#PACtion™ 2024

I'll second that about I-40. I take it to get to my free beach house in Ocean Isle. I can usually factor in standstill traffic at least twice around Raleigh-Durham. Get east of that and usually it's free and clear all the way to Wilmington.
South/East of Raleigh is great through the Carolina pines and farm lands. It's Winston Salem to Raleigh that's a pain and the Virginia(s) (West Virginia and the Commonwealth of VA) due to dumb Cleveland and Ohio (but too many county #18) drivers. So many I flipped off with no remorse.
 
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It's pretty damn good for people growing up near Manchester Road/Avenue.

Women love PACtion™ and they want to join it.
Chicks dig guys who grew up near Route 93! And just the mention of PACtion™ while I'm out for a night on the town is a guarantee of a "romantic liason." Of course, being a married man, I always decline because I respect the power of the PACtion™.
 
The PACtion™ hype is real in Canton South:

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Chicks dig guys who grew up near Route 93! And just the mention of PACtion™ while I'm out for a night on the town is a guarantee of a "romantic liason." Of course, being a married man, I always decline because I respect the power of the PACtion™.
Women LOVE....love....PACtion™ stories about the Green special pass.
 
PAC Game of the Year - 2003 | CVCA (7-0, 4-0 PAC) at Manchester (4-3, 3-0 PAC) | Week 8 | October 10, 2003
This is the fifth in an ongoing series, highlighting the PAC Game of the Year in each season, from 1999 through 2023, which will lead up to the start of the 2024 high school football season. For a look back at prior summaries, click here for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002
___________________________________________________________

What is the saying? Tradition Never Graduates.

At a school like Manchester, that's true. The problem? Players do. And as the 2003 season progressed, it was looking like a rare down year in New Franklin as Week 8 dawned. Coming into the 2003 campaign, Manchester brought a gaudy 130-9 regular season record dating back 14 years to the inaugural PAC season in 1989.

But this year was different. The Panthers stumbled through the first seven weeks of the season to a 4-3 record, winning just one of four nonconference matchups. That vaunted Manchester defense? It gave up five touchdowns in a season opening 35-7 loss at Copley. A shutout at home (26-0) against Streetsboro in Week 2 seemed like a return to normal. But two more non-conferences losses - a 7-3 defeat at Smithville in Week 3 and an unheard of 14-7 setback at home against Buckeye in Week 7 - gave the locals cause for concern heading into Week 8.

Still, the Panthers were undefeated in conference. But so was CVCA. A high-stakes Panthers-Royals matchup would be no surprise nowadays. But in 2003? Some longtime Panthers supporters could be forgiven if they had to pause to figure out, "Who are these guys?" Sure, CVCA had a couple of conference championships in something called the East Suburban Conference in the late 90's. But this was a football program that played its first varsity game in 1997. The Royals joined the PAC in 2001, but after a pair of nondescript seasons - 3-7 in '01 and 4-6 in '02. it's safe to say no one outside of the small group on the east side of Wyoga Lake Road envisioned the undefeated 7-0 start in the fall of 2003. But undefeated they were, dispatching their first seven opponents by an average score of 36-7. The offense was clicking and the defense was smothering opponents, holding five of the first seven opponents to single scores or less (one shutout).

The stage was set. The longtime behemoth falling on hard times against the upstarts looking to make their mark in the biggest football game in school history. The venue? James R. France Stadium. As if the outcome was ever in doubt?

Seasons have moments. So do programs. And this moment belonged to Manchester - again. Were the Panthers down? Relatively speaking, yes. But remember, there was still a streak at stake. Forty-four consecutive PAC victories. That tradition? It would not let the Panthers let down their faithful supporters. The Royals - their first-ever big game? They didn't play poorly. But they weren't winning on this night. Senior Brody Jackson told The Akron Beacon Journal afterward, "All week long, we knew what we had to do, so when the game started, we were just ready to play."

Jackson recorded an interception in the game, and sophomore Panthers' running back Greg Hooper staked Manchester to an early 6-0 lead. When Justin McCraney (113 yards on 16 carriers) rumbled in from 2-yards out, the Panthers extended the lead to 12-0 late in the first half. CVCA responded with a 30-yard David McMullen field goal for the Royals just before the end of the second quarter, and the home team went to the locker room with a 12-3 edge at the break.

