Kotsko’s View: Welcome to 2023!!

Tagged under: District 2, District 4, District 6, News, pfn

John Kotsko | August 24, 2023

The 2023 Season is upon us!!! Hard to believe that it feels like it hit June 1st and now it’s suddenly the end of August and Week 1 is finally here. Several contenders from last season were hit hard by graduation and quite a few are hoping this will be the year that their program breaks out. What does this season have in store for us? What will we see in Week 1? Let’s get to this week’s slate of games!!

Pittston Area at Hazleton Area

Friday 7 PM

Pittston Area won the WVC Division 2 Title last season but lost all but two starters on both sides of the ball. Hazleton Area went 8-3 in 2022 but also lost a bunch to graduation. Returning for the Patriots is quarterback Drew DeLucca. He threw for 1,598 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Zander Coleman in limited time last season had seven catches for 91 yards and three touchdowns. In all, this game is a good spot for both teams who lost alot of talent from last season and need to acclimate the new starters in. This game will come down to who can execute the gameplan better

Prediction: Hazleton Area 28 Pittston Area 20

North Pocono at Valley West

Friday 7 PM

North Pocono went 4-6 last season. Valley West went through a winless 2022 season. Trojans Quarterback Noah West threw for 830 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 175 yards and a score. Spartans RB Isiah Cobb rushed for 455 yards and four touchdowns last year. He also caught 14 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns. North Pocono and Valley West played in a close matchup which North Pocono prevailed in. However, Valley West returns several starters from a season ago. Can the Spartans snap their losing streak or will the Trojans prevail to go to 1-0?

Prediction: Valley West 21 North Pocono 20

Scranton at Wilkes-Barre Area

Friday 7 PM

Scranton went 7-3 last year and lost to Delaware Valley in the 5A District Finals. Wilkes-Barre Area went 6-5 last season but lost two key players over the summer to transfers. Knights Quarterback Billy Maloney threw for 1,432 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also rushed for 893 yards and eight touchdowns. Wolf Pack quarterback Jake Howe had 1,006 passing yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman last season. This game is considered the game of the week in District 2. Both teams bringing in two of the top quarterbacks i the area. Who will come out on top in this matchup in this inter-conference matchup?

Prediction: Scranton 27 Wilkes-Barre Area 20

Western Wayne at Lake-Lehman

Friday 7 PM

Western Wayne is coming off a year where they were 9-3 and lost to Scranton Prep in the District 2 3A Final. Lake-Lehman had an off year where they went 3-8, losing to Scranton Prep in the District 2 3A Semifinal. Wildcats QB Frankie Leyshon threw for 1,189 yards and 16 touchdowns. Black Knights wideout Chris Sholtis had six catches for 111 yards last season. Western Wayne is looking to repeat what happened last year where they made the District Final. Meanwhile, Lake-Lehman is looking to rebound after a rough 2022 season. Who will come out on top in this matchup of 3A teams?

Prediction: Western Wayne 28 Lake-Lehman 14

Berwick at Southern Columbia

Friday 7 PM

Berwick is coming off a 5-7 campaign, losing to Crestwood in the District 2 4A Semifinal. Southern Columbia won the PIAA Class 2A State Championship last season. Bulldogs Quarterback Ethan Lear in limited time last season threw for 58 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 142 yards and a touchdown. Tigers quarterback Blake Wise threw for 784 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022. Berwick almost pulled off the victory last season but Southern Columbia ended up pulling away in the second half. Could this be the year that the Bulldogs pull off the victory over the Tigers?

Prediction: Southern Columbia 42 Berwick 7

Dallas at Abington Heights

Friday 7 PM

Dallas went 9-3 in 2022 and lost to Valley View in the District 2 4A Semifinals. Abington Heights made the District 2 5A Playoffs but lost in the semifinals to Scranton. Mountaineers quarterback Brady Zapoticky threw for 1,490 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Comets signal caller Shawn Theodore had 1,563 passing yards and 14 total touchdowns in 2022. Dallas comes in as the favorite to win the WVC Division 1 title and the District 2 4A Crown. Abington Heights is looking to get back into the 5A playoffs this season.

