CB East came out and iced the game in the third quarter with three scores and the final was 28-3 Patriots.

My 74^th birthday night 10/16 was a planned solo trip to Bensalem for a chance to see North Penn in person. Of all things, an accident on the PA Turnpike with the road closed had traffic backed up every which way in the Bensalem area. Under normal conditions the run for me to Owls stadium can be a nightmare; now it was decidedly worse. Channel 6 was saying that massive traffic jams were occurring in the Bensalem area. That was out.

Just as I considered an alternate of Council Rock South at William Tennent, the same news also said that there was an accident at Jacksonville and Bristol Roads stopping traffic and that was a key intersection on my route to Tennent. It was as if this night was jinxed.

My option was to see the video stream of Pennsbury at Pennridge and as it turned out this was a honey.

My brother-in-law (Bud 3) has a good philosophy in “everything happens for a reason” and maybe this was it. On my birthday I get to sit in comfort and enjoy a very entertaining game!  It ended 38-32 Pennsbury.

The next day was an easy run to Council Rock for the invasion of Harry S. Truman. It was a cold, windy bundle-up day. Rick Lee soon came and sat with me. We had the greatest time talking about old Morrisville anecdotes and stories from the late 1950’s and on.

Rick’s father was the late Dick Lee, a favorite of our class of 1959, and at times football, basketball, and baseball coach at Morrisville. He also umpired for baseball. He had a wonderful outward disposition and offered humor in many ways. Rick and I traded old stories of his dad. I laughed more than I had for a long time.

Not that the game was a dud, it wasn’t. Unknown to me at the time was that Brandon McIlwain had suffered a broken thumb the previous game and couldn’t throw. So he was converted to a running back for this game with direct snaps to someone else. So Mac promptly ran for 170 yards and four TDs. He also made one high, long, punt that went sideways at the Truman one.

But it was a close good game 20-15 after three quarters with Rock leading. After the beautiful punt rolled out on the 1 yard line, the ensuing Truman punt gave the Rock good field position and as I walked to my car I heard the PA announce the McIlwain 9-yard TD run and Nowmos PAT to make it 27-15 Rock. After I left a blocked Tiger punt at their one yard line gave McIlwain a one-yard field to cover and he did, final 34-15 CRN.

A Sunday game opportunity was for 10/18 with Cardinal O’Hara at Wood, of course at Tennent. As expected the crowd was thin as expected for Sunday high school football, but still a nice group on both sides. Little did I know then that I was to be part of the halftime entertainment. About ten minutes before the opening kickoff the PA announcer said would all veterans line up in the end zone away from the scoreboard end about five minutes before the half ended to be honored. I decided to wait and see if there were any others, as I was a Vietnam Vet, but was not going solo for this.   About 7 or 8 of us gathered and so we were honored with the Wood cheerleaders forming two lines out from the goal posts for us to walk out to center of the field. They all had American flags. In a very nice ceremony a young lady with a fine voice sang two choruses of God Bless America, there was a prayer for American servicemen, and a thank you message and we were each given a camo shirt with appropriate wording.

It was a fine experience and a well-thought exercise by the Wood officials; and I very much was thrilled by it. Included were a Korean vet old timer, a Desert Storm vet, Vietnam, and career retired men, army, navy and air force in our little group.

Wood won the game 50-7 in their usual workmanlike fashion.

They returned the opening kickoff for an 82-yard score; then returned a punt 59 yards to the house, and it was 14-0 before the Vikings O got on the field. When they did Russo connected for a 18-yard pass/run score. And so it went 35-0 at the half and a fast clock the second half.

I had a tough choice to make for Friday night October 23^rd. North Penn was at Pennsbury, or Quakertown was at Council Rock South. The deciding factor was that I had seen the Falcons numerous times and the Knights at least on TV; while I had seen neither the Panthers nor Golden Hawks this season. It was CRS. The two teams traded two scores each in the first quarter and it was 14-14 after one. Then the Panthers D began to slow down the Golden Hawks offense. The second quarter saw only a Burns TD and Soriano PAT to give the Panthers the 21-14 halftime lead. As I left after three the Panthers were again close to a score.

I was too far towards my car to hear the PA announcer, but the away crowd roar told me Burns had made the yard needed to go up 28-14 with the PAT. Another Burns late fourth quarter score made the final 35-14 Quakertown.

A Saturday double header was a possibility on Saturday 10/24. At 1:00 Bonner-Prendie was at Wood. The Friars were only 3-4 and I had seen Wood twice already, so I no-no’d this one. Then I opted out of the West Catholic at Conwell-Egan nightcap simply because “I did not want to sit that lonely pre-game hour this night”. What was happening to me? I questioned myself on how important high school football was to me anymore?

The Titans of Central Bucks South with Notre Dame-bound Josh Adams were coming to Falcon Field for Friday night 10/24/2014. Both clubs were 7-1 at the time. Bill Heller and Tony Schino, coaches I knew from past CB East days were with the Titans and Bill came over to the track and stadium bottom to talk with me pre-game. I had not seen him for a while, except a stop once or twice at my house in the summer as he came through. I got seated and soon Bud 4 and then Rick Lee sat with me.

The Titans wasted no time revealing the prowess of Josh Adams as he took a short swing pass from Witchey and bolted 61 yards to the end zone; Fischer PAT kick and it was 7-0 CBS with 45 seconds expired in the game. But the Titans D was no match. The Falcons drove and Snorweah plunged 2 yards; Josh Leon kicked the tying PAT 7-all. The Falcons D immediately keyed on Adams and his next few runs netted only 3 yards. Late in the first quarter an ankle injury ended Adams’ night. This seemed to take all of the air out of the Titan balloon. Snorweah next again plunged two yards, and a rare missed Leon kick made it 13-7 after the first quarter. The Falcons added two more in the second quarter – Alley capped a drive with a 1-yard run 20-7 Falcons; and then Alley hit Snorweah on a beautiful 69-yard pass/run to make it 27-7 Pennsbury at the half. Without Adams the Titan’s running game had vanished.

Holding the one-dimensional Titans in the third the Falcons again scored twice – Alley one-yard plunge; Leon kick 34-7; and Rupprecht 4-yard run; Leon kick 41-7 Falcons after three. I saw some of the fourth quarter before leaving; subs were playing. Falcon subs in the 4^th got a Strong 4-yard plunge, Leon PAT 48-7; and then Pitt had a 95-yard bolt; Hartman PAT final 55-7 Falcons. Graphic evidence of the power of a superstar. If Adams had stayed in the game, likely they would have held the ball longer and made the score more respectable. But I have no doubt about the outcome as the Titans D could not stop the Falcons.

Saturday afternoon following it was Quakertown (8-0) at Council Rock North (6-2). I met CB South coach Tony Schino in the stands and sat with him until my early departure. This game was a one quarter – three quarters split with Rock North only winning the first period. Brandon McIlwain had a 5-yard run (pass PAT failed) for 6-0 and then a Chris Welde 80-yard pass connection from McIlwain (run PAT failed) to open a 12-0 lead. But even in the first, the Panthers answered with a Rob Burns 55-yard TD and Soriano PAT kick to make it 12-7. But McIlwain was able to get in position for a 1-yard plunge; McMullen PAT kick 19-7 first quarter victory for Rock North. To make it seem even worse, Big Mac had another 1-yard plunge, McMullen PAT to make it 26-7 early in the second quarter. Then Quakertown’s Burns got loose again, this time for 62 yards, but the PAT was missed; 26-13 CRN.

Burns added a 3-yard TD; Soriano kick PAT and the half ended 26-20 CRN Indians. I had to leave earlier than usual from this one because I had Archbishop Carroll at Wood at Tennent that evening. I did see the fourth Burns TD of the day, a 9-yard run; and the Soriano PAT to give Quakertown its first lead of the game 27-26. The third quarter ended with that score. After I left, Burns scored his 5^th (5-yard run) and 6^th (12-yard run) TDs of the game; and with two Soriano PATs made the score 34-26 and then 41-26. Rock’s McIlwain got in from one yard again and the PAT kick was blocked, and it was 41-32 Panthers. The last score was a Panther QB Vera to Wood-transfer Tom Garlick 28-yard aerial TD, Soriano PAT – final 48-32 Panthers.

As I constantly monitor high school football websites I learned that the Carroll-Wood affair had been played at 1:00 at Tennent, a 43-0 Wood victory. But I had an alternative, Bishop McDevitt at Conwell-Egan at Truman at 7:00. Had I known I could have stayed longer at CRN-Quakertown though.

I rarely got to see the Lancers of McDevitt; this was the third time in 64 seasons. They came in 3-5 and the Eagles of C-E were 2-5; so you could either expect not much, or a good even game. It was Schrodinger’s cat all over again. The Lancers dressed about 30 or 31 troops.

But a fine seesaw, back-and-forth first half proved most entertaining. I had no follow-up newspaper write up for details but I write from what I noted the next morning. Egan scored first and took a 7-0 lead. With mostly an aerial assault, the Lancers answered, 7-7. The Eagles scored again and missed the PAT, 13-7 Eagles. The Lancer’s answered again, and their good kicker Hanigan gave them their first lead 14-13. But the Eagles would not be denied and came back to score again, this time with a 2-pt PAT, 21-14 C-E. Back yet again came McDevitt and it was soon 21-21. These scores were not every series, there were stops and punts, etc.; and it was during the first half, I didn’t have the quarter by quarter breakdowns. Both teams traded scores again and it was 28-28. Near the half, Egan was forced to punt but the kick was muffed by McDevitt at about their 25-yard line. With 46 seconds left in the half C-E scored again; missed the PAT and the half ended 34-28 Conwell-Egan.