Hooper gained 101 of his 146 yards (on 29 carries) in the second half. Oh, and remember that vaunted Manchester defense? It showed back up again. CVCA was held to just 16 total yards in the second half - and just 81 yards for the entire game. Neither team scored in the second half and the Panthers recorded a much-needed 12-3 victory.

No. Manchester was not losing on this night. CVCA coach Ray Corroscia said, "Manchester won the game up front. They ran Manchester football."

The moment? It ended just like so many others over the years at James R. France Stadium - with Manchester celebrating and asserting their dominance. And for CVCA, sometimes a moment arrives early - or even before you expect it. The Royals didn't win. But they surely arrived.

The Postscript

CVCA won close games against Tusky Vally and Vermillion to round out the regular season and earned its first-ever playoff berth in Division IV Region 13 as the 7-seed, with a 9-1 regular season record. But that early season undefeated run turned out to be against a soft schedule. Only three of the seven regular season opponents finished with winning records, and the Royals bowed out of the playoffs in the first round against 2-seed Waynedale, 42-19, to finish 9-2. Still it was the best season in program history - albeit a very short history at that.

Manchester used the CVCA victory to turn the season around. They recorded a 14-6 win at home against Fairless and then trounced winless Coventry 42-0 on the road in Week 10 to propel themselves all the way up to the 5-seed in Division IV Region 13, despite the 7-3 regular season finish. Their reward? A road trip to Triway for their first meeting with the Titans since 1990, where the season ended in a 21-14 loss, as the Panthers finished 7-4. Not a normal Manchester season - but conference champions once again.

There is something to be said about that Manchester tradition.

Here's the ABJ story on the game:


Manchester-CVCA_2003_Story_1.png


Manchester-CVCA_2003_Story_2.png
 
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PAC Game of the Year - 2003 | CVCA (7-0, 4-0 PAC) at Manchester (4-3, 3-0 PAC) | Week 8 | October 10, 2003
This is the fifth in an ongoing series, highlighting the PAC Game of the Year in each season, from 1999 through 2023, which will lead up to the start of the 2024 high school football season. For a look back at prior summaries, click here for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002
___________________________________________________________

What is the saying? Tradition Never Graduates.

At a school like Manchester, that's true. The problem? Players do. And as the 2003 season progressed, it was looking like a rare down year in New Franklin as Week 8 dawned. Coming into the 2003 campaign, Manchester brought a gaudy 130-9 regular season record dating back 14 years to the inaugural PAC season in 1989.

But this year was different. The Panthers stumbled through the first seven weeks of the season to a 4-3 record, winning just one of four nonconference matchups. That vaunted Manchester defense? It gave up five touchdowns in a season opening 35-7 loss at Copley. A shutout at home (26-0) against Streetsboro in Week 2 seemed like a return to normal. But two more non-conferences losses - a 7-3 defeat at Smithville in Week 3 and an unheard of 14-7 setback at home against Buckeye in Week 7 - gave the locals cause for concern heading into Week 8.

Still, the Panthers were undefeated in conference. But so was CVCA. A high-stakes Panthers-Royals matchup would be no surprise nowadays. But in 2003? Some longtime Panthers supporters could be forgiven if they had to pause to figure out, "Who are these guys?" Sure, CVCA had a couple of conference championships in something called the East Suburban Conference in the late 90's. But this was a football program that played its first varsity game in 1997. The Royals joined the PAC in 2001, but after a pair of nondescript seasons - 3-7 in '01 and 4-6 in '02. it's safe to say no one outside of the small group on the east side of Wyoga Lake Road envisioned the undefeated 7-0 start in the fall of 2003. But undefeated they were, dispatching their first seven opponents by an average score of 36-7. The offense was clicking and the defense was smothering opponents, holding five of the first seven opponents to single scores or less (one shutout).

The stage was set. The longtime behemoth falling on hard times against the upstart looking to make their mark in the biggest football game in school history. The venue? James R. France Stadium. As if the outcome was ever in doubt?

Seasons have moments. So do programs. And this moment belonged to Manchester - again. Were the Panthers down? Relatively speaking, yes. But remember, there was still a streak at stake. Forty-four consecutive PAC victories. That tradition? It would not let the Panthers let down their faithful supporters. The Royals - their first-ever big game? They didn't play poorly. But they weren't winning on this night. Senior Brody Jackson told The Akron Beacon Journal afterward, "All week long, we knew what we had to do, so when the game started, we were just ready to play."

