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91st Annual Scranton Lions Club Dream Game: County overwhelms the City

Tagged under: All-Stars, District 2, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| July 24, 2025

Over the past few years, the Lackawanna Football Conference’s de-facto Senior Bowl, the Scranton Lions Dream Game, has been a close affair.  When the rosters were announced, it looked like there were strengths and weaknesses on both sides.  And as practices happened leading up to the 91st version of this game, you could sense that we might be in for a another close one.

Just after the 7pm kickoff, this one got a little wild.

The County squad raced out to a 20-0 lead before the City team could answer, and the game turned wild as it featured 7 interceptions as the County rolled over the City 41-17.  Abington Heights WR Shane Brower had 2 TD receptions for the County, while Scranton Prep wideout Brady Holmes added 2 TD receptions for the City.

After a 4-and-out turnover on downs for the City on the game’s first possession, the County squad got on the board when Riverside QB Chase Taddonio hit Abington Heights WR Shane Brower on an 18-yard strike to make it 7-0 for the County with 7:49 left in the 1st quarter.  The City could not get anything going on their next drive either, and the County capitalized on a long 13-play drive that was capped when Valley View QB Zach Cwalinski scored on a 1-yard keeper to to make it 14-0 County with 11:20 left in the 2nd quarter.

Another 4-and-out turnover on downs for the City meant another opportunity for the County, and they cashed in.  After Honesdale QB Aiden Collins hit Brower for a huge 44-yard gain inside the 5-yard line of the City, it was big man Pasquale Venitucci from Delaware Valley who rolled into the end zone from 4 yards out to make it 20-0 for the County with 8:24 left in the 1st half.

The City would finally find some momentum on their next possession, an 8-play drive orchestrated by West Scranton QB Caiden Berardi that was capped when he hit Scranton Prep WR Brady Holmes on a nice 30-yard TD strike that got the City on the board.  The score was 20-7 with 5:03 left in the first half.

Then the wheels fell off for both squads for a bit.  With competitive balance rules in play, the City got the next possession but 3 plays later it was Wallenpaupack QB Drew Kiesendahl who was intercepted by Valley View DB Nick Kucharski for the County at their own 42.  On the very next play, Collins threw it up and it was intercepted by Lackawanna Trail DB Max Kimmel for the City at the City 24.  2 plays later, Berardi was intercepted by Kucharski who returned it to the City 41. Then 2 plays later it was another interception, this time by Scranton DB Memphis Shotto for the City back at the City 8.  The ensuing drive by the City resulted in a punt, which ended the half with the County leading 20-7.

With the competitive balance rules still in play, the City got the initial kickoff in the 2nd half as well, and they were able to execute a 14-play drive that resulted in a 32-yard field goal from North Pocono K Sam Magnotta to make the score 20-10 for the County with 3:57 left in the 3rd quarter.  The County then executed a nice drive of their own that continued into the 4th quarter when Western Wayne RB Josh Vinton scored on a 3-yard run to make it 27-10 County with 11:53 left in the game.

Disaster struck for the City however, as on their next possession a pass from Berardi was intercepted by Riverside DB JJ Rogers who returned it 33 yards for the score to make it 34-10 County with 10:50 left in the game.  With time getting away, the City moved quickly on their next possession. On the 4th play of that drive it was Kiesendahl connecting with Holmes on the biggest play of the night, a 71-yard catch and run to paydirt to make it 34-17 County with 8;53 left in the game.

With the competitive balance rule still in effect, City maintained the next possession as well but on the 2nd play of the drive it was Rogers coming up with another interception for the County at the City 49.  On the 3rd play of the ensuing County drive, Brower caught the ball and it looked to be an easy stroll into the end zone but as he celebrated prematurely he was dropped hard at the 5 yard line of the City.  Penalties and a few negative plays pushed the County back to the 15 where the drive stalled and it was a turnover on downs.  On the very next play, Holy Cross QB Joshua Lentowski was intercepted by Rose for the County at the City 43.  Brower then redeemed himself 4 plays later as he caught a 16-yard TD pass from Taddonio to make it 41-17 County with 53 seconds left to effectively end the game.

After the game, Riverside TE Richie Kostoff (County) who had 11 receiving TD’s this past season, said “Leaving here as a winner is something very special, this kind of game, a prestigious game that’s been going on for 91 years…it’s a great feeling.”  Western Wayne RB Josh Vinton (County), who rushed for 2,270 yards and 29 TD’s last year, said of his lead blocking in the game: “I gotta do whatever takes to help win the game for everyone else.  It’s not all about me sometimes.”

You can check out the photo gallery from the game, courtesy of Sherryl Samuel:  PHOTO GALLERY

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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