Lackawanna Trail’s Defense Handles Minersville Rushing Attack in State Playoff Win…
Tagged under: District 11, District 2, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs
Daniel Reed | November 18, 2023
Senior RB-Lukas Gumble(#20) and Junior RB-Demitrius Douglas(#5) led the way offensively with six touchdowns between the two in 40 to 0 victory over the Battlin’ Miners of Minersville at the Eagles Nest, Blue Mountain HS, improve to 13-0 for the first time in program history.
The tone was set right from the beginning following the kickoff when the Lions defense gang tackled Minersville’s big RB-Luke Stevenosky on the first play for a 4 yard loss. Trail would score on their first drive going 70 yards on just 4 plays capped off with the 57 yard touchdown run by Demitrius Douglas, his first of 2 in the game. The Miners next possession would go a little better as they would drive to the Trail 13 yard line on 11 plays ending in a fumble by QB-Dante Carr to turn the ball over. Before the first quarter would come to an end, Lackawanna Trail would seem to score again with a 73 yard run by Douglas but would be called back for a block in the back spot foul.
Following a 3 and out by Minersville, @LackawannaSD scores with 8:28 left 1st. Q. ! 7 to 0 Lions ! @PaFootballNews @BPtashinski … updates brought to you by @SLUHNSportsMed pic.twitter.com/RK7IgmQYKo
— PFNDan570FB (@PFNDan570FB) November 18, 2023
The Lions would have possession to begin the second quarter of play, and that’s when Lukas Gumble would start pounding the rock, going 40 yards on 4 carries finishing off the drive with a 32 yard touchdown run to put the lions up 13 to 0 following a miss PAT. The drive would go 12 plays, 87 yards. The ensuing Minersville drive would be halted by an interception by the Lions Sophomore CB-Isaac Ryon and just 2 plays later, Lukas Gumble would take off for 75 yards and the score to give Trail a 19 to 0 lead with 3:30 still to go in the half. Another interception by the Lions defense, this time by Douglas, would setup Trail at the 42. Another quick score by the Lions’ Gumble would extend the lead to 26 to 0 with about a minute to go till halftime. Halftime score would eventually be just that.
Another score by the Lions has @LackawannaSD now leading @MinersFB 13 to 0 with 7:20 to go in the half. @PaFootballNews @BPtashinski updates brought to you by @SLUHNSportsMed pic.twitter.com/K6EM3j6Zdq
— PFNDan570FB (@PFNDan570FB) November 18, 2023
Before the first half would end, Minersville’s RB-Stevenosky would go over 4000 yards rushing for his career.
The run that put @StevenoskyLuke over 4000 yards rushing for his career ! Way to go Luke !! @PaFootballNews @MinersFB @MinersvilleA pic.twitter.com/hojOfHZHbH
— PFNDan570FB (@PFNDan570FB) November 18, 2023
It would take long for the Lions to add to their following the second half kickoff when Lukas Gumble would score his fourth touchdown of the game when he would break loose for 56 yards to the end-zone, giving Trail a 33 to 0 lead with 11:04 to go in the quarter. The Trail defense just wouldn’t let up, for the Miners quarterback into 3 incomplete passes in a row and a punt. Minersville’s defense did however force a turnover when Junior OLB-Easton Schultz would intercept the pass with 9:07 to go in the 3rd but once again it was the Trail defense holding the Miners to another three and out.
Demetrius Douglas scores his 4th TD of the game with a 56 yard run. @LackawannaSD now leads @MinersFB 33 to 0 with 11:04 left 3rd. Q. ! @PaFootballNews @BPtashinski updates brought to you by @SLUHNSportsMed pic.twitter.com/fmEwCKMCAT
— PFNDan570FB (@PFNDan570FB) November 18, 2023
With 1:57 left in the third quarter, Lackawanna Trail would put one more into the end-zone when Demitrius Douglas would score his second touchdown of the game, going 39 yards, giving the Lions a 40 to 0 lead and start the mercy clock. Both teams would trade possessions from here on out. Minersville would get the ball one last time before the game would end but would suffer their 4th turnover of the game when Stevenosky would fumble, recovered by the defense to seal the game with just 1:14 remaining.
The victory advances the Lions to the PIAA Class 1A State Quarter-Final against a very good, undefeated and defending state champions Steelton-Highspire Rollers(13-0) next week at a date/time/site TBD. The Rollers defeated Northern Bedford 21 to 6 last night.
In the win, Lackawanna Trail rushed for over 400 yards, led by Lukas Gumble who finished with 246 yards on 11 carries, scored 4 times. Demitrius Douglas finished with 122 yards on 10 carries, scoring twice. Minersville’s Luke Stevenosky, would carry the ball 26 times for a very tough hard fought 104 yards against this quick swarming Lions defense.
After the game I spoke with Minersville head coach Justin Frantz and he stated how good that Lion football is, how they run the Wing-T offense very smooth. Also caught up with Trail head coach Steve Jervis. Watch the video below to hear what he had to say.
Post-Game interview with @LackawannaSD head coach Steve Jervis following the Lions big win over Minersville tonight 40 to 0 ! Follow https://t.co/ss3t8TeL4s for full story early tomorrow morning !@PaFootballNews @BPtashinski @SLUHNSportsMed pic.twitter.com/fjto71oQZO
— PFNDan570FB (@PFNDan570FB) November 18, 2023
Post-Game Interview with both Lukas Gumble and Demitrius Douglas below…
Post-Game interview with @LackawannaSD dynamic duo running-backs @gumble_lukas and @Demitriusdoug5 ! @PaFootballNews @BPtashinski @SLUHNSportsMed pic.twitter.com/AH1g52u1b3
— PFNDan570FB (@PFNDan570FB) November 18, 2023
CLICK TO VIEW THE PIAA CLASS 1A STATE-WIDE BRACKET HERE
FOR ALL OTHER BRACKETS, CLICK THE GRAPHIC HERE>>
Be sure to check back tomorrow for follow-up video highlights and photo gallery from the game
Follow www.pafootballnews.com for all your high school football updates, scores, stories, rankings and more ! You can also follow us on Twitter at @PaFootballNews and on Facebook at Pennsylvania Football News, as well as on YouTube, Instagram. For you local District XI coverage, follow @BPtashinski, @kfeger30, @BoJyeaa as well as myself @PFNDan570FB on Twitter !
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