Jackson recorded an interception in the game, and sophomore Panthers' running back Greg Hooper staked Manchester to an early 6-0 lead. When Justin McCraney (113 yards on 16 carriers) rumbled in from 2-yards out, the Panthers extended the lead to 12-0 late in the first half. CVCA responded with a 30-yard David McMullen field goal for the Royals just before the end of the second quarter, and the home team went to the locker room with a 12-3 edge at the break.

Hooper gained 101 of his 146 yards (on 29 carries) in the second half. Oh, and remember that vaunted Manchester defense? It showed back up again. CVCA was held to just 16 total yards in the second half - and just 81 yards for the entire game. Neither team scored in the second half and the Panthers recorded a much-needed 12-3 victory.

No. Manchester was not losing on this night. CVCA coach Ray Corroscia said, "Manchester won the game up front. They ran Manchester football."

The moment? It ended just like so many others over the years at James R. France Stadium - with Manchester celebrating and asserting their dominance. And for CVCA, sometimes a moment arrives early - or even before you expect it. The Royals didn't win. But they surely arrived.

The Postscript

CVCA won close games against Tusky Vally and Vermillion to round out the regular season and earned its first-ever playoff berth in Division IV Region 13 as the 7-seed, with a 9-1 regular season record. But that early season undefeated run turned out to be against a soft schedule. Only three of the seven regular season opponents finished with winning records, and the Royals bowed out of the playoffs in the first round against 2-seed Waynedale, 42-19, to finish 9-2. Still it was the best season in program history - albeit a very short one.

Manchester used the CVCA victory to turn the season around. They recorded a 14-6 win at home against Fairless and then trounced winless Coventry 42-0 on the road in Week 10 to propel themselves all the way up to the 5-seed in Division IV Region 13, despite the 7-3 regular season finish. Their reward? A road trip to Triway for their first meeting with the Titans since 1990, where the season ended in a 21-14 loss, as the Panthers finished 7-4. Not a normal Manchester season - but conference champions once again.

There is something to be said about that Manchester tradition.

Here's the ABJ story on the game:


View attachment 56507

View attachment 56508
Looking forward to this post for a couple of the Northwest/Orrville battles during the Parks era in Orrville. There was a least 1 shootout there that was just unreal. That and some dandy Northwest/CVCA games!
 
PAC Game of the Year - 2003 | CVCA (7-0, 4-0 PAC) at Manchester (4-3, 3-0 PAC) | Week 8 | October 10, 2003
This is the fifth in an ongoing series, highlighting the PAC Game of the Year in each season, from 1999 through 2023, which will lead up to the start of the 2024 high school football season. For a look back at prior summaries, click here for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002
___________________________________________________________

What is the saying? Tradition Never Graduates.

At a school like Manchester, that's true. The problem? Players do. And as the 2003 season progressed, it was looking like a rare down year in New Franklin as Week 8 dawned. Coming into the 2003 campaign, Manchester brought a gaudy 130-9 regular season record dating back 14 years to the inaugural PAC season in 1989.

But this year was different. The Panthers stumbled through the first seven weeks of the season to a 4-3 record, winning just one of four nonconference matchups. That vaunted Manchester defense? It gave up five touchdowns in a season opening 35-7 loss at Copley. A shutout at home (26-0) against Streetsboro in Week 2 seemed like a return to normal. But two more non-conferences losses - a 7-3 defeat at Smithville in Week 3 and an unheard of 14-7 setback at home against Buckeye in Week 7 - gave the locals cause for concern heading into Week 8.

Still, the Panthers were undefeated in conference. But so was CVCA. A high-stakes Panthers-Royals matchup would be no surprise nowadays. But in 2003? Some longtime Panthers supporters could be forgiven if they had to pause to figure out, "Who are these guys?" Sure, CVCA had a couple of conference championships in something called the East Suburban Conference in the late 90's. But this was a football program that played its first varsity game in 1997. The Royals joined the PAC in 2001, but after a pair of nondescript seasons - 3-7 in '01 and 4-6 in '02. it's safe to say no one outside of the small group on the east side of Wyoga Lake Road envisioned the undefeated 7-0 start in the fall of 2003. But undefeated they were, dispatching their first seven opponents by an average score of 36-7. The offense was clicking and the defense was smothering opponents, holding five of the first seven opponents to single scores or less (one shutout).

The stage was set. The longtime behemoth falling on hard times against the upstart looking to make their mark in the biggest football game in school history. The venue? James R. France Stadium. As if the outcome was ever in doubt?

