ER Sports:High School Football

There are very few things I enjoy as much as high school football. Case in point was the recent Central Tech-Meadville clash that epitomized the reasons why I feel this way, including a perfect venue (the home of the Meadville Bulldogs), two well-coached teams, several sensational athletes, no extracurricular activities (trash-talking), plenty of scoring, and several outstanding defensive plays.

However, the best part is sitting in a section with people who share my passion, which was the case in this particular contest. Adding to an already entertaining evening was the fact I was able to enjoy the event with an interesting mix of fans including the likes of Judge Danny Brabender (Erie's leading sports historian and Cathedral Prep grad), Richard Conner (Academy), Duane Conner (Academy), Freddie Williams (Academy), and Aubrey Dillon (East).

Even if the game hadn't been so enjoyable, the banter in this area was worth the price of admission. As a matter of fact, throw in the cost of seeing this great game as another plus. What an entertainment value when you can be treated to this atmosphere for just $5 for an adult. You can't put a price on a good time!

Adding to the intensity of an already emotional evening was the fact that the father of CT coach Rob Matz passed away the evening before. I left the stadium drained for a variety of reasons.

I should point out I predicted the Bulldogs to win, 55-52, while the Falcons emerged victorious, 48-43, in a thriller that wasn't decided until the final play.

I do have a question: I attended the game to support an Erie team in a big game and I was just wondering, How many people from the Central Tech administration or school board made the short trek down I-79 to Meadville? And I went to Prep!

 Week 5

HIGH SCHOOLS

CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS 30 Maplewood 12

IROQUOIS 28 Cochranton 14

EISENHOWER 40 Saegertown 12

UNION CITY 26 Youngsville 8

GREENVILLE 32 Corry 20

GROVE CITY 21 Titusville 20

Sharon 34 WARREN 18

FAIRVIEW 26 Fort LeBoeuf 22

HARBOR CREEK 30 Mercyhurst Prep 20

NORTH EAST 32 Girard 20

NORTHWESTERN 28 Seneca 20

CATHEDRAL PREP 27 Buffalo St. Joe's 18

Meadville 49 STRONG VINCENT 14

McDowell 24 CARDINAL MOONEY 21

Punxsutawney 35 DuBOIS 26

CENTRAL TECH 42 Bradford 12

TOP 3 GAMES

3. HICKORY 30 Slippery Rock 24 — Two very good teams.

2. Farrell 28 WILMINGTON 22 — Two very good teams.

1. GENERAL McLANE 28 Conneaut 27 —- Should be a crowd-pleaser.

COLLEGES

CLARION 24 Mercyhurst 21

GANNON 28 Slippery Rock 24

IUP 35 Edinboro 24

Mississippi 34 FLORIDA 21

VIRGINIA TECH 27 Pitt 24

PENN STATE 38 Army 14

CLEMSON 30 Notre Dame 21

PROS

BILLS 27 Giants 24

CHARGERS 28 Browns 17

STEELERS 38 Ravens 27

 Week 6

Cambridge Springs 34 COCHRANTON 20

Hickory 28 GREENSVILLE 27

SHARON 38 Grove City 14

SLIPPERY ROCK 32 Warren 12

Fairview 40 GIRARD 20

HARBOR CREEK 28 Northwestern 26

North East 21 SENECA 20

Fort LeBoeuf 27 MERCYHURST PREP 16

Conneaut 49 MEADVILLE 44

Cathedral Prep 27 CENTRAL TECH 26

McDowell 24 GENERAL McLANE 22

STRONG VINCENT 22 East 20

FARRELL 34 Rochester Bishop Kearney 18

Top 3 Games

3. HARBOR CREEK 28 Northwestern 26 — Huskies like close games.

2. Conneaut 49 MEADVILLE 44 — Another interesting game at the home of the Bulldogs.

1. Cathedral Prep 27 CENTRAL TECH 26 ... Ramblers on upset alert as Falcons believe they can win.

COLLEGES

Mercyhurst 30 GANNON 28

Clarion 31 EDINBORO 20

CLEMSON 34 GeorgiaTech 30

PITT 35 Virginia 27

NEBRASKA 24 Wisconsin 21

PENN STATE 26 Indiana 21

NOTRE DAME 34 Navy 31

MICHIGAN 27 Northwestern 20

PROS

Steelers 34 CHARGERS 24

RAVENS 24 Browns 20

Bills 30 TITANS 17

 For the record:

Week 3

High Schools: 18-2, Colleges: 7-6, Pros: 1-2

Week 4

High Schools: 14-4, Colleges: 7-6, Pros: 2-1

Season: Overall: 103-32