Willkommen bei Penn Manor! (Welcome to PM in German)
Visiting German teachers were welcomed to Penn Manor High School in late October. They were surprised at how different our schools are, but were excited to be here.
Initially, the simple desire to see a high school in a different culture brought them here.
Two of the teachers explained that they “always wanted to see an American high school” and that this opportunity was too good to pass them by.
The teachers traveled about 4,000 miles to get from Germany to Pennsylvania. Photo Courtesy of venere.com
One particular individual was Ulrike Schroen. She visited librarian Sue Hostetter in 1976 and they’ve kept in touch ever since.
But regardless of the previous visit, when the rest of the teachers arrived at the building, they noticed a sundry amount of differences.
Where they were from, they explained “about 1,000 students and 50 teachers” attended, which made Penn Manor High School seem very large compared to what they’re used too.
The biggest hit? Our Sanders P. McComsey library. All agreed that it was very impressive.
Surrounded by laptops and computer stations and a large selection of books, they couldn’t believe the size of our library. At their school they said they have few “separate computers” and “a little library.”
Throughout the day, the German teachers were able to observe classrooms and explained their levels. We have honors, college prep, and career prep level courses all in the same building, but in Germany, their level classes are in completely separate buildings.
The German teachers made comments about our library. Photo Courtesy of moodle.pennmanor.netThey questioned the number of students from career prep levels that go on to college here as well.
All of their students who are in career prep are college bound, contrary to those at Penn Manor High School.
In fact, they reported that all of their levels go to college because education is crucial in their culture.
Surprisingly the teachers were well equipped in their English speaking skills. They explained that “all (students) are required to learn English from third grade on.”
The teachers agreed the trip was worthwhile and the experience was one they will always remember.
“This is like a second home to us already,” said one.
They left Penn Manor humoring all who asked about their new cultural experience: “Your toilets are so nice-so clean.”
In the summer of 2008, a 14-year-old and his parents sat down with Penn Manor football head coach, Todd Mealy, in their home in Mountville, Pa. The point of this meeting: to get permission from the eighth grader’s parents to play varsity level football as a freshman in the upcoming year.
The 14 year-old: Adam Sahd.
Fast-forward a year, the kid turned out to be one of the youngest kids to play varsity ball in the school’s history, just as Mealy planned.
But Sahd soon learned that all the hype in the world, all the encouragement and expectations, can take a player only so far.
The pressure of the Friday night lights can get to even the most talented players. In this case, a player who has won awards at national camps and combines, which Sahd has. When he finally had a chance to shine under those lights, he got a knock on the head – actually a few knocks, hard too, and to most parts of his body.
It was difficult to understand why these lights, in particular, were a little less charitable. They made Sahd work a little bit harder to earn his own shadow.
Through the first four weeks of Sahd’s youthful competitive football career this year, he threw ten interceptions while only throwing three touchdowns. His QB rating through week 4 was a low, 81.1. Those weeks were a bit… sour.
Sahd tried to put these numbers into words and just spat out, “I’m not doing well.”
But as Sahd gained more experience and got used to the flow of varsity high school football, he matured and got a front row seat to watch his numbers climb and his team’s win column start to fill. As Terrell Owens once said, “get your popcorn ready.”
Rewind the tape back again – Sahd started playing the game of football when he was about 8 years old. Brought up on football by his father, Sahd has now played the last eight years and has taken part in nationally-observed camps and combines. By doing that has landed himself the title of one of the most promising quarterbacks of his generation.
One New Jersey camp showcased the top 100 players of any position in the East Coast called the Ultimate 100 (also called U100). Sahd, then an eighth grader, showed off his attributes including vertical jump, broad jump, 40-yard dash, shuttle run and weight-lifting skills.
The sophomore varsity quarterback showing off his stuff. Photo by Alex Geli
“It was cool (and) confidence-boosting,” Sahd said about being selected as one of the top QB’s in the East Coast at that camp.
“(There were) a lot of kids to compete with,” he added.
In late April 2010, Sahd went to – which he would call his favorite camp – the NUC (National Underclassmen Combine) located in Pittsburgh, PA.
Sahd took on similar tests that were just like the U100 and any other combine for that matter. There, Sahd was in the spotlight for sure, winning the quarterback MVP award and also receiving the Overall Camp Leadership Award.
The DeBartolo Sports University had a skills showcase in Philadelphia a year ago that Sahd attended as well. Sahd, again, was on center stage, but this time he had to share the limelight with another quarterback from his home state – such a shame, right? Patrick Moriarty, from Gladwyne, PA, and Sahd shared the honor of being named the Youth Quarterback Combine’s co-MVPs.
Sahd had already gotten a glimpse as a middle schooler of how intimidating high school football could be when he tagged along to team workouts with his older brother, Austin.
There he sat, an eighth grader, with two MVPs in National combines, wearing the label of one of the top quarterback prospects in the U.S. on his back like a “kick me” sign, his confidence was most likely at an all-time high.
All-time high? Not so fast.
Then, just 14 years young, the freshman Sahd, earned a spot on Penn Manor’s surging football club as a backup to senior, P.J. Rehm. Rehm led the team to their winningest season and its first ever playoff win in ’08. Although Rehm’s style was concentrated on the run while Sahd is into passing, the experience at second string turned out to be a stroke of good luck.
Given the chance to be behind an experienced and successful Penn Manor quarterback, made sitting on the bench a good thing. Sitting there was a time of learning and getting a feel for the fast-paced varsity football action.
But Sahd did not let his eagerness to play get the best of him. He didn’t mope, he learned. So when it was Sahd’s turn to step up, he had a better idea what to do than most rookie quarterbacks.
And before Sahd knew it, it was his turn, and his gold helmet seemed to get a little bit tighter. The pressure was on against Cedar Crest.
The Comets needed the win to get home-field advantage for their first playoff game, and Rehm picked a great time to link heads with a defensive player and get taken out of the game.
It was Sahd’s first big chance.
“I was nervous,” Sahd said, “(but) I felt confident going in.”
Sahd was dealt a score of 21-15 in favor of Cedar Crest, and let’s just say that the flop didn’t help him out at all- the Comets sunk to a two-touchdown deficit, 35-22, at the end of the third quarter.
Yeah, way to give your freshman quarterback some leeway in his first ever varsity football game.
But the hole was one Sahd was willing to dig his team out of.
A 26-yard pass play and a crucial conversion on fourth down and ten by Sahd helped the Comets pull out a comeback win and made him the team’s offensive player of the week. The final score was 36-35 with the “W” going to Penn Manor.
Sahd was the role model that day when he took the place of the man he’d been eagerly watching the whole season. He showed that he’d worked hard and transformed himself into a fine looking quarterback.
Not only was he lucky to have Rehm to look up to but he was even luckier when he had his own brother as a teammate that same year. Austin Sahd was a senior in 2009. Austin, Adam said, was his “main motivator” and was happy for him that he got some snaps in a varsity game – not to mention winning it from 13 points down.
“I owe a lot to him,” said the younger Sahd.
A year later with his big brother away at college, someone else had to fill his cleats as main motivator. If Sahd had to pick someone, whether a teammate, coach or family member, he would choose his “wide outs,” Demetrius Dixon and the Comets’ leading pass catcher, Daulton Parmer.
“Keep your head, keep your focus, forget and move on,” are some things Dixon says to Sahd on a regular basis when times for the sophomore quarterback get rough.
“A lot of pressure’s on him,” said Dixon, who also tells the young Sahd not to be afraid to make mistakes.
Demetrius Dixon and QB coach Scott Lackey look over routes to try and make Sahd's job a little easier. Photo by Harlie Madonna
Mistakes?
Well, Sahd’s first game starting at the quarterback position was filled with them; although winning 21-13, he threw four interceptions to Solanco’s defense.
“My performance was alright but could have been a lot better,” Sahd said. “(I was) happy we got the W.”
In week two against Lampeter-Strasburg, Sahd had only two picks and completed 9-26 passes for 202 yards. Notably, one of those nine completions was an 81-yard touchdown pass to Teon Lee. But the Comets, in the end, turned the ball over four times and got wiped out 44-7.
After that second week, the surprisingly struggling Sahd already had six interceptions and only one TD with an 82.4 QB rating.
The Comets fell to 1-2 in week three and Sahd had a turn-a-round game throwing two touchdowns and he limited his mistakes to only one interception.
Bob Forgrave, ex-Penn Manor coach and now the Hempfield head coach, must have had a smile on his face in week four when he saw his offense finally score their first points of the season – 27 to be exact – and presented a 17-point loss to Penn Manor boxed up with a big red ribbon on top, saying, “remember me?” Three interceptions from Sahd definitely helped Hempfield’s mediocre offense rack up the points.
