2026 Week 6 (Ohio & Pennsylvania)

Week 6 was back around home. With four games planned for, but one ultimately was axed from my weekend. My Thursday and Saturday games were simply whatever was near me. Not that I was lacking options. Friday night was the long trip. Only two WPIAL games featured two new teams in a new stadium. And I put in to cover one of them.

Thursday left me with two options. In Pennsylvania, New Castle was hosting Aliquippa at Taggart Stadium. In Ohio, Mathews was hosting Weirton Madonna in Vienna. Both were about the same distance away from home. And I had initially assumed someone from PFN would be covering the New Castle game. So, I put in to cover the Mathews-Madonna game.

But, after already contacting the school, I found out no one was covering the New Castle game. Though, I was not about to swap my game. And partly I had been to Taggart Stadium not too long ago. But it was 14 years since I had been to Booster Field in Vienna, and I was looking forward to seeing the upgrades. Though I would be on the field, the metal stadium and band shell were a big improvement over the terrifying wood stands the school had previously.

On Thursday afternoon, I didn’t have a long drive to get to Vienna. The shortest, obvious route was to go north through Hubbard, along OH7 to OH304 toward Girard. Then Loganway Wick Rd to Tibbetts Wick Rd. Then OH193 north to Vienna Township

It’s noteworthy that for such a small community, the football field isn’t at the high school. The school sits right in the middle of the township center. The field sits behind the elementary school, south of OH82. Far behind it, actually. A rather unassuming driveway takes you back to the school and field. Only noteworthy from the marquee at ground level advertising the school hidden behind the trees. I was early, and parked in the grass near the exit road.

It was nice seeing the stadium, though. And after a year off from football, was nice seeing Weirton Madonna making a comeback. The grass at Booster Field was very tall. Only cut lower at the lines.

#31 – Vienna Mathews v. Weirton Madonna

This was just my second time seeing the Mathews Mustangs play. The only other time was my only other trip to Booster Field. Back in 2012, Mathews hosted Lutheran East on another Thursday night. This was my 8th time seeing Weirton Madonna. Seeing them mostly at home.

Vienna scored three times in the first quarter. And twice more in the second quarter. Weirton Madonna finally found the endzone, on an 80 yard touchdown pass.

On the first drive of the second half, Mathews added a 29 yard touchdown run to exceed the 30 point margin to start the running clock. After the third quarter ended, it took just about 15 minutes for the fourth quarter to run out. With Mathews winning, 41-7.

Ohio: Mathews wins Thursday night cross-border showdown with Weirton Madonna, 41-7 (PHOTO GALLERY)

After the game, I was back in my truck and needed to stop at a Dollar General before getting home. So, I left going east on OH82 from Vienna, to Brookfield, and south on OH7 toward Hubbard. Stopping at the first Dollar General. Then continuing home on OH7 and OH616.

I was up late, and didn’t get to sleep until about 8. Having a short window to head out to Waynesburg. Of all the WPIAL games, only two were two new teams for me. One was Indiana hosting Albert Gallatin. While Waynesburg Central was hosting Mount Pleasant. I had a friend who moved to Waynesburg when I was younger, and I always intended to make the drive down for a game at some point. But, Indiana was the closer in mileage and time. At only 88 miles away.

However, Waynesburg was 105 miles. Though because Indiana was only on US422 the entire way while Waynesburg was mostly I-79 from Portersville south, the time to each stadium was about the same. Still, another reporter had put in for Indiana and I opted for the backup option of Waynesburg Central.

With my late night, I didn’t start that early. Waking up early afternoon and getting situated for the drive. Heading east along US422 to Portersville, but stopping at the McDonald’s in the Pilot just off I-79. Getting a double cheeseburger meal though I already had sweet tea with me for the trip.

From there, it was onto I-79 south past Wexford across the Ohio, past Robinson through South Pointe, on to Washington. Then taking the two exits to stay on I-79 before exiting at Exit 14 for PA21.

The school is located just off the interstate, behind a line of chain businesses and a strip mall. Up a hill with the field on the far west side of the property. Parking was easy, though it was filling up in the lot between the Career & Technology Center, and the Elementary School. The entrance to the field sits atop a hill behind the stadium. And you walk downhill to the field level.

The stadium is all turf, with all seating on the east side. Facing west, the scoreboard sits at the 50 yard line. The endzones are black, with red and white lettering spelling out RAIDERS. With the school logo at midfield. The crowd was raucous, and the temperature was decent. And the sun was already down behind the treeline before kickoff.