The third quarter was a standoff, back and forth, up and down the field, but no cigar. In the fourth before I left, the Eagles scored again and missed the PAT to go up 40-28. I missed only the last Egan score to make the final 46-28 C-E Eagles.

My three-game weekend saw offensive-minded games of 55-7; 48-32; and 46-28. That is 216 points of football, and as I like “O”; a really nice weekend. I should clarify that I can also appreciate strong defensive efforts between two such minded teams. It is when scores are held down due to penalties, mistakes, or poor offense that I find games not so hot.

My wife joined me for Norristown at Truman on Halloween night. This was a very good game won by Norristown 18-17 as a last second Truman FG for the win sailed wide right. But it brings me to point out what these improving Tigers of Truman’s year was like.

Truman is a football program that has struggled since its inception in 1981. It has enjoyed but 3 winning and two .500 seasons in it’s (through 2014) 34 football seasons. Ed Cubbage began a restoration program, coming on as interim coach in 2010 when the former coach quit a week before that season began. A class AAAA school, Cubbage had 23 players to work with. Cubbage and his staff brought the program to a 6-6 season in 2013 and had to leave, but left the program in the hands of Jon Craig who had been on the staff.

This 2014 season would see the third winning season of the three mentioned although modest at 7-5. But here is the kicker; the Tigers if they had scored 19 more points at the right time/games, would have been 12-0. Their five losses were to Upper Dublin (who went deep into 4A playoffs post season) 21-28; Council Rock South 14-16; Quakertown (11-2) 21-24; Norristown 17-18; and Cheltenham 27-28. Losses by 7, 2, 3, 1, and 1 points. Of course one more point was needed to break a tie and win each of those games hence the 19 total above. As many fine players were back for 2015 a potential for great things was in place; but as we will see; it was not to be.

Another “game for all times” was my fate for the Downingtown West at Pennsbury District One PIAA first-round game at Falcon Field 11/7/2014. If I lived anywhere near the Downingtown-Coatesville area I would likely have to be removed as a squatter from Kottmeyer Stadium. Ever since my Bud 2 and my 1996 visits to the area, I really admire the brand of football played there. Every time the Red Raiders, Cougars or Whippets are an opponent of a local team I know there is going to be some good football. Once again, I was not disappointed.

A cold stiff wind likely held the crowd down a bit as I had elbow room on the away side; not expected. Tom Adams soon appeared and sat with me for the game. Pennsbury opted to receive and after a nice return, on a very early play from scrimmage Snorweah broke one for 55 yards to score. Josh Leon converted his first PAT of the busy night, 7-0 Falcons. Not to be outdone, on the Whippets first play, QB McNulty hit Jimmy DeSantis for a 75-yard bomb; Bowler PAT, and quickly 7-7. But things settled in a bit then and the first quarter ended 7-7.

In the second Snorweah again busted one 66 yards; Leon PAT 14-7 Falcons. The Falcons D held and on a later possession the Falcons got close enough for Alley to plunge one yard; Leon stayed perfect, 21-7 Falcons. With the half winding down, the Whippets finished a nice drive with a Riddick 1-yard run; Bowler PAT 21-14. The Whippet defense held the Falcons in the less than minute left until the half and it ended 21-14 Falcons. It was just a warm-up to the second half deluge of scoring.

Advantage Whippets to receive the second half kickoff, but it was lost when the QB was blind-sided and lost a fumble to the Falcons. But the favor was returned when substitute RB Luke Snyder lost the handle back to the Whippets. Unknown to me at the time is that two prime Falcon RBs, Hose and Delgado were sitting with injuries. Subsequent Falcon possessions saw Snorweah 3 and 64 yards to put the Falcons up successively at 28-14 and 35-14. But McNulty then hit Colin Dombelsky for a 64-yard TD; Bowler PAT and it was 35-21.

But before the third ended Snorweah again found the end zone, this time from 11 yards out; Leon remained perfect 42-21 Falcons at the end of three, and breathing room; but not so fast, my friend. The Whippets Riddick capped a drive with a 1-yard run and it was 42-28. They then recovered an onsides kick off. Another Whippet drive ended with a McNulty to Carbone 10-yard TD and it was 42-35 and a one-score game. But the Whippet D could not solve for Snorweah (or rather the blocking for him). He punched another one in from 16 yards and it was 49-35 Falcons. But not for long. McNulty hit Riddick for a 7-yard strike as I was leaving, and it was 49-41, due to the only missed PAT of the night. The Falcons were having as much problem against the Whippets aerial game as the Whippets were with the Falcons rushing attack.

After I left the Falcons called Snorweah’s number again this time for 41 yards; 56-41 Falcons. The Whippets drove again and capped it with a 6-yard McNulty keeper TD; 56-48. This time the onsides kick bounced right up into Rob Daly’s hands and he raced it 46 yards to the end zone, Leon’s 9^th PAT made it 63-48 Falcons. There was still a minute left in the game. In that time the Whippets managed another 2-minute drill drive capped with a McNulty to Carbone 10-yard aerial. Bowler kicked the PAT for the final score of 63-55 Pennsbury.

It was a new in-person game high score for me, 118 points. And I saw an all-time Falcon record as Charles Snorweah carried 29 times for 427 yards and 7 TDs. Once again my feeling that anytime a Downingtown/Coatesville opponent is in town, you can expect a challenge was fulfilled.

A heavy cough and chest congestion that lasted a couple of weeks kept me from the next two Falcon home playoff games. A doctor’s visit by me was necessary on Monday 11/17. The fact that these games would be video streamed made the decision a no-brainer, for if that were not available, I likely would have risked pneumonia to get to those games.

The first game was Garnet Valley at Pennsbury. After leading only 17-14 after three quarters, the Falcons defense stepped up big, and batted down passes, fumble recoveries, and an interception led to three Falcon possession/scores to get up 38-14. The final was 45-14 Falcons.

I have described the Upper Dublin – Pennsbury playoff game elsewhere in my writings. The Falcons were pressed to their closest game all year so far and the Cardinal’s led at the half 14-13. Only with 4:20 left in the game did Snorweah bust for 8 yards and the first Falcon lead of the game. They got the ball and scored again to make it 25-14 Falcons final.

My Bud 3 (brother-in-law) and I made Turkey Day this year, and it was another Truman-Conwell-Egan matchup, breaking three years of New Hope-Solebury versus South Hunterdon. It was on my pressing because I wanted to see the fine improved Truman squad again. It was one-sided and the Egan offense was flat, 90 yards total O for the game. I met and talked with former Neshaminy HC Mark Schmidt at the game, the last time I have seen him to this 2016 writing. Truman won 24-0.

The District One Championship between Pennsbury and Coatesville was held at do-able Souderton, but I had never been there and it was video-streamed so why face the winter cold.

It was indeed a good one and anybody’s game, only saved by a last ditch fourth and goal stop by Pennsbury in a 21-14 claim to the District One AAAA Championship.

For the second consecutive year, possibly the best team a public school could put together (Neshaminy in 2013 was similar), couldn’t match the talent-laden club that a private school can put together and St Joes Prep won the Eastern final over the Falcons 37-7, on their way to their second straight state title 49-41 over Pine-Richland. The Hawks were a joy to watch.

The 2014 season, my 64^th; was very enjoyable, but not quite up to the prior 2013 tour. Oddly perhaps, I made 17 games, and that was the first season in 64 that I made that number. Between zero and 32, now only 19 games in one season and 31 games in one season are missing; all other numbers 0-32 have been made. And I could have made 3 additional PIAA playoff games, but succumbed to illness or lethargy and opted for video streaming.

It is very evident that I am not so inclined anymore to solo to games that I can watch or listen to even. In the past there was always someone to meet at the game if not go with. It still happens, but by pure chance.

And that brings us to the 2015 season still in progress (when I wrote this), and in a way; the final chapters.

Monday, June 23, 2014, I took in my first-ever 7 on 7 at Council Rock North at 6:00 PM. A three-way round-robin among CR North, Father Judge, and Harry S. Truman was the slate. Of course these are all passing plays for both QB and receiver development and on defense – coverage practice. CR North’s McIlwain, junior QB, certainly stood out among the QBs; Judge showed good fundamentals needed for the tough PCL. Overall size looked small without pads and padded pants, and Truman looked very small. I saw Judge versus Truman O and D; and Rock North versus Judge O and D; but left before the Truman-CR North matches.

Saturday, August 16, 2014, I made the Pennridge at Council Rock North scrimmage for 10:00 AM. It was good to see teams in full uniforms and playing for real at least for one quarter when I left. After running 10 or 12 plays each per first O and D’s; the second O and D’s got a chance for 10 or 12 plays. Then it was about five kickoffs per team. Next it was six or so punts per team. Then it was on to six or seven PAT’s and FG’s per team. All of this took about 55 minutes. Then the officiated, down and distance “game” began, probably for two quarters; I left after they called one quarter. Rock’s McIlwain was sharp in the air with pinpoint long passes his forte. Defensively, the Rock had trouble stopping the double-wing O of the Rams. Rock also did not look overly big player-wise; the Rams looked bulkier overall. The Rams’ QB looked inexperienced but capable. It was 7-0 at the end of the quarter on a fine McIlwain toss to the corner of the end zone at the closed end of the field. The Rams were driving the same way on the ground when I left in the second quarter. Size and defense will have to be watched for Rock.

Such was my pre-season activity for 2014 as written on computerized notes for the beginning of the season.

