PIAA Class 1A State Playoff Preview: Round-1 Minersville vs Lackawanna Trail

Tagged under: District 11, District 2, News, Playoffs

Daniel Reed | November 14, 2023

Minersville Battlin’ Miners(10-2)-Head Coach: Justin Frantz

ABOUT THE MINERS:

Minersville comes into the game winners of 3 straight while claiming their first District XI Class 1A title since 2003 last week by defeating Marian Catholic 28 to 12 at Blue Mountain’s Eagles Nest. The Miners return to the Eagles Nest this week to take on District 2 Champions Lackawanna Trail in the first round of the PIAA STATE PLAYOFFS.

Offensively, Senior RB-Luke Stevenosky leads the way for Minersville with 2358 yards rushing, scoring 33 touchdowns in the process. Guiding the offense is Sophomore QB-Dante Carr, who has thrown for over 1100 yards this season with 14 touchdowns, but also rushing for over 600 yards, scoring 10 times. Senior Lorenzo Yourey leads the receiving core with 350 yards, with 7 touchdowns, followed closely behind by Paiten LaPoint(so), with 308 yards and 4 scores.

Defensively, Aj Halford(jr), Cade Schultz(sr), Luke Stevenosky(sr), and Emiliano Conklin(sr) have over 90 total tackles each, Halford leading the way with 98. Stevenosky leads the way in sacks with 4, followed by Conklin and Owen Fortna(sr) with 3 each. In the secondary, it’s Logan Hutsko(jr) with 3 interceptions, followed by a slew of others with 1.

Minersville scores an average of 34.6 points a game, giving up 22.5. The Battlin’ Miners rack up over 250 yards per game rushing, and just under 350 yards a game total.

HOW THEY GOT TO THIS POINT:

Week-1: @Tri-Valley 38 to 34 (W)
Week-2: @Marian Catholic 41 to 39 (W)
Week-3: vs Shenandoah Valley 7 to 48 (W)
Week-4: vs Williams Valley 31 to 23 (L)
Week-5: @Panther Valley 41 to 28 (W)
Week-6: vs Pen Argyl 20 to 35 (W)
Week-7: @Catasauqua 30 to 28 (W)
Week-8: vs Palisades 12 to 38 (W)
Week-9: @Schuylkill Haven 35 to 28 (L)
Week-10: vs Nativity BVM 12 to 42 (W)
Week-11: vs Nativity BVM 13 to 19 (W)-(OT)-(DISTRICT XI PLAYOFF)
Week-12: vs Marian Catholic 12 to 28 (W)-(DISTRICT XI PLAYOFF)
Week-13: vs Lackawanna Trail TBD ( )-(STATE PLAYOFF)

Lackawanna Trail Lions(12-0)-Head Coach: Steve Jervis

ABOUT THE LIONS:

Lackawanna Trails enters the contest winners of 12 straight this season. Last week the Lions took down Morrisville 47 to 6 at Bristol HS Stadium to win their 5th District 2 title in the last 8 years, including last year. Following their District 2 title victory was a loss to District XI champion Northern Lehigh 40 to 7. Will the Lions be able to take down the DXI opponent this year, we shall soon find out this Friday night at the Eagles Nest at Blue Mountain HS.

Offensively, the Lions are led by Senior RB-Lukas Gumble, who has amassed 1347 rushing yards, with 24 touchdowns. Stephen Jervis(sr), has guided the offense, throwing for 668 yards this season, with 11 passing touchdowns, throwing just 1 interception along the way. Junior RB-Demetrius Douglas and Senior RB-Hunter Patterson have help assist the offense with over 500 yards on the ground each, scoring 10 touchdowns a piece as well.

Defensively, Lackawanna Trail is led by the entire defense.

The Lions score a whopping 43.1 points per game, giving up just 9.5.

HOW THEY GOT TO THIS POINT:

Week-1: @Mid Valley 35 to 13 (W)
Week-2: vs Lake-Lehman 7 to 48 (W)
Week-3: @Greater Nanticoke 40 to 13 (W)
Week-4: vs Honesdale 13 to 39 (W)
Week-5: @Dunmore 46 to 21 (W)
Week-6: vs Old Forge 7 to 41 (W)
Week-7: @Riverside 28 to 21 (W)
Week-8: @Carbondale 41 to 14 (W)
Week-9: vs Holy Cross 0 to 66 (W)
Week-10: vs Susquehanna Community 0 to 46 (W)
Week-11: vs Old Forge 0 to 40 (W)-(DISTRICT 2 PLAYOFF)
Week-12: vs Morrisville 6 to 47 (W)-(DISTRICT 2 PLAYOFF)
Week-13: vs Minersville TBD ( )-(STATE PLAYOFF)

For Minersville to be victorious in the matchup, they’re going to have to slow down the powerful and balanced rushing attack from the Lions. Miners have a rushing game of their own but with the stout defense of Lackawanna Trail, Minersville’s Stevenosky could get tired along the way. Dante Carr is going to have to be able to throw the ball to help his team prevail over the undefeated Lions team. For the Lions to win, they will need to contain Stevenosky on the ground, and limit the out of pocket passes by the Miners’ Dante Carr.

CLICK TO VIEW THE DISTRICT AND STATE-WIDE BRACKETS HERE:

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