#32 – Waynesburg Central v. Mount Pleasant

With a couple other reporters from PFN at the game, I focused mostly on photography. Though I still kept up my Twitter updates anyways. I had expected Waynesburg to win, but I wasn’t expecting how easily it would happen.

Waynesburg jumped out to a 27-0 lead in the first quarter. Before Mount Pleasant finally found the endzone, on a 5 yard pass early in the second. Waynesburg answered with two more touchdowns of their own. And went in to the break up 42-7. Setting up a running clock for the entirety of the second half.

I was a little annoyed, as I realized my auto-correct was changing one players names, Ky-Mani Sumpter. For some reason choose Ki-Mani.. Luckily, I could edit the mistakes once I caught them.

Early in the second half, Mount Pleasant had the ball first and a bad snap ended the drive prematurely. Going over the head of the QB, it went into the endzone where the QB scrambled to recover it and just concede the safety. Halfway through the third, again with posession, Mount Pleasant found the endzone on a short run. A scoreless fourth quarter gave Waynesburg the 44-14 win.

Waynesburg Thumps Mount Pleasant, 44-14 (Photo Gallery)

During the game, I had stopped up at the concession stand. And then to the truck. Waiting a bit before heading out. I ordered a hoagie, and timed it for when I’d get there. Heading out on I-79 to PA60. Running west on the Steubenville Pike to Peppercini’s Pizza. A regular place I ordered from when I worked in Robinson Twp decades ago. When it was under a previous name.

After stopping in to grab my hoagie, I headed out back east on PA60. Then I-79 north to US422. By this point a very familiar trip. At home, I finally could eat the hoagie. A steak and ranch hoagie, sometimes called a Steak Ranchero, that is basically shaved steak, cheese, french fries, and ranch dressing. But it’s so good. And something you only find around Pittsburgh.

I didn’t plan to stay up too late. As I had an early trip in the morning. But, things don’t always go as planned.

My daughter and I left home around 11am. For the last day of football. The options for Saturday were one of two games in Akron, or travel to Herman just southeast of Butler for the Summit Academy game against Laurel. Initially, for a night game, I had planned to drive north to Union City for their game against Sharpsville. But, due to scheduling, decided to try and make the Valley Christian game against Lisbon over in Mineral Ridge.

The trip itself was pretty simple. US422 all the way to Bonniebrook Road. Which goes straight south into the small village of Herman. The school sits just east of the intersection. A large spired brick building sitting across the street from the low lying athletic fields to the south. A large painted structure advertises the Knights teams.

For those unaware, Summit Academy is for adjudicated youths and others with similar situations. This means there is constant turnover of their roster. Sometimes even midseason. Which makes their seasons turbulent. The school has made the playoffs in the past. But, most times they struggle to stay consistently competitive. And this year was one of those years they’ve struggled.

#33 – Summit Academy v. Laurel

This was the fifth time I’ve seen Summit Academy play. The fourth time at home. And my fourth time seeing Laurel play. Only ever seeing them once at home. Three times now on the road. The field is now named Stephen J. Sherer Field, though in the not so distant past it didn’t have an official name.

Covering the game, I got to park in the lot east of the field. On the hill. And walked across the north endzone several levels high. With my daughter with me, I wasn’t planning to walk the sidelines. Instead, she stayed under the large shade trees to the north. While I eventually walked down to the endline of the north endzone.

The first part of the game started with the Laurel Spartans going north to south. So, I was behind the play every time. But I was not going to move down. At least I knew the ball would be mostly moving toward me in the second quarter. By this point, Laurel only had a 27-0 lead.

In the second quarter, Laurel dominated. They had started with 6 touchdowns on 7 offensive plays. And their 27-0 lead ballooned to 63-0 at the half. Yes, the running clock would be going. But that didn’t stop the scoring. Two more touchdowns were claimed in the third quarter. And one more in the fourth. Giving Laurel the absurd, 84-0 victory.

Laurel dominates Summit Academy, 84-0 (Photo Gallery)

After the game it was on to dinner. By this point, I had deviated from my initial plans. My daughter had something for that evening that I was doing with her. So, we were passing on the night game. But stopped at one of the very few Ponderosa Steakhouse locations left in the country for dinner.

STATISTICS

For the weekend, I drove 332 miles, mostly back and forth to Waynesburg. And spent just $66.19. All of that on food. Including the meal for my daughter and I at Ponderosa. And my hoagie at Pepperoncini’s.

I added two new teams and one new stadium for the entire weekend.

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK