Kotsko’s View: Fire Me Up For A New Season-Week One in the Wyoming Valley Conference!

Tagged under: District 2, Gameday Hub, News

John Kotsko | August 26, 2022

I’m back for another season of High School Football and I’m fired up to talk about the upcoming games and hit the sidelines this season! Opening night always is an exciting time for the players. These players have been waiting eight to nine months to hit the gridiron. It’s crazy to think how fast the football season flies though. With all of that being said, here are this week’s matchups for Week 1 (or Week 0 as what it technically is).

Nanticoke at Carbondale

Fri 7 PM

Nanticoke is coming off winning an Eastern Conference Championship last season and finished 5-6. Carbondale made the District 2 3A Playoffs last season and lost to Wyoming Area in the quarterfinals. Both teams return their top RB this season and both were surprises. Chargers senior RB Vincent DePalma rushed for 1,379 yards and 14 touchdowns. Trojans RB Zach Fox rushed for 1,233 yards and 13 touchdowns. Carbondale surprised many a year ago after taking off the entire 2020 season off due to COVID-19. The Trojans are looking to build on their 2021 second half success and Eastern Conference Title as they have moved up to 4A.

Prediction: Carbondale 21 Nanticoke 14

Holy Cross at Hanover Area

Fri 7 PM

Holy Cross and Hanover Area did not qualify for the playoffs in 2021. The Crusaders’ Logan Tierney rushed for 1,395 yards and nine total touchdowns. Hawkeyes QB Christian Torres threw for 713 yards and six touchdowns last season. Both teams are looking to start their season with a victory but who will prevail in this matchup?

Prediction: Holy Cross 28 Hanover Area 21

Abington Heights at Dallas

Fri 7 PM

Abington Heights did not make the postseason in 2021. Dallas lost to North Pocono in the District 2 4A Semifinals. Comets RB Caleb Marzolino rushed for 548 yards and six touchdowns. Mountaineers junior receiver Zach Paczewski had 31 catches for 521 yards and four touchdowns. On defense, he recorded five interceptions and returned one for a touchdown. Dallas is looking to get into the District Championship game after missing out last season. Abington Heights is looking to get back into the District 2 5A Playoffs this season.

Prediction: Dallas 28 Abington Heights 7

Wilkes-Barre Area at Scranton

Fri 7 PM

Wilkes-Barre Area lost to Hazleton Area in the District 2 6A Semifinals. Scranton lost to Delaware Valley in the District 2 6A Semifinals. Wolf Pack junior RB Mekhi Nelson rushed for 553 yards and eight touchdowns. The Knights’ Donato Stepney had 15 catches for 248 yards last season. Wilkes-Barre Area returns a good majority of their offense. The Knights were hit hard by graduation and are hoping to get into the District 2 5A Playoffs.

Prediction: Wilkes-Barre Area 35 Scranton 14

Valley View at Crestwood

Fri 7 PM

This is a rematch of last season’s District 2 4A Quarterfinals which Valley View. The Cougars won the District 2 4A Championship but would fall to Bishop Shanahan in the PIAA State 4A Quarterfinals. Comets senior RB Noah Schultz rushed 1,062 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Cougars senior RB Connor Hilling rushed for 1,537 yards and 24 touchdowns last year. The Comets are coming off a rough season but return several starters. The Cougars are looking to win another District title and get back into the state playoffs.

Prediction: Valley View 35 Crestwood 7

Tunkhannock at Wyoming Area

Fri 7 PM

Tunkhannock did qualify for the playoffs last season. Wyoming Area lost to Scranton Prep in the District 2 3A Championship game. Tigers QB Ben Chilson threw for 1,064 yards and eight touchdowns last season.  Warriors Jr RB Aaron Crossley rushed for 539 yards and six touchdowns. Wyoming Area only returns three starters this season but will the new starters step up or will Tunkhannock take advantage?

Prediction: Tunkhannock 21 Wyoming Area 18

Williamsport at State College

Fri 7 PM

This is a rematch of last season’s 6A District 4/6 Subregional Final which State College won 17-14. State College reached the PIAA 6A Semifinals where they lost to Mt Lebanon. Millionaires wideout Jamaire Harden recorded 33 catches for 678 yards and six touchdowns. Lions Junior QB Owen Yerka threw for 537 yards and four touchdowns. He also added 571 yards and four touchdowns. This matchup could be an interesting one as Williamsport comes in with a new coaching staff and State College is coming off a season where they advance to the State Semifinals.

Prediction: State College 35 Williamsport 14

Valley West at North Pocono

Fri 7 PM

Valley West did not qualify for the playoffs in 2021. North Pocono lost to Valley View in the District 2 4A Championship game. Spartans junior RB Isaiah Cobb rushed for 1,363 yards and 18 touchdowns last season as a sophomore. Trojans RB Michael Blaine had 990 yards on the ground last season and recorded eight touchdowns. North Pocono is looking to get back into the District title game. Valley West is looking to get back into the playoffs. Who will prevail in this District 2 matchup?

Prediction: North Pocono 28 Valley West 14

Hazleton Area at Pittston Area

Fri 7 PM

Hazleton Area lost to Delaware Valley in the District 2 6A Championship game. Pittston Area lost to Dallas in the District 2 4A Quarterfinals. Patriots junior QB Drew Delucca threw for 988 yards and four touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown. Cougars senior QB Tyler Wolfe threw for 2,133 yards and 23 touchdowns. Hazleton Area are in a subregional with District 11 and it is looking like they cannot afford to have many slip-ups. The Patriots return with several players in the skill positions but who will prevail in this big matchup? Time will tell.

Prediction: Hazleton Area 35 Pittston Area 14

Southern Columbia at Berwick

Fri 7 PM

Southern Columbia is coming off winning the PIAA 2A State Championship. Berwick advance to the District 2 4A Semifinals where they lost to Valley View. Tigers senior RB and Maryland commit Braeden Wisloski had 944 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Bulldogs wideout and linebacker Spencer Kishbaugh recorded 19 catches for 244 yards and four touchdowns last season. He also recorded two interceptions and returned one for a score. Two of the biggest traditional powers match up against each other but it feels as though Southern Columbia is the favorite. 

Prediction: Southern Columbia 42 Berwick 14

Lake-Lehman at Western Wayne

Fri 7 PM

Lake-Lehman lost to Lakeland in the District 2 3A Quarterfinals. Western Wayne qualified for the District 2 3A Playoffs but lost to Mid Valley in the Quarterfinals. Black Knights RB Javon Borger rushed for 226 yards and two touchdowns. Wildcats senior RB Luke Janiszewski rushed for 880 yards and nine touchdowns. With only four teams making the playoffs in 3A, a win here could possibly be very important.

Prediction: Lake-Lehman 28 Western Wayne 21

Susquehanna at Holy Redeemer (at King’s College)

Sat 7 PM

Susquehanna qualified for the District 2 2A Playoffs last season and lost to Dunmore in the semifinals. Holy Redeemer did not make the playoffs last season. The Sabers lost a good amount of players to graduation. They return junior QB Colton Stone who threw for 937 yards and nine touchdowns. The Royals are coming back with the WVC’s top passer in senior QB Jacob Hunter. Hunter threw for 1,910 yards and 19 touchdowns. Both teams are looking to start off their season 1-0 as both of these teams will be battling for a District 2 2A Playoff berth late in the season.

Prediction: Holy Redeemer 28 Susquehnna 14

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