A Game Change to Saturday.
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THE CHOPS
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A Game Change to Saturday.
Easton game moved to Saturday
The Express-Times:
EASTON -- In the end, everything worked out the way athletic director Jim Pokrivsak, football coach Steve Shiffert and Easton Area High School fans had hoped.
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association announced Monday morning its decision to move this weekend's Class (AAAA) Eastern final between the Red Rovers and Neshaminy High School from 7:30 p.m. Friday to 1 p.m. Saturday.
Saturday's site remains the same -- at Memorial Stadium in the Bensalem Township School District.
Easton, the District #11 champion with a No.# 4 state ranking, according to the Patriot-News of Harrisburg, is 13-0; the District #1 champ Redskins are ranked No.# 2 and own a 12-1 record.
Pokrivsak first contacted P.I.A.A. officials on Sunday evening after the original sites, dates and times were announced. Pokrivsak discussed his concerns with Dr. Robert A. Lombardi, associate executive director of the P.I.A.A., and the state switched the game from Friday night to Saturday.
"I called and left Dr. Lombardi a message trying to find out why we were playing on Friday night and the Western final and next week's state championship were both on Saturdays," Pokrivsak said. "I didn't understand the thinking for playing on Friday night. Dr. Lombardi called back and said they were weighing the options, then we found out the date was changed."
Neshaminy, coached by Mark Schmidt, beat North Penn 51-34 last Friday night for the District 1 crown.
Shiffert's Red Rovers beat George Washington last Saturday night in the PIAA Eastern semifinals for their second win in three days. Easton wanted a full week to practice.
Also, the Western final between District #7 champ Pittsburgh Central Catholic and District #3 champ Bishop McDevitt is 1 p.m. Saturday with the state championship game set for 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 at Hersheypark Stadium.
"I'm pleased the P.I.A.A. looked at all options for both schools, I don't know why they didn't do it from the start," Pokrivsak said. "But we're at their mercy, we don't dictate to them when we'll play or when we won't play.
"One concern is Friday being a school day, then taking a 90-minute bus trip to Bensalem. We'd have had to leave school at about 12:30 p.m. And a 90-minute trip on Friday afternoon turns into a two-and-a-half hour trip. We'd be looking at a very long day with a football game and also a bus ride home at the end of it."
P.I.A.A. assistant executive director Jodi Good indicated the P.I.A.A. studied these considerations and others before making a change.
"This puts all the games in the same cycle, meaning both (Quad-A) games are on Saturday," Good said. "This provides the teams that make the final with the same number of practice days and the same number of days to rest. It was originally scheduled for Friday because when we play on grass fields (the surface at Memorial Stadium is grass) we like to provide an extra day in case of inclement weather."
Shiffert said, from a coaching standpoint, the change is a big one for Easton.
"My big concern was a rainstorm this week, then we'd only get a day or two to practice," said Shiffert, who celebrated Saturday night's win with a hunting trip on Sunday. "At this time of the year, I think Saturday is a better playing day for the fans, kids and everybody else."
Red Rover coaches and players met at Easton Area High School on Monday evening -- there was no school on Monday -- to watch film and discuss this week's schedule. Shiffert said the team would follow its weekly routine starting today.
Winning two games in three days is an amazing accomplishment but it's not one the Red Rovers are focusing on quite yet.
"We're focused on what we've got next," Shiffert said. "There will be time to reflect after the season. Right now, we want to keep moving forward."
Tickets will be sold on Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bob Rute Field House, according to Pokrivsak. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students (advance sale only). All tickets at the gate will be $6.
ROVER BISCUITS: Easton RB/S Ovid Goulbourne and RB/LB Zach Pizarro both missed playing time last Saturday night with injuries. Goulbourne (neck/bicep/thigh) and Pizarro (hip pointer) are probable for Saturday's game. "What Ovid and Zach did team-wise is commendable," coach Steve Shiffert said. "Ovid played a lot at the blocking position and Zach had the gumption to admit he couldn't run the ball." Shiffert said he thought both Easton and George Washington showed signs of fatigue in the second half. Easton played on Thanksgiving Day and GW played on Wednesday evening. "I thought it was noticeable especially on defense. Our conditioning and discipline we crucial."
