{"id":3801,"date":"2026-06-06T06:05:48","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T10:05:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sykotyk.com\/football\/?p=3801"},"modified":"2026-06-06T06:07:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T10:07:58","slug":"2025-week-15-pennsylvania-west-virginia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.sykotyk.com\/football\/2026\/06\/06\/2025-week-15-pennsylvania-west-virginia\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Week 15 (Pennsylvania & West Virginia)"},"content":{"rendered":"

2025 Week 15 (Pennsylvania & West Virginia)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nI was finally back in Ohio after several weeks out west. I had several things planned, and one was the big one. Greenville had one amazing run through the 2025 season. As much as I wanted to see the Port Allegany game, I was at least back for the state semifinal.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, there wasn’t a lot of options as state semifinals are few and far between. There was another game in Ellwood City on Saturday. But that one, as was Friday’s, well covered. There was nothing south in District 7 to cover.<\/p>\n

There were a few games in Central PA, but nothing that needed the extra coverage for the mileage to drive. In Ohio, the state semifinals were all on Friday night.<\/p>\n

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But West Virginia had one afternoon game on Saturday. At a field just feet from the Pennsylvania border. And a Saturday night game barely a half hour away. It aligned perfectly. <\/p>\n

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But first, was Thanksgiving. I didn’t have anything planned, so just had Chinese. There obviously were no games on Thursday. And just a single Friday night game to attend. And it was the only game I was going to attend.<\/p>\n

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The only downside of the weekend, was that I had hurt my ankle. A lingering issue I had all season, but was really bad for this weekend.<\/p>\n

In the later afternoon, it was a short drive east on US422 to the east side of New Castle, and PA65 south past Shenango High School, stopping for a burger at Dairy Queen. Then continuing south along PA65 into Ellwood City. The stadium sits in the northeast corner of town not far from the highway.<\/p>\n

It was my second time ever at the stadium. The first time in 2020 during the Covid season and there were no fans in the stands. Tonight was different. A state semifinal on a cold November night. The crowd was already filling in by the time I got parked and into the stadium.<\/p>\n

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With there being a crowd, I underestimated the available parking and had to find a spot along the perimeter of the small lot as more and more cars were filing in. Once in the stadium I got to see the updates to the place since 2020. As field turf was now installed, hence the games being hosted.<\/p>\n

#55 – Clairton v. Greenville<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The game itself started rough for Greenville. A long play by Clairton. Another one. A touchdown here. A touchdown there. It started to snowball. By halftime, the game was over. It was just a matter of how badly Clairton was going to win by. It was Greenville’s third ever state semifinal game. Second of which that I attended. I was a bit too young for the first one. <\/p>\n

This was the most lopsided loss of the three, though. As Clairton won, 57-0.<\/p>\n

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Class 1A Semifinal: Clairton 57, Greenville 0 (PHOTO GALLERY)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

It was a bittersweet game. A step in the right direction, but sometimes you step in a gopher hole.<\/p>\n

After the game, I didn’t stick around long. There was a writer and videographer for PFN that were there to do the postgame. I had to get home, get photos done, and get ready for a long drive the next morning. And I was not wanting a late night.<\/p>\n

The next morning, I headed back out US422 past New Castle to I-79. Driving south quickly past Pittsburgh toward Waynesburg. Taking US19 into town at an angle. Then PA218 south toward West Virginia. It’s a pretty nice road, until right near the border it got very windy. But I was well ahead of getting to the school.<\/p>\n

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I crossed the border into West Virginia, and stopped immediately for a photo. The road winds around a church, and ends at WV7. A quick right, takes you to the school in what is called Blacksville. A very small, loosely constrained community in the winding hills of West Virginia.<\/p>\n

With a 1pm kickoff, I was over an hour early for the game. But I did not have cell service, nor time to get my first photo out. The school was packed, and many people were parked along the side of the road. Though the walk to the field was substantial.<\/p>\n

I did pull in to the gas station across the street, and was going to park along the dead end lane leaving back southeast from the gas station. But then there was a patch of inclined grass near the front of the gas station that another truck had parked on. And being in a truck, I pulled up over the curb and parked on the angled grass. Putting me right across the street from the entrance to the field. Which starts up high, and then dips down toward concourse level and then further down to field level.<\/p>\n

