Lackawanna Conference Playoff breakdown

Tagged under: District 2, News, Playoffs

PFN Staff | November 3, 2022

Tomorrow night 24 teams from district 2 will start on their journey to hopefully be playing in Cumberland Valley 5 weeks from now. Now lets hope into the breakdowns of just Lackawanna on Lackawanna matchups this postseason

Class A Championship 

Lackawanna Trail (6-4) @ Old Forge (7-3)

Last meeting 2022 Old Forge 33, Lackawanna Trail 22

A must-see game down in Pizza town on Friday night. Every time these 2 rivals play for the title, it’s always a game. The past 2 meetings have been decided by 7 points or fewer in the postseason with Trail coming out on top both times. Old Forge has looked very good this season, even with 3 unusual losses for the Devils. Two of those losses come to Western Wayne and Lakeland who are a combined 18-2. The Devils love to score the ball. They have averaged just shy of 32 points a game, led by QB James Sobol who has thrown for 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns. The rushing attack has been just as dominant.  Sobol’s cousin Josh Spindler has rushed for 753 yards and 11 touchdowns. Lackawanna Trail is young, and those underclassmen have grown as the season has gone on. The Lions start 5 freshmen both ways and Coach Jervis Wing-T has given teams problems once again. The Trio of Lukas Gumble, Hunter Patterson, and Max Kimmel have been very good this season those 3 have rushed for 1,295 yards and 15 touchdowns. But as The Big Blue Devil Rick Notari says: “You never pick against the family.”

Prediction Old Forge 35, Lackawanna Trail 20

click to see brackets

Class 2A Semifinal 

Riverside (6-4) @ Dunmore (7-3)

Last meeting 2022 Dunmore 40, Riverside 22

This one should be one of the better games around the district this Friday, and the winner will get another shot at Lakeland. This was a very good game the first time around and both teams have gotten better, Riverside has improved much better defensively while the Bucks have gone away from the pass and have started to run the ball more. Riverside has been playing their best ball as of late and almost knocked off Old Forge losing on a game-winning field goal. The offense has been electric led by Sophomore QB Chase Taddiono who has thrown for a district 2 high 2,077 yards and 22 touchdowns. His favorite receiver Reese Gaughan has been on a tear, he has caught 58 passes for 1,041 yards and 12 touchdowns this season which is all a district 2 high. Dunmore has 3 losses on the year and 2 of them are to teams that are undefeated ( Lakeland and Mount Carmel). The Bucks have been very balanced on offense this season and that’s has been the key to their success. They have averaged 30 points a game led by RB Nico Ruggiero. He has rushed for 910 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Bucks have also been able to throw the ball led by big Thomas Bowen. He has thrown for 933 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Dunmore 32, Riverside 22

Class 3A Semifinal 

Carbondale (3-7) @ Western Wayne (8-2)

Last meeting 2017 Western Wayne 35, Carbondale 0

It’s been a rough year for the Chargers. They had somewhat high expectations to contend for a division and district title. The Chargers have been hit by everything injuries, suspensions you name it. The Chargers have had one thing going for them this season and that’s the running-back duo Johnathon Orta and Vinny Depalma who have combined for 1,647 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Whole season for Western Wayne has been mostly ups until week 9,  where star RB Luke Janiszewski suffered a season-ending knee injury. The loss of Janiszewski hurts, but the Wildcats still have a phenomenal offense line and have weapons on offense. RB Josh Vinton has rushed for 744 yards and 11 touchdowns, and Sophomore star Sean Owens has caught 31 passes for 545 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Prediction Western Wayne 48, Carbondale 0

Class 4A Quarterfinal 

Honesdale (5-5) @ Valley View (8-2)

Last meeting 2022 Valley View 35, Honesdale 17

The Hornets have shocked a lot of people this season and hold wins over both Lackawanna Trail and Wyoming Area. They almost knocked off Dunmore just 2 weeks ago. The Hornets have got stuff done on the defensive side of the ball this season. They have only given up 15 points a game, led by linebacker CJ Hinton and Max Mickel. Mickel recorded 94 tackles this season. Valley View has been playing their best ball of the season, and the offense has been so balanced the past couple of weeks. The Cougars are coming off a division-winning game over Scranton Prep, and the duo of Adam Howanitz and Connor Hilling has been great all season. Hilling has rushed for 1,074 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Howanitz has thrown for 1,028 yards and 12 touchdowns and has also rushed for 6.

Prediction Valley View 37, Honesdale 14

Class 5A Semifinal 

Abington Heights (3-7) @ Scranton (7-3)

Last meeting 2022 Abington Heights 14, Scranton 13

Abington Heights has 3 wins on the season, 2 of them come from teams in this 5A bracket. The Comets are much better than a 3-7 team. They have losses to Wilkes-Barre, Western Wayne, and Valley View which were all 1-score games. The Comets like to throw the ball and have height have the receiving positions which has given teams issues. Ask Delaware Valley. Brown commit and TE Nico Bossi is 6,3, Jack Burke is 6,3 and Mason Fedor is 6,3 those 3 have combined for 94 receptions for 1,444 yards and 12 touchdowns. Scranton won 6 straight games to start the year including wins over Wilkes-Barre and Prep, but then lost 3 of their last four. The Knights like to score the ball and force turnovers, QB Billy Maloney has played great for Knights he has rushed for 780 yards and 6 touchdowns while throwing for 1,126 yards and 15 touchdowns. On defense, the Knights are led by DB Donato Stepney who has 50 tackles and 2 interceptions. The Knights have forced a league-high 24 turnovers.

Prediction Scranton 24, Abington Heights 21

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