By the end of those four weeks, Sahd averaged two-and-a-half interceptions (10 total) and less than one touchdown (3 total) per game.
“Nobody’s happy with the way he’s played, including himself,” said Penn Manor’s quarterback coach, Scott Lackey, about Sahd’s play. “He’s his worst critic.”
Head coach Mealy was surely taken back by the start of the 2010 season, saying that he was “optimistic that the ball would bounce our way,” referring to the chance of the season going either way with “literally half (the) team who (has) never experienced varsity football before,” he said.
“This year (has been) frustrating because we were really heading into the right direction,” he also said – the right direction being two-straight winning seasons since 2008 with success in the post season.
“The team, overall, (has been) alright (but there has been) a lot of downfalls,” said Sahd. Sahd’s focus, though, was to “finish strong (and) try and get these last wins.”
With the hope of bouncing back fading, the Comets plodded into week five.
And then suddenly a 21-0 shutout victory. That would be bouncing back, alright. The defense showed off their stuff while Sahd didn’t make any mistakes and had a touchdown pass. Thanks to his passing performance and superb punting performance, Sahd led Penn Manor past Ephrata with ease.
Week six wasn’t so easy – physically or emotionally.
After the only interception of the day from Sahd, the McCaskey Red Tornadoes went down the field and scored to tie the game late in the fourth quarter. The McCaskey offense was left with 11 seconds to go to try and make a last ditch effort to pull out a win before overtime. Red Tornado quarterback, Huylo heaved it up to his favorite target, Diante Cherry, who fought off a Penn Manor defender and somehow came out with the ball inside the end zone ending the game 20-14, Red Tornadoes.
“It felt like I got kicked in the stomach,” Lackey said, highlighting the game-ending catch with time expired. “(Our) defense played outstanding (but our) offense can’t score.”
While the whole team and all the fans felt gut-wrenched by the surprise loss, Sahd already had a reason to be upset.
“I was just (upset) that I didn’t have a good game,” said Sahd about his 4-10 day with 80 yards including one touchdown and interception.
Sahd's number 12 on the walls of Penn Manor High School is a glimpse of the expectations and pressure Sahd is under, yet shows the support that the Comets have for their young quarterback. Photo credit: Cassey Graeff
After week seven, though, Sahd had a reason – or 38 reasons for that matter – to turn that frown upside down.
With help from senior running back and linebacker, Garret Young, who ran for 166 yards, Sahd led the Comets to a 38-20 victory over Manheim Township.
“(He) helped us out a lot,” said Sahd, relating to Young’s big game running the ball.
The Blue Streaks were reminded that there is such a thing as losing as the tables turned for Penn Manor – no turnovers for Sahd and the Comets, four turnovers for Township – as the Streaks’ four-game winning streak came to a screeching halt.
Offensive leader, Sahd, puppeteered the Streak’s struggling defense and ran for three touchdowns and passed for one. His biggest play was a 44-yard dash that put up six points awaiting kicker Brian Sloss’ extra point. The only other scores were a Young 57-yard run and a field goal by Sloss adding up to 38 points – a large number which the Comets’ offense wasn’t very familiar with.
Why the turn around? Well, something was different from the get-go, before the Comets even strapped on their cleats.
“We believed in ourselves,” Sahd said. And after the game, Sahd had a reason to believe that this was a start to the turn around Sahd had been hoping for.
“(I) felt more confidence in myself and teammates,” he said.
That game proved to be the one of the most productive for Sahd and the Comets, with 315 total yards. Sahd alone went 6-11 for 63 yards and four total touchdowns.
Penn Manor continued to climb and finally reached the peak where they found themselves .500 again in week eight against Warwick.
Sahd only completed three passes in that game, but one was a 50-yard completion to Dixon that concluded with six points, then seven after the PAT, thanks to a couple broken tackles by #80. Sahd had another score on an eight-yard run into the end zone, putting the Comets up 16-0 with time winding down in the fourth quarter. The score was unaltered in the remaining 1:31 and the Comets defense left the Wildcats with a doughnut hole at Warwick’s home, Grosh Field.
Yeah, so much for the other team’s home-field advantage.
Sahd was slowly getting into the groove of things by week eight and reaching into his basket full of talent to get some wins for the Comets – too bad those first few games didn’t disappear statistically.
