The Queen City Quad is this Saturday at 3:00. This will be the 11th year in a row I put this together. This is definitely the lightest Quad in regards to competition. I really didn't start looking for teams until April as I wanted to take a break from the high school football scheduling grind. It takes up a lot of time for no money with a ton of complaining from just about everyone under the sun - FH and non-FH people all included. But I didn't want to see the Quad end so I came back. Maryland really hand ties us in the west because we are a rock throw from WV, PA and VA. Those schools all start a week ahead of Maryland teams. So to get a team from outside the state to bang heads on a Saturday before their first real game...well, those coaches want nothing to do with all that for good reason. You won't see FH or Alco bang heads the Saturday before their first game. So in short, the only teams that can really commit to the Quad are MPSSAA schools. The fact Petersburg agreed to come here is a huge testament to their new head coach Winston Redman. He is a Keyser native from years gone by and has been in the coaching ranks for quite some time with stops at many places. Last year he had a great season with Everett (PA) posting an 8-4 record and a playoff win.
Coach Redman says the Petersburg folks are giving him a real hard time about coming to scrimmage FH. He says it's only a scrimmage and he needs to know which of his kids can stand up to the best competition. Although we did put Petersburg on the third rotation of the Quad with FH where most of the subs are in. They have 30 kids grades 9-12 and have a game the following Friday. Kudos to the Vikings.
Petersburg will shift to a wing T offense after throwing it almost every down the past few years under Coach Kevin Board and a great QB who committed to Glenville State. You won't see anymore passing numbers like those.
I gotta say, participation numbers are definitely down in high school football in many places though out the country. What's happening is this...last year Tuscarora bailed the day before the Quad citing injury concerns. I have teams get a few kids banged up during the Quad and the immediate reaction by the coach is to pack it in and head home immediately. The problem is there are 3 other teams that came here to get some work. Smithsburg has both their QBs banged up on the JV squad so they will be at the JV Quad but will only play defense. What I'm saying is...coaches are scared to death these days about injuries due to the simple fact there are not enough talented bodies to overcome it.
I have been told Hancock has 13 kids grades 9-12 with their football team. They may not field a team.
Also of note...Morgantown folded their freshman team leaving a hole on the FH freshman schedule. The void was filled with a game against Bridgeport. Sure would be nice if that could translate to a varsity game down the road. But this is how you begin to develop bonds with admins and coaches at other schools.
I was never told why Alco declined to play FH twice at the JV level. I could take a few guesses that cannot be substantiated so have to say I'm not really positive as to the why. I do know that last year and again this year they have to move a good chunk of JV players to varsity due to the lack of numbers.
I'll give a good positive for the Campers though. I attended my first pee wee game last Saturday in Cresaptown as my grandson plays for the Saints B team. There had to be 700-800 fans in attendance - obviously parents and relatives of players. Insane. Canopies everywhere all around the entire field both sides. Looked like a tailgate party at a Guns & Roses concert. Had my first walking taco from the Eagles concessions. I'm betting there had to be 100 kids and cheerleaders on both the Saints and Cresaptown. Football is far from dead here in Allegany County. Cresaptown had some really nice skill players and good numbers. I'm hearing the Hunters do as well. Alco has to find a way to continue to build through those numbers and if they can they will be just fine down the road. Assuming there are two Cumberland schools by then. I found it pretty exciting in these times where all folks want to talk about is football dying in rural areas. Granted it is, but not so much in Allegany County from what I see at the pee wee level.
Admission is free to the Quad. Concessions will be open. Now if I can just talk the BOE into letting me sell my Official FH and Alco lemonade there I'm all set. I won't get into the reasons they say no.
Coach Redman says the Petersburg folks are giving him a real hard time about coming to scrimmage FH. He says it's only a scrimmage and he needs to know which of his kids can stand up to the best competition. Although we did put Petersburg on the third rotation of the Quad with FH where most of the subs are in. They have 30 kids grades 9-12 and have a game the following Friday. Kudos to the Vikings.
Petersburg will shift to a wing T offense after throwing it almost every down the past few years under Coach Kevin Board and a great QB who committed to Glenville State. You won't see anymore passing numbers like those.
I gotta say, participation numbers are definitely down in high school football in many places though out the country. What's happening is this...last year Tuscarora bailed the day before the Quad citing injury concerns. I have teams get a few kids banged up during the Quad and the immediate reaction by the coach is to pack it in and head home immediately. The problem is there are 3 other teams that came here to get some work. Smithsburg has both their QBs banged up on the JV squad so they will be at the JV Quad but will only play defense. What I'm saying is...coaches are scared to death these days about injuries due to the simple fact there are not enough talented bodies to overcome it.
I have been told Hancock has 13 kids grades 9-12 with their football team. They may not field a team.
Also of note...Morgantown folded their freshman team leaving a hole on the FH freshman schedule. The void was filled with a game against Bridgeport. Sure would be nice if that could translate to a varsity game down the road. But this is how you begin to develop bonds with admins and coaches at other schools.
I was never told why Alco declined to play FH twice at the JV level. I could take a few guesses that cannot be substantiated so have to say I'm not really positive as to the why. I do know that last year and again this year they have to move a good chunk of JV players to varsity due to the lack of numbers.
I'll give a good positive for the Campers though. I attended my first pee wee game last Saturday in Cresaptown as my grandson plays for the Saints B team. There had to be 700-800 fans in attendance - obviously parents and relatives of players. Insane. Canopies everywhere all around the entire field both sides. Looked like a tailgate party at a Guns & Roses concert. Had my first walking taco from the Eagles concessions. I'm betting there had to be 100 kids and cheerleaders on both the Saints and Cresaptown. Football is far from dead here in Allegany County. Cresaptown had some really nice skill players and good numbers. I'm hearing the Hunters do as well. Alco has to find a way to continue to build through those numbers and if they can they will be just fine down the road. Assuming there are two Cumberland schools by then. I found it pretty exciting in these times where all folks want to talk about is football dying in rural areas. Granted it is, but not so much in Allegany County from what I see at the pee wee level.
Admission is free to the Quad. Concessions will be open. Now if I can just talk the BOE into letting me sell my Official FH and Alco lemonade there I'm all set. I won't get into the reasons they say no.
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