Seasons have moments. So do programs. And this moment belonged to Manchester - again. Were the Panthers down? Relatively speaking, yes. But remember, there was still a streak at stake. Forty-four consecutive PAC victories. That tradition? It would not let the Panthers let down their faithful supporters. The Royals - their first-ever big game? They didn't play poorly. But they weren't winning on this night. Senior Brody Jackson told The Akron Beacon Journal afterward, "All week long, we knew what we had to do, so when the game started, we were just ready to play."

Jackson recorded an interception in the game, and sophomore Panthers' running back Greg Hooper staked Manchester to an early 6-0 lead. When Justin McCraney (113 yards on 16 carriers) rumbled in from 2-yards out, the Panthers extended the lead to 12-0 late in the first half. CVCA responded with a 30-yard David McMullen field goal for the Royals just before the end of the second quarter, and the home team went to the locker room with a 12-3 edge at the break.

Hooper gained 101 of his 146 yards (on 29 carries) in the second half. Oh, and remember that vaunted Manchester defense? It showed back up again. CVCA was held to just 16 total yards in the second half - and just 81 yards for the entire game. Neither team scored in the second half and the Panthers recorded a much-needed 12-3 victory.

No. Manchester was not losing on this night. CVCA coach Ray Corroscia said, "Manchester won the game up front. They ran Manchester football."

The moment? It ended just like so many others over the years at James R. France Stadium - with Manchester celebrating and asserting their dominance. And for CVCA, sometimes a moment arrives early - or even before you expect it. The Royals didn't win. But they surely arrived.

The Postscript

CVCA won close games against Tusky Vally and Vermillion to round out the regular season and earned its first-ever playoff berth in Division IV Region 13 as the 7-seed, with a 9-1 regular season record. But that early season undefeated run turned out to be against a soft schedule. Only three of the seven regular season opponents finished with winning records, and the Royals bowed out of the playoffs in the first round against 2-seed Waynedale, 42-19, to finish 9-2. Still it was the best season in program history - albeit a very short one.

Manchester used the CVCA victory to turn the season around. They recorded a 14-6 win at home against Fairless and then trounced winless Coventry 42-0 on the road in Week 10 to propel themselves all the way up to the 5-seed in Division IV Region 13, despite the 7-3 regular season finish. Their reward? A road trip to Triway for their first meeting with the Titans since 1990, where the season ended in a 21-14 loss, as the Panthers finished 7-4. Not a normal Manchester season - but conference champions once again.

There is something to be said about that Manchester tradition.

Here's the ABJ story on the game:


View attachment 56507

View attachment 56508
For those new to PACtion2024™ this is a series of "PAC games of the year", not a "Manchester's biggest hits." That said, it's hard to tell the store of the PAC without the Panthers having a LARGE spot.

Two other thoughts 1) Mr Morgan was one of my favorite game story writers over the years. 2) Gold, Solid Gold as always Mr @cuyahogacuse !
 
Looking forward to this post for a couple of the Northwest/Orrville battles during the Parks era in Orrville. There was a least 1 shootout there that was just unreal. That and some dandy Northwest/CVCA games!
'Cuse could do an entire week on the 2018 season alone. CVCA, Northwest, Manchester, Orrville, Tuslaw all had "WHAT!?!?" wins & losses that year. Appropriate that Orrville won state because that season of PACtion2024™ was Spaceballs-esque...

Go Dark Helmet GIF
 
For those new to PACtion2024™ this is a series of "PAC games of the year", not a "Manchester's biggest hits." That said, it's hard to tell the store of the PAC without the Panthers having a LARGE spot.
When you are 130-9 over 14 years, it’s safe to say the PAC ran through New Franklin in those days.

'Cuse could do an entire week on the 2018 season alone. CVCA, Northwest, Manchester, Orrville, Tuslaw all had "WHAT!?!?" wins & losses that year. Appropriate that Orrville won state because that season of PACtion2024™ was Spaceballs-esque...
All the games are picked out. Trust me, I had to think long and hard about 2018. We’ll get there, but it’s going to be a while.
 
All the games are picked out. Trust me, I had to think long and hard about 2018. We’ll get there, but it’s going to be a while.
Kudos to you for making the choices before letting the rest of us chuckleheads know what you were doing so we wouldn't influence you.

Imagine there will be several years with "honorable mention" games.
 
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