“I was getting really frustrated,” said Sahd. “We started out really bad.”
Sahd was all smiles after his "W" against Warwick. Photo Credit: Cassey Graeff
Sahd only threw two interceptions through weeks 4-8, while adding four more passing touchdowns to his total of seven for the year. He also increased his quarterback rating by a solid 15.8 points to 96.9, and has done his best impression of former Penn Manor quarterback Rehm by scampering for a load of yards and touchdowns.
To the sophomore quarterback and his quarterback coach though, stats are the least of their worries.
“Your performance is based on wins and losses,” said Lackey. “Stats are nice to have, but it’s all about winning games.”
“(Winning games is) all I care about,” said Sahd, also knocking on wood and adding, “(and being) injury-free.”
Although Sahd looked like he was getting back on track, there was, and always will be in most cases, room for improvement.
QB Coach, Lackey, meets with Sahd most homerooms to watch film, etc. Photo by Alex Geli
Lackey met with Sahd during most homerooms throughout the season to go over “reads and look at film,” he said. Lackey’s ongoing plan is to sharpen the sophomore’s play “every day, whether it’s Saturday, Sunday or a game,” he said.
“I study film a lot more and let the coaches do their job,” said Sahd, explaining how he continues to work at improving his play.
Yet the Comets couldn’t prepare enough for what they faced in week nine – the Wilson Bulldogs, who came into the game undefeated and also came out of the game undefeated. Don’t worry though, they gave Penn Manor a zero of their own, beating them 44-0.
In that game, Sahd didn’t have much of a chance against Wilson’s league-leading defense as the Comets offense only squeaked by 52 yards – 29 of them being by Sahd’s passing. The main focus was that Sahd didn’t let the Comets help beat themselves by not throwing any interceptions.
And then there was one – a much needed one game left.
It was crunch time for the Comets as they faced Cedar Crest in the tenth and final week of the 2010 regular season. The young studs of the Comets led their team to a 56-21 home victory. Sahd had finally earned his shadow from those Friday night lights, but he had to share with fellow sophomore, Parmer. Sahd and Parmer combined for more than 400 total yards and 5 touchdowns.
The wide-out excelled on the special teams side of the ball while Sahd excelled in leading the offense.
Parmer had a 70-yard kickoff return and then another 85-yard return for a touchdown. Sahd went 10-12 for 189 yards with two passing touchdowns and a 23-yard rushing touchdown. One of Sahd’s passing touchdowns was a 73-yard bomb to his more experienced wide receiver, Dixon.
And just like that, coach Mealy’s question was answered.
“What can you do when literally half your team never experienced varsity football before?”
Well, your sophomore quarterback could give you a scare in the beginning, but eventually catch fire and clinch a playoff berth for your club.
“I hoped we would get back on the right track,” said Sahd relating to the Comets’ turnover-filled, 1-3 start.
“And that’s what we did,” Sahd said, as the season sure took a turn for the better. The Comets ended their run at 5-5 with a spot in the District Three Class AAAA playoffs.
The Comets’ young quarterback may have started out sour in 2010, but with the help of his team, he finished off the season pretty sweet.
Sahd ended his first season with a completion rate of 46 percent, 8 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 1111 passing yards and a 106.2 quarterback rating. Although Sahd had a rough start throwing 12 interceptions in his first six weeks, he finished out the regular season with no interceptions and three touchdowns. He also added rushing to his repertoire, helping the Comets win four of their final six games.
“You’re talking about a 15-year-old kid who’s playing the most important role on the team,” Mealy said, noting that “he touches the ball on every play.”
“Next to me, nobody is going to get the most criticism.”
They may be called laptops, but a lap is probably not the best place for them.
A new health risk has surfaced involving the use of laptops on bare skin and it is called “toasted skin syndrome.”
Toasted skin syndrome is “an unusual-looking mottled skin condition caused by long-term heat exposure”, according to medical reports. The disease was noticed in people that work in front of open fires or coal stoves.
But now laptop users who use laptops as they were intended – on their laps – are susceptible to the same disease.
The left leg of this patient was "toasted" by their laptop resting on their lap. Photo courtesy of impactlab.net
Researchers, Andreas W. Arnold and Peter H. Itin, from the University Hospital Basel, in Switzerland wrote in the November 5 issue of PediatricsJournal that the temperature of 111.2 degrees Fahrenheit is enough to cause toasted skin syndrome.