The lure of seeing a new team, and what a team, took me to Tennent on Friday 8/29 for DeMatha (MD) at Archbishop Wood. The Stags brought considerable size, speed and tradition but Wood was up to the task. The Wood D held the Stags’ speed mostly in check. DeMatha received the opening kickoff and had some success but were held from scoring. Later in the first quarter a Wood drive resulted in a McClenton TD of 1-yard and McDonald kick to take the 7-0 lead after one quarter of play. The second quarter saw more Wood solid defense and steady offense resulting in another McClenton TD and McDonald kick and it was 14-0 halftime lead for Wood.

The Vikings received to start the second half and the steady beat continued. Junior QB Russo took it in from the 1 and dependable McDonald added his third PAT and it was 21-0 Vikings. DeMatha’s speed got untracked a bit for some long gains and McFarland scored on a 1-yard bolt. The PAT kick was good and it was 21-7 Wood. Wood’s McClenton answered with a beautiful twisting, cutting, multiple-direction changing 42-yard TD run and McDonald PAT, 28-7 Wood.

That was the end of three quarters and I had gone at halftime to my car for a sweatshirt as an unexpected cool, damp breeze chilled the Tennent air and I watched the third quarter from outside the stadium. I now departed. The teams’ traded 4^th quarter TDs to make the final 34-13 Wood as their PAT try was blocked and DeMatha went for two and missed. The discipline of Wood football looked great, two flags for 10 yards total.

The next night the Bensalem Owls were at Truman in what I expected might be a good game. But it seemed that the Tigers and Owls were now on different levels in their programs. Truman unveiled some speed and a good QB in Mark Lopez-Shefczyk, a junior. Mark had 118 yards on the ground and three TDs. He also completed 2 of 7 passes for 61 yards and included a 42-yard pass/run TD. Senior RB Trystan Hunt had 111 yards rushing and a TD; a 75 yard dash was in those 111 yards. The Tigers led 20-0 at the first quarter. Each team had a second quarter TD and missed PAT 26-6 Truman at the half.

The Owls scored first in the second half, on a 37-yard O’Connell to Moore pass; Riley PAT kick, making it 26-13 Tigers. But the Tigers answered on a Lopez-Shefczyk 29-yard keeper. A pass for a 2-point PAT was good and the score climbed to 34-13. I left after three quarters; my seemingly new departure time; and only missed one more Truman score and blocked PAT; final 40-13 Tigers.

Leaving the first two games after three quarters in 2014 was another shortening of my game stays. The “beat the crowd leaving” started years ago, usually about the 4 minutes left in the game mark. Then it crept up to half of the fourth quarter, 6 minutes remaining. Now it was three quarters of the game.

My logic was that, “I see so much high school football” (Bensalem-Truman was game #878); and I root for no one in particular and do not care who wins; why not? This was Saturday night, but the lure of getting home on Friday night to catch up with scores from around the whole state, and complete my logs for the District One 44 AAAA teams also beckoned.

Computerizing my records allowed many things to be broken out from them, and over the course of 65 seasons, Pennsbury became the team I have seen the most times, 202 times through 2015. This makes the team a de facto favorite, while I do not root for them necessarily. I merely go and watch the games since about the mid-1990s.

That being said, I think the 2014 Pennsbury team was their best since the 1985 undefeated squad, and close with the 2006 Eastern finalist team. Both the 2006 and 2014 teams finished 13-2; both were District One Champions. The 1985 squad was 10-0 before state championship playoffs.

On Friday 9/5 I caught the Falcon’s opener at home with Frankford. Junior QB Egan transfer Mike Alley threw 6 times and connected 3 times for 56 yards and two TDs. RB Charlie Snorweah was moved to fullback for the first time and had 66 yards and three TDs. Midway in the first, Alley hit Vinnie Ratamoss for a 27-yard gain to the Pioneers two.

Two plays later Snorweah cracked the two yards and (now senior) Josh Leon kicked the PAT, 7-0 Falcons. Late in the first Alley hit Victor Delgado with a 3-yard TD pass, Leon kick 14-0 Falcons. In the second quarter Alley ran a QB sneak for an 11-yard TD. Added in the second quarter were a Snorweah 4-yard run; Alley 26-yard TD to Tom Augustin; and Snorweah 8-yard run. Leon hit all 6 PAT kicks and it was 42-0 and mercy rule Falcons at the half.

The Falcon reserves then got some action; Cody Tabeek had a 4-yard TD run; and Hartman kicked the PAT; 49-0 Falcons. Early in the fourth quarter the Pioneers scored on the Falcons second defense and with a 2-pt PAT it was 49-8. I left after that point in the game. More Falcon reserves scored the last TD – Harrah 2-yard run, and Geary PAT, final 56-8 Pennsbury.

On 9/12 I trekked to Council Rock North and I sat with Tom Adams, of Bensalem history, and he introduced me to his friend, who was Pancho Micir who had quarterbacked the Bishop Egan Eagles. He led Egan to the 1966 PCL and City Championships. It was 2-0 Pennsbury at the 2-0 Rock. Again the massive Falcon’s O dominated and it was a 57-20 victory with 440 yards rushing and Alley throwing just enough to keep defenses honest (2 for 6, one TD). This was a fun offense to watch, rugged backs, big QB, and massive O line to operate behind.

I decided to see the D’Andre Pollard show for Friday 9/19. The Abington Ghosts were in town and these two clubs have had some classics in the past. A good one was expected once again. I met the Abington cameraman for some pre-game discussion and asked him to introduce me to Mr. Kretschman, the father of the good Ghosts QB, this year a junior. I was introduced and thanked this fine gentleman for the kind comments he had for me for an article I wrote for easternPAfootball. I then sat with a knowledgeable high school football Ghost fan and had a most pleasant game. It inspired me to plan my first trip to Abington’s new stadium (opened 2005 I believe) for the Falcons visit the following week, but that did not happen.

On the first Redskin possession, Pollard did a nice spin-move and burst around left end 32 yards to paydirt. McDonald made the kick PAT and it was 7-0 Skins. The Ghosts answered with a 69-yard drive capped by a Kretschman 20-yard swing pass to Daron Boone for a TD. Bevilaqua kicked the PAT and it was 7-7. The Ghosts then forced a Neshaminy punt, but a Kretschman pass was picked and juggled; but returned for a 22-yard TD by the Skins Stephens. With the McDonald PAT it was 14-7 Neshaminy after one quarter. The Skins sophomore QB Mason Jones hit several receivers in the ensuing drive, capped by a Dogba (sophomore) 1-yard plunge; 21-7 Skins. The Ghosts then got their possession down to the Skins 11-yard line and near stalled. Ghosts HC Sorber let the clock wind down to 3.3 seconds, called TO, and went for a 32-yard field goal. Bevilaqua hit it and the half ended 21-10 Neshaminy.

While there was no scoring in the third quarter, Neshaminy had the ball most of it, had a field goal attempt blocked, and picked off another Ghosts aerial. I missed only one 4^th quarter Ghost score and 2-point PAT to make the final 21-18 Neshaminy.

Age ailments caused my planned trip to Abington the following Saturday to be abandoned.

But I was ok the Friday night before to visit Tennent for Archbishop Ryan at Archbishop Wood. Wood was anxious to avenge their 2013 loss to Ryan and uncharacteristically had three false start penalties on their first drive. Forced into a punt formation, the snap was to an up-back Cooper who lofted a pass to a wide-open Gianni Cruel for a 48-yard pass/run TD; McDonald PAT 7-0 Vikings. Both Neshaminy and Wood kickers were “McDonald”. I had met Cruel’s father at the Pennsbury-Wood scrimmage in 2013, very nice gentleman. Later in the first quarter QB Russo hit Cooper for a 38-yard strike and with McDonald PAT it went to 14-0 Vikings. Then Cruel got his only carry of the day and made it count, an 8-yard sweep TD. End of one quarter it was 21-0 Vikings. In the 2^nd quarter Russo hit Bensalem-transfer Alex Archangeli with a 12-yard pass, and it went to 28-0 Wood. Ryan then finally got their fine RB Shamir Bullock some space to run and it became 28-7 after his 1-yard plunge and the PAT. Penalties again stalled the Vikings and a punt attempt snap went over the head of the kicker who scooped it up, ran to his right and attempted a soccer kick, but it was blocked by Smith and scooted 22 yards to the Vikings end zone where Smith recovered it, TD Ryan. Stock kicked another PAT and it was 28-14. But now McClenton answered with a 40-yard run, and so it was 35-14 Wood at the half.

McClenton also got the only third quarter score, a 22-yard run and a 2-point conversion try failed to make it 41-14 Vikings. I made my usual 3^rd quarter exit and missed only a Thompson TD for Wood, a 25-yard run; the PAT failed and the final was 47-14 Wood. I was psyched for LaSalle-Wood the following Friday.

Meanwhile the Jewish Holiday Thursday scheduling had some choices for the second of October. I passed on my usual Falcon Field haunt as the Bensalem matchup was thought ahead to be a blow out. It was: 56-0. I opted instead for Quakertown (5-0) at an improving Harry S. Truman (3-2). One first quarter Quakertown TD, a 49-yard scamper by RB Nick Bonomo, and Soriano kick PAT made it 7-0 Panthers after one. The Panthers increased their lead in the second quarter on a Rob Burns 12-yard run and PAT 14-0. Truman then answered on a Lopez-Shefcyk 44-yard aerial to Hunt. A pass PAT attempt failed and it was 14-6. Before the half ended the Panthers Soriano hit a 26-yard field goal to make it 17-6 Quakertown at the half.