#56 – Clay-Battelle v. Cameron<\/strong><\/p>\n

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This was my first time here for a game. Though I had seen the school and field once in the distant past. A trip from Steubenville to Morgantown taking the scenic route. I had seen Cameron the previous year in the state champmionship, and also a game at West Greene in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n

Thouh the leaves had all fallen, Clay Battelle Stadium was a great venue. And the hill to the north endzone was actually in Pennsylvania. Barely feet away from the edge of the field.<\/p>\n

The stadium sits in a valley behind the school, with seating only on the home side. The teams have a very steep short flight of concrete steps down to the field. It’s a great venue. <\/p>\n

It was a close game, and the big decider was lack of PAT conversions by Cameron. Down 8-6 at the half, 16-12 late in the third, which snowballed into a 24-12 lead in the fourth. A twelve point lead effectively ending the game as Clay-Battelle’s defense wouldn’t be broken again. With Clay-Battelle winning, 24-12 and making the state championship game for the first time ever. Taking on Wheeling Central Catholic the following week in Charleston.<\/p>\n

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Clay-Battelle edges Cameron, 24-12 to advance to state championship in West Virginia (PHOTO GALLERY)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

I had quite a bit of time to kill before the night game. I took my time getting back to my car. Letting the fans clear out. Cameron fans had left rather quickly. But Clay-Battelle fans obviously lingered. That and the intense amount of fans parked down along WV7 in both directions from the school in various pull-offs.<\/p>\n

I finally headed east toward Morgantown, following route 7 toward I-79, where it turns into US19 into town. West Virginia was hosting Texas Tech in Morgantown, kicking off at noon, and was just letting out. Which led to several lane and road closures with traffic lights bypassed to let the outflow of people reach I-79. I followed that flow west of I-79 and was planning to find some place to eat. But nothing really interested me.<\/p>\n

I finally drove past WVU and into downtown Morgantown. Continuing south through town and on High Street stopped at an Indian restaurant: Fresh Mint Indian Grill. It was pretty good but not really worth documenting.<\/p>\n

I killed time, but not too much as I drove over to the high school just a few meandering blocks away. The problem being that the parking at the school was negligible. I had called ahead and advised of media parking, but I drove past the entrance the first time. And with it being a series of one-way streets, had to circle around to find the entrance. But that did put me right near the northwest endzone and easy access to the field now that I was closer to 7pm than I normally would have liked. Despite being right at the field, I didn’t go in with my wide angle lens. Just my zoom. In retrospect, I wish I had taken both cameras with me. <\/p>\n

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#57 – Morgantown v. Jefferson<\/strong><\/p>\n

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This was my second time at Pony Lewis Field. Once seeing Morgantown hosting Steubenville on a dreary night. My third time, overall, seeing Morgantown. But first time seeing Jefferson. A team from the eastern panhandle, near Martinsburg, near the town of Shenandoah Junction.<\/p>\n

Morgantown, the Mohigans, had a history of success in the WVSSAC. Winning seven state championships, recognized by the WVSSAC, since 1927. Most recently in a four title run in a span of 6 years from 2000 to 2005.<\/p>\n

This game, though, ran away from Jefferson. Morgantown moving out to a 21-0 lead in the second quarter. But two surprise TDs saw Jefferson make it interesting. And ten more points by Morgantown in the last minute of the half realigned the contest back into a one-sided nature of Jefferson playing catch-up, as Morgantown led, 31-14.<\/p>\n

Three more scores in the third quarter essentially ended the competitive portion of the game. The fourth quarter moved slowly, as Jefferson scored one final touchdown, but couldn’t crack Morgantown’s dominance. With the Mohigans winning, 52-21.<\/p>\n

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Morgantown Soars to State Title Appearance, 52-21 over Jefferson (PHOTO GALLERY)<\/p>\n

Morgantown Soars to State Title Appearance, 52-21 over Jefferson (PHOTO GALLERY)<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n