“Computer-induced lesions are typically found on only one leg because the optical drives of laptops are located on the left side,” said the researchers.
Photo courtesy of quadcooler.com
So far, there have only been 10 reported cases of the condition, officially called erythema ab igne.
The youngest case was documented in a 12-year-old boy who kept his laptop on his lap for as many as six to eight hours a day while playing computer games. The boy “recognized that the laptop got hot on the left side, however, he did not change its position,” Arnold and Itin reported.
With the increased use of laptops in Penn Manor classrooms, toasted leg syndrome might be “catching on” here. However most students use their laptops on a desk and are not concerned.
“I’m not worried about it,” said senior Erika Roop.
Sophia Wu-Shanley, also a senior, isn’t worried about toasted skin syndrome either.
“Laptops don’t heat up fast. It shouldn’t be shocking if it burns you,” said Wu-Shanley.
“Generally I have it on a lap desk,” said Helen Hutchins, a senior. “I’m careful.”
“Use your common sense. If it’s hot, take it off your lap,” said senior Amy Wagner.
Arnold and Itin are predicting an increase of this diagnosis in the near future.
Nick Joniec wakes up and goes to school everyday, like any other 15-year-old.
But when school is over for the day, all similarities disappear.
Yes, he’s only a freshman, but Joniec works at a business. HIS own business, to be exact, which is a computer and tech help service. He pulls down a salary that would make many other students quite envious.
Nick Joniec works on the computer. Photo by Jordan Sangrey
“I like to help people and I like computers,” said Joniec as if it is totally normal for a high school kid to make house calls and hand out his own business card.
Besides earning a living, Joniec said starting and running his own business has taught him to multitask and to balance his time efficiently.
“In the long run I want to be in the field of Information Technology,” he said.
According to one national website, the average age of an entrepreneur is 37. It looks as though Joniec has quite the head start.
“It’s [technology] constantly changing and I love to keep up with it,” Joniec said.
But the business, like most, is not without its problems.
“One time I had a new network deployment and the previous server’s database had lost some of the users. That was a mess to straighten out.”
Joniec encourages other students to follow his lead.
“Pick something that you like and work your way up,” he said.
Fines keep stacking up, as the Pittsburgh Steelers set a penalty yards record during Sunday’s football game against the Oakland Raiders. Fourteen flags were thrown against the Steelers, totaling 163 penalty yards.
Fans may be starting to look at the Steelers differently. They have committed personal fouls in each of their last six games.
Fines for helmet to helmet hits are becoming more frequent in the NFL today. Like any other controversy, the issue has two sides. And the side that’s safer usually wins.
James Harrison and Lamar Woodley, two dominant Pittsburgh linebackers, were fined $80,000 and $12,500 this season. Even with these fines, the Steelers defense says they will not stop with these hits. It has been the Steelers’ physicality that allowed them to have the best statistical defense over the last four years.
“If you start letting penalties affect the way we play, we’re not going to be the aggressive team that we’ve always been,” Woodley said in an interview with The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Pittsburgh starting free safety Ryan Clark also voiced his opinion with The San Diego Union-Tribune.
“We know what’s going on around the league now. We have to do our best to play legally, but also to play to the best of our ability,” Clark said. “We’re an aggressive defense, though. We just have to keep playing.”
The Steelers’ defensive players accept the fact that they are getting fined for these hits, but can’t let penalties and fines interfere with their aggressiveness. Pittsburgh’s defense has made a name for themselves, and can’t let up now.
The league sent out an 11 page guide earlier this November to all the NFL players. This guide includes drawings of both the correct and incorrect way of hitting people. It also indicates different rule changes to make the players more aware of what they need to do.
The referees are feeling a lot of pressure with the new rule changes. In such a fast game, they have to judge if the hard hit should be a penalty or not.
Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the NFL, looks closely to the hits. His job is to make the game safer, but also can’t lower the intensity of the game.
“The referees have to be on edge. They’re at the point now where it’s throw the flag first, and figure it out later,” Goodell said. “If we feel like we’re making clean plays, we just have to keep playing that way.”
The Steelers are not the only team with these problems. Other teams around the league are facing the same controversial issue. The problem has risen quickly and abruptly, and the league has been searching for a quick answer to the problem.