I saw no scoring in the third quarter and made my usual departure. Early in the fourth the fine Truman QB hit Justin Fant with a 26-yard strike. A Breece kick PAT made it 17-13. The Panthers answered with a drive and 1-yard Bonomo plunge, Soriano PAT to make it 24-13. The Tigers McCloud finished scoring with a 7-yard run and Breece kick PAT would make the final 24-20 Quakertown, a good one.

I did get to Tennent Friday 10/3 for LaSalle and Wood. Again this was two potential state champions in Classes 4A and 3A meeting; just as St Joes and Wood in 2013. I knew that Mark Schmidt, former HC of Neshaminy was now with LaSalle and hoped to talk with him briefly pre-game. I did get to speak with him briefly as the linemen and coaches headed down the long slope from locker rooms to field at Tennent. Of course, this is one that my leaving after three quarters cost me seeing a lot of football.

Both teams did what they do – Wood ran (McClenton 293 yards); LaSalle threw (Shurmur 263 yards); and the part I did see was beautiful to see. I did not get the recap of this one, but constructed a few notes from memory. Wood mishandled the opening kickoff and it popped out of bounds at their own one yard line. But I believe that they were undaunted and put on a 99-yard drive to score and go up 7-0. They mostly controlled the ball and clock on the ground and kept the ball from the LaSalle explosive O. But when LaSalle had it mostly with aerials it was soon tied at 7. The Vikings scored again to go up 14-7. With scant time left in the half, Shurmur hit their great receiver Herron from 8 yards and the game was knotted at 14 with not much time until the half. But with long runs, McClenton got the Vikings to the Explorers 32-yard line with one second left in the half and a Wood timeout. The Vikings McDonald then kicked a 49-yard field goal which hit the crossbar of the goal posts and bounced over – good! It was Wood 17-14 at the half.

Wood owned the third quarter. LaSalle ran just 9 plays and resulted in two short punts that resulted in the Vikes’ getting the ball on the Explorers side of the field. First, 4 plays resulted in a 30-yard Russo to Cooper strike and McDonald PAT, 24-14 Vikings. Then again it was just 4 plays when McClenton finished a short drive with an 8-yard dash, McDonald good, 31-14 Vikings. LaSalle was punting again as I began my long walk to a new spot I parked in that was in front of the school. The ball bounced off of an unsuspecting Wood player whose back was to the ball and it was recovered by the Explorers. It took 10 plays, but on the first play of the 4^th quarter Shurmur hit WR Herron on a 12-yard screen left; with PAT 31-21 Vikings. The ensuing Vikings possession saw one first down gained, and then a punt; their first of the night. With about 5:48 remaining in the game, Shurmur again hit Herron for a 5-yard TD and it was the n 31-28 Vikings. On Wood’s first play after the kickoff, McClenton burst one for 20 yards, but lost a fumble at the end of the run at the LaSalle 44. In only two plays Shurmur hit Herron for a 45-yard pass/run TD; 35-31 LaSalle with time left 4:50.

Wood had time for a couple of first downs, and then the ball went over on 5 consecutive Russo incompletions. A couple of LaSalle kneel downs ended the great ball game.

On Friday October 10 I ran into one of those “good game” categories, when one was not expected. William Tennent (2-4) was at Council Rock South (3-3). I met a few nice Tennent folks, including Tennent HC Rosenberger’s father in the stands.

Rock South’s Alimenti opened scoring on a 27-yard dash; Patterson kicked the PAT and it was 7-0 CRS. But the Panthers answered on a Banks to Ryan 12-yard TD pass; Mannon kick PAT 7-7. CRS then made a sustained drive capped by a Patterson 2-yard run, but the PAT missed and it was 13-7 CRS. Tennent’s Banks got loose for a 65 yard run and Mannon converted and it was 14-13 Tennent at the end of one quarter. In the second Alimenti sprung one for 88-yards; and then ran in a 2-pt PAT and it was 21-14 CRS. Tennent again answered with a drive and Finley 1-yard plunge; Mannon PAT and it was 21-all. Alimenti after a drive got one more, a 1-yard plunge; Patterson PAT and CRS took a 28-21 lead into the locker room at the half.

William Tennent received the second half KO and sustained another drive capped by a Finley 6-yard plunge; Mannon PAT and it was knotted again; at 28-all. The Golden Hawks’ Patterson then sprinted 37 yards for a TD, but as when he scored before, he missed the PAT 34-28 CRS. Scrappy Tennent QB Banks then hit Ichabone with a 69 yard strike and Mannon’s PAT gave the Panthers the lead back 35-34. But Alimenti took it in again from 14 yards out; and a run 2-pt PAT failed making the score 40-35 Golden Hawks at the end of three quarters.

I took my departure and watched some fourth quarter from the fence but saw no more scoring. But Banks again hit Ryan for an 11-yard score, and a pass PAT attempt failed making it 41-40 Tennent. But the panthers D just could not hold and Alimenti got his 5^th TD of the game to make the final CRS 46-41. Alimenti had 219 yards rushing and it was a 63-yard drive for his last score with just 40.2 seconds left in the game for the win.

The next night was homecoming Saturday night at Falcon Field and I caught the Falcons win over the Pennridge Rams 41-14.

The following Friday it was CB West at Council Rock North. Here I sat next to and met the very successful girls basketball coach for CB West. Of all things, I later found out he was also my Bud 2’s dentist by trade. Yet another stranger-than-fiction event in the long history of my high school football hobby. The Indians received the kickoff and sustained a drive with a Choi 3-yard plunge finishing it. Chris Welde then ran the PAT and it was quickly 8-0 Rock North. But Rock opened it up in the second quarter. McIlwain hit a 61-yard dart to Nowmos; McMullen PAT 15-0 Rock. The Indians’ Welde then ran for a 62-yard score; McMullen PAT 22-0 Rock. A little later Welde again got loose, for 29-yards and a TD; McMullen good 29-0 Rock. As the half was ending, McMullen hit a 33-yard field goal to make it 32-0 CRN at the half.

CB West was not without offense, but could not sustain a drive long enough for a score in the first half. In the third quarter McIlwain hit Bibbens for 28 yards and a TD; McMullen kick and it was 39-0 and fast clock time. The third quarter ended that way and I began to exit and stopped to talk with Rick Lee along the way. Rock’s subs got the action and yielded two Bucks’ TDs – a 7-yard Shields to Kilkenny pass; Shields running the PAT for 39-8; and a Reichwein 5-yard run; run PAT failed to make the final 39-14 CRN.

I was now ready for a big National Conference matchup with CB South (7-1) at Pennsbury (7-1) at Falcon Field on Friday October 24^th. I will start part 27 with that event.

Sources: Ted Silary website – Huck Palmer account of Wood-LaSalle game.

On Friday October 25, 2013, I returned to Doylestown and the Continental Conference of Suburban One for the first time since the opening night of the season. The attraction was the North Penn Knights (5-0 league) versus the CB West Bucks (5-0 league). An old fashioned battle royal as in the Pettine-Pettine era was expected; but lasted for only one quarter. I spoke to Dick Beck briefly pre-game; he would not have remembered me, but I was sure he would remember my Bud 2 who frequented North Penn practices and games, and he sure did.

An early interception put the Knights in business and Hudimac bolted for 25 yards and a Knights 6-0 advantage. The Knights again had a fine place kicker in Amendola who booted the PAT and placed kickoffs in the end zone all night. The Bucks started at their own 20, but speedy Truman transfer Marvin Todd bolted 80 yards off-tackle and it was quickly 7-7. The Knights also had some speed and sophomore Nyfease West went 23 yards and a 14-7 Knights lead resulted. The Knight’s QB Shearer had a 9-yard TD, and it was 21-7 North Penn at the end of the first quarter. But West came back again with Todd earning a 3-yard TD, and it was 21-14 early in the second and the kind of game expected. But as it turned out, from then on it was all North Penn. Nyfease West got a short run TD and when the Bucks’ defense jumped on the PAT try, Nyfease ran in a two-pointer making it 29-14 Knights. Getting the ball back, the Knights’ QB Shearer threw a backwards pass to Akins, who then lofted a long, high arcing pass to a wide open Wright for another NP TD; 36-14 Knights. With the half winding down the Knights ran an excellent 2-minute drill with short passes and runs to the sidelines. It ended with a Shearer to Hudimac 10-yard pass; Amendola stayed perfect, 43-14 Knights at the half.

Hudimac returned the second half kickoff to the CB West 17 and it took one play for Nyfease West to run the 17 yards and PAT kick made it 50-14 and fast clock time. I did not stay long in fast clock time and missed nothing as there was no further scoring.

The crowd was estimated at about 7,000 for the annual Neshaminy (at) Pennsbury clash this season. I had not seen this one since 2005; at 8 years, probably my longest break from this one ever. Because aisle-jamming was anathema to me I picked the extra small bleachers – visitor’s side away from the scoreboard end. They would be jammed, but only about 5-high, I could climb out of them if necessary. A very close, low scoring game was anticipated and the Skins came in 9-0 while the Falcons were 8-1.

The Falcons Daly picked off a Skins Wombough pass and returned it 44 yards to the entrance end of the field end zone, right past our bleachers. Leon kick made it 7-0 with less than three minutes elapsed in the game. The Neshaminy offense never gained a sustaining rhythm.

But for most of the rest of the first quarter the Neshaminy defense looked like it would stifle the Falcons vaunted O. Still in the first the Skins’ good kicker McDonald hit a 22-yard field goal and the first quarter ended 7-3 Falcons. Both scores had been at my end of the field which was nice. In the second quarter the Falcons started to find some gaps and Snorweah bolted 17 yards for a TD; Leon PAT 14-3 Falcons. The Falcons fine kicker Josh Leon had missed a FG attempt in the second but when he got a second try later he hit it from the 25 and the Falcons took a 17-3 lead into their field house. Every score had been at our end of the field, which somewhat justified my choice of seating.