"THE CHOPS".
The Express-Times:
EASTON -- In the end, everything worked out the way athletic director Jim Pokrivsak, football coach Steve Shiffert and Easton Area High School fans had hoped.
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association announced Monday morning its decision to move this weekend's Class (AAAA) Eastern final between the Red Rovers and Neshaminy High School from 7:30 p.m. Friday to 1 p.m. Saturday.
Saturday's site remains the same -- at Memorial Stadium in the Bensalem Township School District.
Easton, the District #11 champion with a No.# 4 state ranking, according to the Patriot-News of Harrisburg, is 13-0; the District #1 champ Redskins are ranked No.# 2 and own a 12-1 record.
Pokrivsak first contacted P.I.A.A. officials on Sunday evening after the original sites, dates and times were announced. Pokrivsak discussed his concerns with Dr. Robert A. Lombardi, associate executive director of the P.I.A.A., and the state switched the game from Friday night to Saturday.
"I called and left Dr. Lombardi a message trying to find out why we were playing on Friday night and the Western final and next week's state championship were both on Saturdays," Pokrivsak said. "I didn't understand the thinking for playing on Friday night. Dr. Lombardi called back and said they were weighing the options, then we found out the date was changed."
Neshaminy, coached by Mark Schmidt, beat North Penn 51-34 last Friday night for the District 1 crown.
Shiffert's Red Rovers beat George Washington last Saturday night in the PIAA Eastern semifinals for their second win in three days. Easton wanted a full week to practice.
Also, the Western final between District #7 champ Pittsburgh Central Catholic and District #3 champ Bishop McDevitt is 1 p.m. Saturday with the state championship game set for 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 at Hersheypark Stadium.
"I'm pleased the P.I.A.A. looked at all options for both schools, I don't know why they didn't do it from the start," Pokrivsak said. "But we're at their mercy, we don't dictate to them when we'll play or when we won't play.
"One concern is Friday being a school day, then taking a 90-minute bus trip to Bensalem. We'd have had to leave school at about 12:30 p.m. And a 90-minute trip on Friday afternoon turns into a two-and-a-half hour trip. We'd be looking at a very long day with a football game and also a bus ride home at the end of it."
P.I.A.A. assistant executive director Jodi Good indicated the P.I.A.A. studied these considerations and others before making a change.
"This puts all the games in the same cycle, meaning both (Quad-A) games are on Saturday," Good said. "This provides the teams that make the final with the same number of practice days and the same number of days to rest. It was originally scheduled for Friday because when we play on grass fields (the surface at Memorial Stadium is grass) we like to provide an extra day in case of inclement weather."
Shiffert said, from a coaching standpoint, the change is a big one for Easton.
"My big concern was a rainstorm this week, then we'd only get a day or two to practice," said Shiffert, who celebrated Saturday night's win with a hunting trip on Sunday. "At this time of the year, I think Saturday is a better playing day for the fans, kids and everybody else."
Red Rover coaches and players met at Easton Area High School on Monday evening -- there was no school on Monday -- to watch film and discuss this week's schedule. Shiffert said the team would follow its weekly routine starting today.
Winning two games in three days is an amazing accomplishment but it's not one the Red Rovers are focusing on quite yet.
"We're focused on what we've got next," Shiffert said. "There will be time to reflect after the season. Right now, we want to keep moving forward."
Tickets will be sold on Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bob Rute Field House, according to Pokrivsak. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students (advance sale only). All tickets at the gate will be $6.
ROVER BISCUITS: Easton RB/S Ovid Goulbourne and RB/LB Zach Pizarro both missed playing time last Saturday night with injuries. Goulbourne (neck/bicep/thigh) and Pizarro (hip pointer) are probable for Saturday's game. "What Ovid and Zach did team-wise is commendable," coach Steve Shiffert said. "Ovid played a lot at the blocking position and Zach had the gumption to admit he couldn't run the ball." Shiffert said he thought both Easton and George Washington showed signs of fatigue in the second half. Easton played on Thanksgiving Day and GW played on Wednesday evening. "I thought it was noticeable especially on defense. Our conditioning and discipline we crucial."
"THE CHOPS".