Controversy with the Steelers and the NFL continued when Oakland defensive end Richard Seymour intentionally hit Steelers quarterback Ben Rothelisberger last Sunday.
Seymour was ejected from the game, but only with a $25,000 fine. Many people around the league argued that Seymour, who punched Roethlisberger intentionally, should not have been fined less than Harrison, who unintentionally hit a player illegally.
The question is, how does the league dictate the amount of money fined for a player’s action? And there is no easy solution.
Everyone is getting ready for Black Friday, especially the Apple Store.
Their big one-day-only holiday event will not only consist of falling prices on their products, but will also leave jaws dropping to the floor. Whether you’re looking for iPods, an iMac, iPhones, or even an iPad, you will sure find a deal on Friday.
Many Penn Manor students have their eye on all kinds of products available at the Apple Store and hope to either get what’s on their wish list for Christmas. They will be roaming the store in just a few short hours due to this big sale.
“I think that they’ll have all their products on sale with decent prices,” said Penn Manor senior Josh Carle.
“I want an iPod car adaptor for Christmas,” said Laura Revelt.
Both Veronica Willig and Zach Campbell, seniors at Penn Manor, say they want the new iPhone for for Christmas.
“It will be a more reasonable price on Black Friday, and I think my parents would absolutely love to buy me one for Christmas,” jokes Willig.
Not only will the students at Penn Manor be checking out the Apple Store, but their parents as well.
Sophomore Linda Marie Olsen explained that her parents will probably be purchasing an Apple product for the holidays.
“I need a new phone and I want the iPhone, but they’ll probably give my older brother the iPhone or laptop, not me,” said Olsen.
Brandon Schuman will be Black Friday shopping at the Apple Store.
“I’ll check out the Apple Store, they’ll have all sorts of stuff on sale. I’m going to get the Macbook Air for myself,” said Schuman.
Even though many people have these products on their wish lists, some tend to run the other direction when it comes to Black Friday shopping.
“I won’t be going shopping,” says teacher Gordon Eck, “but I hope to eventually get an iPad. I already have an iPod though.”
Get your family tangled in this exciting new Disney movie. Tangled is an other comical Disney movie based off of the classic story of Rapunzel.
In this twist, Mandy Moore voices an emotional Rapunzel who ends up trapped in a tower by her conniving stepmother. Along comes Flynn Rider, voiced by Zachary Levi, a charming young man who wants to save the princess from the tower, but gets held hostage by Rapunzel.
The movie Tangled is coming out this holiday season
Their adventure begins when the princess escapes the tower using her hair. They battle the bad guys with their trusty animal side kicks. Rapunzel is full of boundless energy and is guilt-wielded from leaving the tower. But she must do this to be with the one she loves.
If you are a Disney fan, this a must-see for your family. With the beautiful art work and the extensive animation, this is another Disney success.
Many critics voted this movie three stars out of four. The theatrical grounded songs in Tangled are similar to the music in the heartwarming movie Beauty and the Beast.
The movie untangles its self to theaters November 23, 2010.
The movie will be shown at both the Regal Manor 16 and the new Penn Cinema.
As people are stuffing their turkey and greeting their family, mother nature is cooking up something a little different for our holiday weekend. Yes, we’re talking snow.
Experts from accuweather.com predict Thanksgiving day will only reach a high of 43 degrees and rain with possible sleet mixing in.
Thanksgiving Night will become windier in the evening, with a high of 47 but will feel like 39 degrees.
A period of rain and sleet and even possibly snow will be making it’s trip around parts of Pennsylvanian and New York state during Thanksgiving. A plunge in the temperature could lead to a freeze up of untreated wet areas over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Cites that could be affected by this wintry mix would include Altoona, State College, Williamsport, Bradford, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in Pennsylvania and Elmira, Binghamton, Syracuse, Ithaca, Utica, and Albany in New York.
Many people are speculating about the weather during this extended weekend. It may be better to spend the day inside fighting over the wishing bone rather than who has to be the one spreading salt over the driveway.
With Thanksgiving a day away it’s time to spotlight the best football games to watch with your Thanksgiving meal or when you’re piling on the leftovers.
Patriots at Lions 12:30 P.M.
Leading off in the holiday games is the Lions and Patriots matchup at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. The Patriots are tied for the best record in theNFL, 8-2, while the slumping Lions are a measly 2-8. This game has the potential to be a down-to-the-wire game, but most likely will leave football fans waiting for the 4:15 game. We give this game a rating of 2 out of 5 stars.