The Falcons took the second half kickoff and drove 66 yards, eating up half the 3^rd quarter and QB Breon Clark plunged in from the one to finish the drive. Leo stayed perfect on PATs for the game 24-3 Falcons. The third ended that way and I was sure the Skins were not coming back this night, and made my usual early fourth quarter departure. The Falcons Ronquay Smith had an 18-yard run; Leon PAT to make the final score 31-3 Pennsbury.

I now had a satisfactory dilemma facing me – Neshaminy, Pennsbury, and CB West would all have home playoff games the following week.

I scanned the three opponents and had seen all of the teams play before. I chose what had practically become my “home” field over the last few years – Falcon Field. The Upper Darby Royals would be coming in. The Falcons would be facing a good QB in Chris Rossiter; he could scramble, was fast if he got loose, and had a strong pinpoint arm when letting it fly. The Falcons received and on the first play from scrimmage QB Breon Clark broke it for a 65-yard score. The Leon PAT made it 7-0 Falcons about 10 seconds into the game. But Rossiter found a receiver for a 22-yard scoring strike and then kicked the PAT, 7-7. The Royals did not have an answer for the Falcons ground and pound. A drive was capped by a Snorweah 8-yard scamper; Leon good, 14-7. But, evading a strong Falcon rush, Rossiter again hit receiver White for a 39-yard wide-open score. The QB-kicker again booted the PAT; 14-14 and a potential barnburner in the works.

The Falcons stepped it up in the second and a bunch of Royals’ penalties did not help their cause. Smith ran 5 yards; Snorweah 31 yards, and Smith 5 yards; Leon hit all 3 PAT’s and the Falcons had a comfortable 35-14 halftime bulge. But they had to kickoff in the second half. And the Royals scored first in the second half – a Rossiter to Vendetti 55-yard pass/run made it 35-20, the PAT was missed. The Falcons answered with two more 3^rd quarter scores – Smith 18 yard run, and Snorweah 56-yard run. One of the two PATs was missed, and after three quarters the score was 48-20 Falcons. I moved to the sideline fence for 4 minutes of the last quarter before leaving. I missed a last Falcon score, a Thompson 1-yard plunge to make the final 55-20 Pennsbury. The Falcons amassed 530 yards rushing and the ground and pound could not be stopped. Both teams got “chippy” and there were 21 flags, 11 on UD and 10 on Pennsbury, including more than 10 total unsportsmanlike and personal fouls. But they didn’t slow the game, nor either offense, as most times the good offenses made up the lost penalty yards.

The November 15^th weekend I had a family wedding in Connecticut to attend. It was a moot point, but I don’t know whether I would have seen Spring Ford at Neshaminy or Perk Valley at CB West if the wedding wasn’t that weekend.

The wedding weekend (15^th) before the next weekend (22^nd) broke the momentum of the season and I did not go to Neshaminy for Abington Friday night the 22nd. I listened to that game on WBCB computer radio.

Thanksgiving 2013 was bright, but windy and cold, for the 3^rd annual “battle of the bridge” between South Hunterdon and New Hope-Solebury. Both teams were solid this year, both had lost in their respective playoffs and the Eagles from NJ came in 8-1 while the home team Lions was 8-3. A defensive battle marred by early flags ensued. This led to a 0-0 first quarter. In the second quarter the Lions gradually won the battle of field position with trading punts throughout and a brutal wind factor favoring the Lions’ kicks. This led to the Lions trying and making a 30-yard field goal by Danny Sutton with the wind at his back. At the half it was 3-0 New Hope-Solebury.

South Hunterdon received the second half kickoff and used the whole quarter before scoring a short running TD just as the third quarter ended. The PAT was no good and it stood at 6-3 after three. About then Bud 3 and I began to leave. Of course we had talked to many folks at the game, including Bud 2, who said this was the only game he had seen this season. He too, just as Bud 3, was down to T-day games only. The game ended 6-3 South Hunterdon continuing the tradition that the visitor always won this game since its young establishment three years’ prior.

My 63^rd season was in the books.

I had made 21 games; the most since the 23 in 2010; and that was the only season since 2004 that I had so many games.

My notes at seasons’ end indicated that I thought I had shaken the past finally and was at last mentally resolved to find a new delight in high school football. I noted; “No season in history was so planned, and the plan executed week to week to provide the greatest, most enjoyable season in years; and a prototype for the future seasons.”

And again it was my wife attending 3 of the first 4; and 4 of the first 7 games with me that led to my enjoying high school football again and not lamenting all that was not there anymore.

I got back to Neshaminy for the first time in 8 years. I got back to Bensalem for the first time in 6 years, the first time since I lost long time friend Bud 1 who was always there. A great number and variety of teams were seen – 26 different teams. Of the 19 teams that I followed in my written records, I saw 17 of them. I saw the eventual state 4A and 3A champs play – each other. It was the only time I ever saw two (future) state champs play each other in the same season.

I once again thought about how to maximize my future seasons.

I recast my priorities and listed first the categories that I could control. The number of games per season was always first since I began attending games in 1951. It is controllable as to scheduling, but weather, illnesses, and family priorities can alter it in progress. I always like seeing new teams, and I can switch a game choice here and there to accommodate seeing a new team, but the more years pass, the less “new” teams there tend to be.

The number of local teams with good season records is a must; I want to see the good teams at least once a year. This requires schedule adjusting as the season progresses and records dictate game choices. Seeing the teams with highly-rated or touted athletes is desired. Most teams end up having all star choices, but there are all-state and national attention athletes too; and those I would like to try to see each season.

Then there are the “good games” that I can list, a number per year hopefully. Any two teams, good records or poor, can have a good game. Certainly close and even is one type of “good”. Another is active scoring without going overboard, ala a 41-39 game. Back and forth, winner uncertain until the final whistle is a good game. There are many ways each person can judge their good games.

Getting to PIAA playoff games is very desirable, but only do-able for me anymore if a local team permits close by home games.

But I put 2013 to bed with a new good feeling about enjoying high school football again.

I seemed to rally for the 2013 season from the following note I made prior to it:

I am again looking forward to 2013 and again plan to stay mostly at Pennsbury, Council Rock, Truman, and the T-day game, this year at New Hope. Perhaps a playoff or two depending on what team it is; and certainly Doylestown, Bensalem, Tennent, and Neshaminy fields are second level choices and do-able if I really want to go.

It would be my 63^rd season, and the first game of the year, my 856^th.

I continued to mentally adjust to the fact that the golden era (1989-2004) seasons were gone forever and would not ever be matched. No more league passes, very little company, no pre-season camp visits, and coaches that were strangers to me were the truths. Many facets I had loved were gone, and the fact that just about everybody I followed played Friday nights made the number of games I could see in a year a challenge. Just like everything else in the world, the high school football landscape was changing too.

I noted: “I feel right now (June 3, 2013) that I want to possibly go back to the “old days” and just follow Pennsbury, or the Rock’s, or Neshaminy like it was the old Lower Bucks County League; a sort of ‘retro’ movement for closeness and simplicity.”

I did get to the second Pennsbury scrimmage as normal, but gone was LaSalle and the new opponent was Archbishop Wood. At 7:00 PM the two squads went right to an officiated game of two 12-minute quarters. No free play session this year. I met the father of a Wood player who was a transfer from Lower Moreland. We had a nice chat and that player was a senior in 2015 at Wood. I also spoke to Tom Adams Jr. at some length. Tom was the son of, obviously, Tom senior whom I had spoken with for some years’ at Bensalem. Tom junior also coached at Bensalem for some years and I knew him to speak to also in those times. Over this season and the next, I would speak with and sit with Tom at several games, and I saw him for the first time the past (2015) season at the Neshaminy-Pennsbury game. The sad part is that I learned from Tom at that scrimmage in 2013 that his dad had passed a few years back; I did not recall seeing an obituary in the papers. No sign of Bud 4 who usually was at this one.

A great start to the season was a day-night doubleheader at different fields, and my wife decided to accompany me to both. I could ask for no better company as she was pretty football-savvy and knew the game well. The first game was possible because Truman chose a 1:00 PM weekday kickoff to entertain the Abraham Lincoln Railsplitters of Philly D12.

That would be a brand new team for me. Knowing zilch about Lincoln I noted that they seemed to experience execution problems to a degree on both sides of the ball.

The fine Truman band kept us entertained by playing their great “Grease” musical book in the stands, their drill apparently not quite in place yet. A bunch of Truman players scored in building a 41-7 halftime bulge; a point shy of fast clock. Tigers’ QB Zolna had a score, RB Livingston had 2 scores, receivers McCloud and Adamo had a TD apiece, and RBs Hill and Bloh had a TD apiece and the final was 47-7 so the fast clock was instituted at some point in the second half.

The missus rode with me to Doylestown to see Boyertown at CB East in the nightcap. I had never seen the Boyertown Bears play either and that was the choice factor for this game. It turned out to be an exceptional game; the kind I liked. East had four pre-season heralded players this time around. They were QB Zach Nelson, WR-DB Ilkiw (Ill-Q), and a brother-duo linemen Jake and Nick Duncan. In the game Nelson hit 16 of 27 attempts for four TDs and no picks. Ilkiw had 6 catches for 154 yards and two TD’s. CB East received and on their first play from scrimmage RB Gibson (I believe this was Alex, in his sophomore season) got 65 of his total 82 yards for the night and a TD. 7-0 CB East. But Boyertown had a good team, and fine RB Richmond, who would put in a night’s work of 27 carries for 210 yards and three TD’s.