Prediction: Dallas 28 Abington Heights 24

Carbondale at Nanticoke

Friday 7 PM

Carbondale made the District 2 3A Playoffs last season. Nanticoke went 5-6, made the District 2 4A Playoffs but lost to Crestwood in the quarterfinals in 2022. Chargers quarterback Darryl Bennett threw for 501 yards and had two total touchdowns. Trojans RB Zach Fox ran for 1,423 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2022. The Chargers are looking to get back into the 3A Playoffs this season. Nanticoke is one of the favorites to win the WVC Division 2 crown and looks to be a sleeper pick in the District 2 4A Playoffs.

Prediction: Nanticoke 28 Carbondale 6

State College at Williamsport

Friday 7 PM

State College went 13-1 last season and lost to Harrisburg in the PIAA 6A State Semifinals. Williamsport is coming off a 4-6 season and missed the 6A Subregional Playoffs last season. State College RB D’antae Sheffey rushed for 1,725 yards and 22 touchdowns as a freshman in 2022. He also had 17 catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Millionaires QB Caleb Williamson threw for 552 yards and two touchdowns in limited time last season. For Williamsport, this looks to be a tall task as State ranked State College comes to town. Can the Millionaires pull off the upset?

Prediction: State College 42 Williamsport 6

Wyoming Area at Tunkhannock

Friday 7 PM

Wyoming Area is coming off a 5-6 2022 season, losing to Dallas in the District 2 4A Quarterfinals. Tunkhannock missed the playoffs last season after a 1-9 season. Warriors RB Aaron Crossley rushed for 2,115 yards and 24 touchdowns. Tigers wideout Jayden Ransome had 16 catches for 108 yards in 2022. Wyoming Area looks to be the favorite to win the WVC Division 2 crown but could they contend for the District Crown? Can the Tigers pull off a big upset?

Prediction: Wyoming Area 28 Tunkhannock 7

Crestwood at Valley View

Friday 7 PM

Crestwood is coming off a 13-2 2022 campaign where they lost to Bishop McDevitt in the PIAA 4A State Semifinals. Valley View made the District Finals last season, losing to Crestwood. Comets QB Jaden Shedlock ran for 1,161 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also threw for 472 yards and three scores. This is an interesting rematch of last year’s District 2 4A Final. Both teams were hit hard by graduation losses. Which team will prevail in this rematch?

Prediction: Crestwood 20 Valley View 14

Hanover Area at Holy Cross

Saturday 1 PM

Hanover Area went 1-9 last season. Holy Cross went 0-10 in 2022. Hawkeyes RB Jayden Shortz ran for 65 yards and had six catches for 61 yards and a score in limited time on offense last season. In limited time in 2022, Aiden Wudarski had 61 rushing yards and a touchdown. Hanover Area’s lone win last season came at the hands of Holy Cross. Can the Crusaders get their first win of the season and first since the 2021 season?

Prediction: Hanover Area 28 Holy Cross 14

Holy Redeemer at Susquehanna

Saturday 1 PM

Holy Redeemer made the District playoffs for the first time in school history but most of the players that led them to that postseason trip have graduated. Susquehanna missed the playoffs by the slimest of margins. Getting beat out by Holy Redeemer by .002 points. Royals RB Luke Kopec rushed for 425 yards and five total touchdowns last season. The Sabers’ Colton Stone moved from quarterback to tight end this season. At quarterback last season, he threw for 874 yards and eight touchdowns. The Royals are looking to repeat lasy year’s success but will be an uphill climb with the players they lost. The Sabers bring in a new head coach and new scheme. Who will come out on top in this Saturday afternoon matchup?

Prediction: Susquehanna 34 Holy Redeemer 7

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