Football is one of America's most popular sports.
Saints at Cowboys 4:15 P.M.
With a new quarterback and head coach, the 3-7 Cowboys are on a roll. Rolling in on a two game winning streak, and at home the Cowboys will make this a better game than it is suppose to be. Jon Kitna will manage the game nicely, and this will be the premier game of the weak Thanksgiving day NFL games slate. We give this game a 4 out of 5 stars.
Bengals at Jets 8:20 P.M.
After two back to back comeback victories the Jets look to take on the slowing sinking Bengals.The two star wideouts Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco are looking to turn their season around. The Jets, one of the better teams in the NFL at 8-2, will be heavy favorites over the 2-8 Bengals. Yet, the Bengals will make a game of it. We give this game a 3 out of 5 stars.
What if the NFL isn’t for you? Is basketball your game? You’re in luck, there are plenty of those as well.
NBA games
The first of two games on Thanksgiving Day, the Atlanta Hawks will battle the Washington Wizards. The Hawks, the lesser of the Eastern Conference powerhouse teams, will try to stop John Wall, the NBA rookie who’s performing like an all-star. Both teams are trying to get on a roll, with Atlanta at 8-7, while Washington is 5-8. We give this game a rating of 2 out of 5 stars.
The NBA will post some popular matchups during the Thanksgiving holiday.
L.A. Clippers at the Sacramento Kings
The final NBA game will be between Blake Griffin and the L.A. Clippers, and the Sacramento Kings. Both teams are bottom of the barrel so far, but will try to show some bright light and get a W. The Clippers, last in the Western Conference, are much better than their record at 2-13. Sacramento is doing a tad better with a 4-9 record. Blake Griffin will surely show his muscles and put up huge numbers. Despite both teams starting rather poorly, this game will be better than advertised. We give this game a 3 out of 5 stars.
So kick back and watch some sports while you try to digest all that Thanksgiving Day food.
By Taylor Groff, Cody Straub, Jake Shiner and Jessen Smith
A turkey for me and a turkey for you, students at Penn Manor are very thankful too.
Thanksgiving, the holiday to give thanks.
With Thanksgiving break arriving, students and faculty are eager to start their thanksgiving break. However, they are still very thankful for many different things.
“I am thankful for food,” said Jeremy Vital.
“I am thankful for almost being done with my high school career,” said Laura Revelt.
The senior lunch table ready for the thanksgiving break. Photo by Kyle Hallett
“I am thankful for my health,” said Ally Emmert.
“I am thankful for my freedom,” said Jen Rote.
“I am thankful for zebras,” said Chad Bomberger.
“I am thankful for not being grounded anymore,” said Brant Phillip Roth.
“I am thankful for having a house over my head,” said Matt Gross.
“I am thankful for pilgrims,” said Brock Kauffman.
“I am thankful for friends,” said Ryan Wissler.
“I am thankful for a nice home,” said Cassey Graeff.
“I am thankful for my dog,” said Erica Coakley.
“I am thankful for turkey,” said Jennifer Felegi.
“I am thankful for my home and bed,” said Janelle Witmer.
“I am thankful for my friends, family and food,” said Maddy Hess.
Brian Frantz smiles, thanking for the support of all the brave men and women in the armed forces. Photo by Kyle Hallett
“I am thankful for life and being able to have food 0n the table for Thanksgiving,” said Spencer Barnett.
“I am thankful to have two classes with Mr. Himes and my pals,” said Zach Rayha.
“I am thankful for my friends and family,” said Ryan Dicamillo.
“I am thankful for people like my son who volunteer and fight for our country, said Brian Frantz.
“I am thankful for coming here (school) everyday and educating the youth of tomorrow,” said Steve Hess.
“I am thankful for the soldiers that keep us safe,” said Austin Fink.
“I am thankful for my life and family,” said Clark Habecker.
“I am thankful for my family, three sons and a wonderful job enabling me to see all the smiles on the students faces,” said Pamela Yarnell.
“I am thankful for my wife and kids,” said Douglas Eby.
“I am thankful for my family and Joe Paterno returning to coach,” said Jason Hottenstein.
” I am thankful for my fantastic family and working with such wonderful people,” said Eric Howe.
Along with the annual turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes, students and faculty at Penn Manor high school are very appreciative of their lives.