The scoring parade was 7-0 East; 7-7; 13-7 Bears; 13-10 Bears at the quarter. Then 19-10 Bears; 19-17 Bears; and 25-19 CB East at the half. Boyertown owned the third quarter with four TDs. They added three PATs and it was 46-25 when we left 3 minutes into the last period. In that remaining time East scored twice to close it to 46-39; and then a last second East TD was actually (or called) a fumble short of the goal ending East hopes.

The second week of the season I soloed to Bensalem for the first time since 2007 and the death of my friend Bud 1 in 2008. The Pennridge Rams and Mike Class were in town. I spoke with Dan Taylor again and also Mr. Schopp, who was a long-time friend of my deceased Bud 1 and school-connected in ways I didn’t know. Now a senior and state-recognized, Class had a somewhat subdued day with 12 carries for 66 yards and one TD. His 5-yard run in the first quarter opened the scoring. Ram QB Pasquale was 9 of 11 passing with one TD and no picks. He also had 93 yards rushing and a TD. Rams other RB Imeir Simmons had 4 carries for 76 yards and two TDs.

The Owls jumped offside on the PAT attempts after the first two scores, so the Rams went for two and made both, 16-0. The Owls only score was a 35-yard pass TD just seconds before the half ended. I left with 9 minutes left in the game, and the final was 37-6 Rams.

My next two games were a wife-accompanied thumping of Morrisville by Lansdale Catholic 42-6, and solo a rare Sunday evening game Bristol at New Hope-Solebury. This was a good one won by the NH-S Lions 35-32. They had a fine looking QB in Connor Hayden. But the Lions were senior-laden, and that is usually bad news for the following season.

New Hope-Solebury had a fine 8-4 season and their first trip to the PIAA Class 2A playoffs. Unfortunately, they had to play West Catholic for their first (and last this year) playoff game.

Storms on the Jewish-holiday scheduled Thursday 9/12 date made that Sunday-night and a Monday night game available also. On Monday night it was Hatboro-Horsham (2-0) at Council Rock North (2-0). While the lopsided ending score could not classify this in the great game category, the number of big plays executed by Rock North made it fun to watch, except for the Hatter faithful. The opening kickoff was returned to the house for 99 yards by Rock’s speedy Canadian transfer Dejuan Martin. QB McIlwain then hit Martin for the 2-point PAT, 8-0 Rock very early. On their second possession, McIlwain faked a handoff and sped 66 yards to paydirt. Indian kicker Greenberg hit the PAT, 15-0 Rock. Next the Indians blocked a Hatter punt and McWilliams scooped it up and ran it 12 yards for a defensive TD, PAT was off, 21-0 Rock. A second defensive score in the first quarter was when Leuz picked a Hatter aerial and returned it 51 yards to the house; Greenberg PAT kick – 28-0 Rock at the end of one quarter.

In the second quarter the Hatters stopped the bleeding when QB Morris ran it in from 13 yards out. The PAT kick was off, 28-6 Rock. But the bandage soon slipped off. McIlwain connected for a 72-yard pass/run strike to Martin, 35-6 Rock. Then the Indians blocked another Hatter punt and incredibly it was McWilliams who again scooped it up and bolted 14 yards for another defensive score, 42-6 Rock. Before the half ended McIlwain hit Maisel for 21 yards, and another Greenberg PAT kick made it 49-6 at the half.

The Indians started subs in the second half as they should have. The Hatters Panera scored on a 36-yard rush; the 2-point PAT failed and it was 49-12. The fresh Indian seconds answered and perhaps the Hatter seconds were also playing, Welde ran it in from the 9. Greenberg still did the PAT and it was 56-12 after three. As I headed to the car, I could follow the Hatters coming up field towards the open end of the stadium, and saw a 2-yard plunge score. I didn’t wait for the PAT which was good 56-19 Rock. It was definitely all-JV by this time and the Hatters scored after I left again, final 56-26 Indians.

For the record-setting fifth time this season, my wife was with me for Pennsbury at Truman, as much for the bands as the game. We liked the Truman book “Grease” in the stands and wanted to see the drill. The “long orange line” was always entertaining and by this era, Pennsbury was always the biggest of the local bands. And as in football, with bands there is strength in numbers. The football Falcons seemed flat at the outset. The Tigers stopped the first Falcon offensive series and took the ball for the first score of the evening on a Fisher 1-yard run, Kenny PAT kick, 7-0 Tigers. This awakened the Falcons and they answered on a Ronquay Smith 11-yard run TD. Leon PAT kick, tied at 7. The score didn’t change by halftime as the Falcons again looked unlike themselves with miscues and allowing pretty good gains and possession by Truman; but no breaks for scores. The ground and pound and trademark hitting defense for the Falcons dominated the second half as most of Truman’s 4 fumbles occurred in half two. Smith scored twice for the Falcons in the third, on runs of 1- and 6-yards.

A lost fumble led to another Falcon’s possession and Snorweah 25-yard TD burst. It became 28-7 after three, and the rest of the game was after the departure of wife and me also. On the first play of the fourth quarter Smith got his 4^th TD of the night, and it climbed to 35-7 Falcons.

Reserve back Chris Rupprecht with 8:30 left in the game had a 16-yard excursion to the end zone and junior kicker Josh Leon converted his sixth PAT of the night making it 42-7 and starting the fast clock.

The next day I soloed to Rock for Bensalem (0-3) at Rock South (0-3) for what I thought would be an even, entertaining game. It was! Dan Taylor arrived and we sat together for the first (and only) time. I had known him and his wife for years. The first quarter scoring drought was broken by a Rock South 63-yard interception return for a TD by Woelk. PAT kick missed, 6-0 CRS. In the second quarter Rock South QB Paprocki hit Anderson for a 31-yard TD strike, and the 2-point PAT run failed to make it 12-0. Then the Owls put on a nice drive, capped by an Archangeli 9-yard TD. Rosenfeld good PAT kick, 12-7 CRS. The South answered when Anderson bolted for a 58-yard score and Paprocki hit Haun with the 2-pointer; 20-7 CRS. With little time remaining in the half, the Owls QB Pisarchuk got in from 8 yards, PAT kick good, 20-14 CRS at the half.

This battle of the birds saw the Owls own the third quarter over the Golden Hawks. Pisarchuk had a 29-yard run TD. And Pegram hit a 6-yard pass to Forkpa. The progression ran to 21-20 Bensalem and then 28-20 Owls. I stayed the fourth quarter long enough to see a Pegram 24-yard strike to Mays TD and Rosenfeld PAT to make the Owls bulge 35-20. I missed three TDs by leaving that made the score 35-28 Owls, 42-28 Owls, and finally 42-35 Owls. It got closer but the team leading when I left still won it. Good game.

I motored to Tennent that night for West Catholic at Archbishop Wood. I only mention that I noted that the Wood O line blocked like the great CB West teams of the 1990’s. From my note I may not have known at the time that Mike Carey, the author of all of those fine CB West lines, was at Wood. It was Wood 42-0 at the half and it was raining and heavier downpours expected, so I called it a night at half this time. It is sometimes good to be right, I hit blinding torrential downpours on the way home; I was at least dry in the car, although driving was treacherous.

On Friday, September 27, 2013, I soloed to Neshaminy for the first time since November 2005, almost 8 years since I had been to Heartbreak Ridge. I spoke to HC Mark Schmidt outside of the main gate; for some reason, many times he was alone at games in which his team was playing.  Just coincidence; or perhaps he used some pensive time before games? I was surprised that he asked me about how I was doing regarding a health condition that came up perhaps a year ago when I talked with him. I felt kind of honored that he had remembered that. I had it taken care of in early December 2013 through DaVinci Robotic Lathroscopic Surgery. My surgeon was a Council Rock North graduate some years’ back.

This was another fine edition of the Skins, and they were sporting a 4-0 record at the time, having allowed exactly 7 points on defense in their first four games. A 1.75 defensive average should get you a lot of wins. Of course this was the D’Andre Pollard team and this night he had 11 carries for 167 yards and 3 TDs. By 3 minutes into the third quarter it was 35-0 and mercy rule, and I was on the way out. Truman was on the upswing but no match for these Skins.

As it was homecoming with king and queen crowning and numerous booths strung along the fence at the entrance end of the field; this was an example of the “zoo crowds” I talk about; and I was going out real early this time.

On Friday October 10^th, I started my notes with: “An absolutely superb season to date continued this weekend. Already I have loads to write about what has made a special season.” I seemed to be back; enjoying the season’s again. I made personal history this night, as for the first time since the concrete stands were erected at Council Rock North in 1977; I sat on the home side. (For a regular-season game, I had sat home-side for the CB West- Abington Heights 1998 PIAA playoff game).  The opponent was Neshaminy, who as a neighbor school and territory got to this one in home field numbers. So many fans attended that they usually sat in the aisles solidly and this totally skived me close to claustrophobia. I sat next to a man who just happened to be from Neshaminy and was on this side for the same reason. It was full on the home side, but not sardine-like; and the aisles were kept clear.

The final was 42-20 Neshaminy and I made the comment: “Two things for sure – Neshaminy is for real, and so is Rock’s McIlwain.” This was Brandon McIlwain’s sophomore season of course.

The next night I again went to a “big crowd” game. I trekked to William Tennent for the big PCL St Joes Prep at Wood cross divisional matchup. Although I knew the potential was there I did not realize I was watching the two 2013 AAAA and AAA State Champions play. I noticed website man and recently retired Daily News sportswriter Ted Silary on the track very early in the night and I had to meet him. I hailed him with something about his website, and he came over to talk a few minutes. He was the nice guy I thought he would be; and a tremendous source for Philly high school sports.

Wood’s QB Tom Garlick opened scoring on a nice fake and keep 9-yard run. McDonald kicked the PAT, and it was 7-0 Wood. The Prep answered on a Martin to Reid 23-yard strike and Walsh PAT made it 7-all. In the second quarter Wood’s elusive McClenton looked unstoppable and had 24- and 80-yard TD bursts and it was 21-7 Wood. And then occurred one of the things that changes games. Late in the 2^nd quarter Wood lost a fumble at about their own 36-yard line. Soon, the Preps premier RB Zaccheaus broke it off-tackle and was gone; Walsh kick 21-14 Wood at the half, but big “mo” had changed; and Prep would receive the second half kickoff.

The third quarter got defensive and the teams traded fumble recoveries. I left before the end of the third quarter because the lots at Tennent were the most packed with autos that I had ever seen there. Martin threw to Zaccheaus for a 6-yard score and the third ended 21-21.

In the fourth quarter Zaccheaus had another TD, a 4-yard run and it was then 28-21 with the Walsh PAT. Walsh later added a 33-yard field goal to ice it 31-21 Hawks.

I had a, now rare, three-game Friday night-Saturday day-night trio of games the weekend of October 11-12. I saw the Falcons 40-0 win over Tennent at Falcon Field Friday night.

The Saturday day game was Bensalem at Rock North and a 36-10 Council Rock Indian win. Here I got to speak with Neshaminy HC Mark Schmidt who would retire after the 2013 season. But he was not yet done with high school football. At night it was to Truman for Roxborough at Conwell-Egan, a nice game won 27-13 by the Indians of Roxborough. Another first-time look at a new team for me.

On Friday October 18, 2013, I stayed close to home for Abington at Council Rock South. RB Craig Reynolds of the Ghosts was the attraction. As the Ghosts were 6-1 and Rock South Golden Hawks 1-6, an unbalanced game might be the case. I sat with Rick Lee this time and met one of his sons. The Ghosts and Hawks programs were far enough apart this season for the Ghosts to dominate despite playing what was then their 3^rd starting QB David Kretschman, who was a good one in 2015, and also was in 2013 as I noted. This might have been his first start and all he did was throw three TD strikes of 24, 12, and 33 yards to three different receivers. Reynolds had 30 carries for 192 yards and two TDs. It was only 21-7 Abington after three quarters and the final 41-14 Ghosts.

The next night I attended my fourth consecutive homecoming game, this time at Falcon Field for Council Rock North at Pennsbury. After a great opening drive and McIlwain long TD run was negated by a holding call, it was all downhill for the Indians. The Falcons promptly went on a 6-play 72-yard drive capped by a Snorweah 23-yard TD burst and Leon PAT – 7-0 Falcons. They followed a little later with a Thompson 7-yard run; Leon kick 14-0 Falcons. Just as time was expiring in the first quarter, the Falcon’s Rob Daly picked off a McIlwain aerial and returned it 82 yards to the house. It was 21-0 Falcons after one. Only one score in the second quarter made it 28 Falcons on a Snorweah 12-yard run and Leon PAT at the half.

Pennsbury received the second half kickoff and before long Thompson scored from four yards out and at 35-0 the fast clock became the rule. After the Falcon kickoff, on the 2^nd play from scrimmage, the Indians Chris Welde broke one 64 yards up the middle and McIlwain hit Bibbens for the 2-pt PAT making it 35-8 Falcons. The third ended with that score. I left soon after the fourth quarter started and missed only a Smith 3-yard run; Leon Kick for the final 42-8 Falcon win.

By this point in the 2013 season I had already eclipsed my total games from 2012 and I was having a good season, and feeling good about high school football again. This was a big relief.

Following the disastrous season of 2011 I began to use the computer to organize my thoughts so I could read and ponder on them and make some analyses. I came up with the following, among other thoughts:

For 2012 key on four fields – Pennsbury, Council Rock, Truman, and War Memorial, Doylestown. When the schedules come out, from day and time see who can be caught on these fields. If needed, extend to Bensalem and Tennent, both with worse traffic routes, but both have good parking. After the first three weeks of the season see if tweaking is necessary based on records. Perhaps somebody thought to be 3-0 after three is 0-3; or vice versa. Be mindful of who they played, but see if you need to get someone not scheduled to see on the docket.

As with most situations in life, if you make a sound plan and stick with it and allow for tweaking if necessary, you can usually find a win.

The planned early, first-week scrimmage, which I had rarely ever attended – Council Rock North at CB West did not work out due to one of my age-ailments, but it didn’t deter me.

I did again make the LaSalle-Pennsbury scrimmage and there spoke with a woman whose son was a LaSalle starter. He was a stud-looking young man and played well. I found they were from Hatfield, where my Bud 2 was from, and had they not chosen LaSalle would be a North Penn Knight. It was a fairly even scrimmage, the free session, Pennsbury 19-7; half game LaSalle 7-0.

The opener this year was CB South at C Rock South. Having witnessed 6 playoff games of Rock South the last two seasons, it was a kind of natural; but I had no allusions about all of that 2 and 3-year talent that had graduated at Rock South. A 42-7 Titan victory was testament to the Golden Hawks being young and green almost to a man. They would struggle to a 2-8 season after two seasons of 11-2 and 12-2.

Well, my plan said what stadiums to concentrate on, and for the first 9 games of the season I alternated at Council Rock and Pennsbury. Rock was sometimes for North and sometimes for South, and they were exactly alternated – at Rock games 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9; and at Pennsbury games 2, 4, 6, and 8.

So week two it was Frankford at Pennsbury. The normal gatekeeper, an institution there, I learned was ailing and due back in a couple of weeks. I ran into no one that I knew.

I thought that Pioneer QB DiGeorgio was indeed as advertised. He was a quick, elusive QB; cool under pressure, and an accurate southpaw passer. But at least this night the Pioneers did not throw as much as I thought they might. It was a good, close game score-wise, but I also thought that the Falcons discipline (penalties), ball handling (fumbles), kickoff coverage, and pass defense lacked at times. But it was only the second game of the season and they faced a strong running Easton the first time out.

The first quarter was scoreless. In the second period the Falcons scored from 4 yards out and kicked the PAT to take a 7-0 lead. Then Frankford put on a 76-yard drive, aided by two Falcon 15-yard penalties. A DiGeorgio to Compton 4-yard TD pass made it 7-6 Falcons. On the PAT try, the Falcons jumped offside twice. So DiGeorgio ran in the PAT and the half ended 8-7 Frankford.

In the third quarter a short Falcon run made it 13-8 Pennsbury after a run PAT attempt failed. Next, a short Pioneer run TD was followed by a DiGeorgio to Compton pass PAT and it was 16-13 Pioneers. But before the third ended, Pepper had scrambled for a 15-yard score; kick PAT good – 20-16 Falcons at the end of three. In the fourth quarter DiGeorgio hit his receiver Turbeville for a 7-yard TD and a kicked PAT made it 23-20 Frankford. I saw that one up close as I was at the fence in the last quarter. As I was leaving I did see the 30-yard Stewart burst that put the Falcons back on top 27-23 after the kicked PAT. After I left I missed an electrifying 89-yard interception return by Falcon Tom Hose and Falcon kicker Kniaziewicz hit his fourth PAT to ice the game at 34-23.

Rain kept me from Tennent that Saturday night for North Penn at Wood. I did see the broadcast of NP-Wood on Comcast TV 8 live. If I had made this game, the strange alternating fields at Rock and Pennsbury would have been skewed.

Week 3 Friday it was Pennridge at Rock South and I was there to see Mr. Michael (Mike) Class. And I was right, as the Ram outstanding RB had 29 carries for 274 yards and two TDs. His yards per carry average was 9.5. It was 31-7 Pennridge as expected.

Week 4 was Pennsbury’s turn again and this time the building Truman Tigers were in. Coach Cubbage and his staff and plans were producing, as among the Tigers 60 players, fully 25 were freshmen. Three years prior the entire team was 23 players. This was the nucleus that would produce a fine 2014 team and one with great prospects for 2015 before perhaps 3 of their top 5 key players were injured for the season. Unfortunately for these Tigers, Falcon 255 lb FB Daquan Mack was back, and tonight he scored four TDs on runs of 1, 2, 31, and 6 yards. His first made it 7-0 at the quarter. His second made it 14-0 Falcons in the second, after both kicked PAT’s. The Tigers forced a safety on the Falcons before half and it ended 14-2.

The Falcons came out smoking in the third quarter and scored three times – Mack 31, Snorweah 9, and Mack 6. The Falcons successfully converted a 2-point PAT after each score on a Mack, and 2 Pepper runs. The 24-point third put it away at 38-2, but a fourth quarter was still to be played. I took off as there was no doubt, and Falcon reserve Smith had two run TDs in the last quarter – 2 and 8 yards. The final was 51-2 Falcons.

On week 5 it was back to Rock North and this time to see Council Rock North and their freshman sensation QB/S Brandon McIlwain. Tonight this young man was 10 for 19 passing including a 30-yard TD, and also rushed for 62 yards and a TD. Receiver Brandon Knotts had two receptions for 72 yards and the 30-yard TD. Senior RB A. J. Neilson had 86 yards rushing on 16 carries. The Indian kicker Pedinoff had two high PATs and a FG late which I did not see. William Tennent was the opponent and it ended 17-0 Rock North.

The Friday night Council Rock South at Pennsbury game was moved to Monday night due to a staph infection outbreak at CRS. As this was my scheduled game, again fate twisted things into the perfectly alternate schedule mentioned. Tonight it was RB Shawn Pepper that did the damage on 10 carries for 214 yards. That was exclusive of an 85-yard burst he had that was called back by a hold. The Falcons threw some utilizing the talents of QB Breon Clark. Again it was only 5 passes, but he hit two for 84 yards. One was a 49-yard TD strike to Pepper. The other a 35-yard completion to Dan Chaudhri. The Falcons went for the 2-point conversion after each of their first three scores. It was 8-0 at the quarter and 16-0 at the half, then 28-0 after three quarters. After I left CB South scored on a 14-yard run TD to make the final 28-7 Pennsbury. Game switches such as this usually produce various coaches looking at future opponents. Tonight I had the pleasure of speaking briefly with Mark Schmidt of Neshaminy, Biz Keeney of Tennent, and Tim Sorber of Abington. This was the only game this season where I noted such activity.

I thought that Truman (2-3) might beat C Rock South (0-5), but the Rock program was still stronger despite the records. I took this one in at CRN and it was a CRS 32-13 win.

Saturday same week it was Abington (4-1) at Pennsbury (3-2) and I was also there. The Ghosts opened scoring with a first quarter Carraba 23-yard FG, 3-0 Abington. But Pepper hit Tom Hose for a 28-yard strike; Kniaziewicz (K) PAT kick 7-3 Falcons after one. Pepper broke one 29 yards in the second quarter’s only score; K kick – 14-3 at the half.

In the third quarter the Ghosts’ Collins had a 4-yard rushing TD, but the run PAT try failed, and it was 14-9 Falcons. On the next series the Falcons’ Pepper broke one 54 yards and the K-kick made it 21-9 home side at the end of three. As I moved to the sideline fence for the fourth, before long, Falcon Safety Muse intercepted a Ghost aerial in front of my direct view and raced it up the near sidelines for a 76-yard pick six.

Kniaziewicz kick – 28-9 Falcons and I did my thing and started home. Falcon sub Pfender got the last Falcon score to make the final 35-9 Pennsbury.

The weekend closest to my 71^st birthday, October 12-13-14 was spoiled by another of my age-afflictions and I saw no games in person.

At Council Rock North for the 5^th (and last) time this season the opponent was guess who? —- Pennsbury. Pennsbury was coming in 5-2 and Rock North was 3-4. This game was a rivalry of sorts, the teams pretty much didn’t like each other; but nothing like Neshaminy-Pennsbury. I sat with Falcon HC Snyder’s mom and dad who I was getting to know and converse with as I had so many bygone coaches. The Falcons got the first score on a Pepper 2-yard run; K kick 7-0 Falcons. But the Rock’s McIlwain’s 4-yard answer and Pedinoff (P) PAT tied it up at 7. Breon Clark scored from the one for the Falcons and the PAT was blocked – 13-7 Falcons. On another possession, Clark ran a beautiful 27-yard sprint and then hit Hose for the 2-point PAT, 21-7 Falcons. Rock with the ball and running out of time in the half ended with a controversial one second added back by the officials. Set up for a field goal, Pedinoff drilled it from 27 yards out – halftime 21-10 Pennsbury.

In the third quarter Pedinoff hit a 42-yard FG and it was 21-13 Falcons. But Pepper bolted 65 yards for a TD, K kick for Falcons, making it 28-13 after three. After I had left in the fourth quarter the teams traded pass TDs and PAT’s to make it 28-20, and finally 35-20 Falcons. I noted that for the first time in some time that the Falcons rushing attack was enhanced by the passing of Bensalem (Conwell-Egan)-transfer Clark. He was 6 of 10 for 102 yards, one TD, one 2-point PAT, and no picks. Rare stats for the Falcons.

And with this game my alternate Council Rock-Pennsbury field rotation odyssey came to an end. I would not see Rock stadium again this season but would be back to Falcon Field.

On the next day, actually Saturday night, I was at Truman for a Bishop McDevitt – Conwell-Egan matchup. The visiting Lancers were few in numbers (a Class A team), and suffered on the offensive line. A pistol or shotgun offense saw many high snaps causing a second or two for the QB to gain control and thus affected was the timing of the offense. The Conwell-Egan Eagles amassed 329 yards rushing and scored one TD in each quarter; leading 28-0 when I left. The final was 28-6 Eagles.

I’ll take a local Sunday day game when I can get it, and this Sunday I made it a 3-game weekend. When I arrived at Tennent and saw the Archbishop Carroll Patriots I knew that they were in trouble. Although defending AAA state champ Archbishop Wood was but 5-2, both losses were respectable to AAAA powers, and the Vikings were getting it in gear. Carroll simply had no studs; about 30 players- they looked like a cross country team. No weight program?

I was quite surprised. The Wood lines looked to outweigh them 50 pounds a man. The next day Ted Silary said on his excellent website for Philadelphia sports, “at times Carroll looked disinterested”, and I saw it too. I don’t know if I ever saw a game where the entire staff and team seemed to have thought, we can’t win, we have to be here, so let’s play and go home. I may be 100% wrong, maybe there was just little talent or experience to play with; it was an amazing situation for all of the years I had followed football. Wood just scored and continued scoring, 21-0 at the quarter, 42-0 and mercy rule at the half. At the end of three 49-0 and the end of what I was to see. Wood subs even won the fourth quarter 13-7 to make the final 62-7.

It was a far cry from the 2000 Carroll Patriots that put a 13-0 season on the board.

Post-Tropical Cyclone Sandy left us without power from Monday 10/29 until Saturday night 11/3 at 9:00 PM. It resulted in a Monday night game 11/5 – Bensalem (2-7) at Truman (2-7). As the records indicated mutual lack of success I thought that this might be a good one, and I was correct. Truman scored first on their fine RB Fisher’s 9-yard run. The PAT went wide right and it was 6-0. The score held for the first quarter. I noted that the Owls had a strong sophomore back in Alex Archangeli, whose 7-yard plunge and Rosenfeld PAT made it 7-6 Owls. A little later, Alex went in from the 9 and with PAT kick it was 14-6 Owls at the half.

In the third, the Tigers Fisher again got in from the one, and a 2-point pass PAT knotted it at 14-all. The third ended with that score. The Owls speedy Elijah scored from the 11 and it was 21-14 Owls. As I spent a minute or two at the rest room, I missed Truman’s Bobby Hill’s 51-yard run to the house, but I did see a botched PAT attempt turned into a 2-point pass PAT. That made it 22-21 Tigers. As I was leaving I saw a Tiger defensive back pick off a Hopkins’ pass and return it to the Owls 11. Fisher then took it in and the PAT was blocked and it was 28-21 Tigers. After I was humming home in the car The Owls Elijah scored from the two and the PAT was good to knot the game at 28 at the end of regulation play. The Tigers got a Kenny 29-yard field goal on their OT possession, but the Owls got a 1-yard Archangeli plunge TD to win the game 34-31. A real good one!

Next it was the District One 4A first round game between the West Chester Rustin Golden Knights (8-2) and Pennsbury Falcons (8-2). The Knights’ looked stud-like and athletic and I sensed a good close game. Rustin also ran a wing-T and so knew what Pennsbury ran and how to defend it. It would come down to either personnel or breaks, I thought. With their vaunted running game bottled up the Falcons went to the air for two first quarter TDs. Clark hit Pepper for a 39-yard TD and Bullaro for a 53-yard TD. It was 14-0 Falcons after one. There was no scoring in the second period. In the third quarter the Knights’ QB Fithian hit Burke for a 30-yard TD, but the PAT was missed and after three quarters it was 14-6 Falcons.  I left with about 6 minutes left just before Pepper finally got loose for an 85-yard TD run to put the Falcons up 21-6. The scrappy Knights then came back with another yard 25-yard pass TD for a 21-13 final.

The new Turkey-Day tradition of South Hunterdon-New Hope Solebury continued in Mt. Airy, NJ (the region outside of Lambertville where the South school is located) this year. As I followed neither team (except NH-S wins-losses) except for this game, I listed no names. A long pass TD on their first possession put the NH-S Lions up 7-0 early. The South Eagles had a strong run up-the-gut game all day (shades of Woody Hayes and the OSU “3 yards and a cloud of dust”). They drove the field and tied it at 7. In the second quarter another mirror drive the other directions made it 14-7 Eagles. But, just before the half, another nice aerial right in front of our viewing area pulled the Lions into a 14-14 tie at the half.

We began our hiatus with about 6 minutes left in the game, as South is a rural setting and the parking not adequate, cars were lined the rural farm roads and woodlands in every direction. Very near the end of the game, the Lions hit a 48-yard field goal to win the game 17-14. A very well-played game.

The wisdom of officials of both schools was shown by making this natural cross-river rivalry a reality. In two games the scores were 12-10 and 17-14, and in both cases the visiting team won.

This was the season finale for me this season, but I got 15 games in, far better than the 7-game disaster of 2011 and a move toward a more “normal” season for me.

But another telling note at the end of the season revealed that PIAA playoffs were just not close enough for me this year, other than the Rustin-Falcon game. That said; there were playoff games this year at Poppy Yoder in Perkasie (3); and CB South (3). Granted some were the same nights, but I had been to those two stadiums before; but now, they were “too far”. If only the “company factor” of the golden era were available; but it was not so.

Travel, age, weather conditions, traffic, and the fact that games are readily more available on TV, radio, or computer stream definitely ruled my game-seeing decisions now.

It may be Hell to get old; but it does beat the alternative!