Lackawanna Football Conference Division 1 Breakdown
Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 2, News, pfn
PFN Staff | August 24, 2023
We start off our conference breakdown with quite possibly the hardest division in all of District 2. Last season the division saw 2 district champions and 2 district runner-ups, and everyone in the division at least had 1 loss. The division also holds two state-ranked teams, and with that let’s meet the teams.
Delaware Valley 5A: LS (7-6):
Head Coach: Keith Olsommer
It was a rare third-place finish for the Warriors in the division, but they ended up where they were projected and that was holding up that district title. The Warriors might just be the best team in District 2, and they have the roster to live up to that statement. The Warriors will have a big experienced offensive line upfront which will be their foundation led by Jacob Albaugh and Carter Faubel who are 2 of the best O-linemen in district 2. The Warriors return both QBs on offense in Tyler Bird and Logan Olsommer, Bird the expected starter threw for 1,136 yards and 7 touchdowns and will have weapons on offense. Jayden Ramirez is back at the top WR spot after a very impressive 36 receptions for 534 yards and 4 touchdowns last season, but the focus point one of the air attack will be to Stanford commit Aiden Black. Black might just be all-around the best player in D2 as he is just a dominant run blocker and just a nightmare matchup for DBs or Lbs as he caught 28 passes for 404 yards and 4 TDS. Defensively they will be led by Ryder Machado who recorded 96 tackles and 6 int, and the district leading tackler in Justin Kalitsnik who recorded 143 tackles.
Scranton Prep 3A: LS (9-4):
Head Coach: Terry Gallagher
Prep has been as dominant as they come in the past decade, but last season was one of the most impressive seasons for the Cavilers as they played with a chip on their shoulder. After Penn State commit London Montgomery went down with a season-ending injury and the Cavs dropped games to Lakeland and Scranton many people counted out Prep. The Cavilers were able to put it together late in the season and march to a district title and many key contributors of that group return. Louis Paris is back at QB after a super impressive Sophomore season where he threw for over 1,000 yards and 9 touchdowns and also ran for 860 yards and 15 Tds. RB Quentin Palermo is back in the backfield for Coach Gallagher after rushing for 1,133 yards and 13 Tds. This team will shine defensively as they have stars all over the field. Max Shinpes is one of the best interior linemen in the league, Andrew Summa recorded over 100 tackles and 6 picks from his LB spot, and Liam Barrett and Tae Weeks are 2 of the best corners in the LFC.
Valley View 4A: LS (10-3):
Head Coach: Scot Wasilchak
The reigning champion Cougars are in an interesting position as the program graduated 20 seniors last season and long-time assistant Scot Wasilchak steps in as only the third coach in Cougars history. With all that being said the Cougars still are a bit of a sleeper as there a still many playmakers for the Cougars. Casey Malsberger steps in as the first-year starter and just like Howanitz there is a good chance you see more of his legs than his arm. The Cougar’s bread and butter will be the ground attack, and they have a very dangerous 1-2 punch in the backfield of Paul Reed and Camryn Higgins who combined 552 yards and 5 touchdowns last season. The receiving core is built well for Malsbeger with a lot of tall athletic yard-after-catch guys. Dom Memo returns as the leader of that WR room he recorded 8 catches for 200 yards and 3 TDS, Chris Savkov and TE Kyle Rupp should also provide dept. The D-line and Linebacker will be the strength of this defense, led by linemen Steven Halloren and Robbie Nolan.
Scranton 5A: LS (8-4):
Head Coach: Steve Shumbres
The Knights were the surprise team in District 2 last season and came so close to dethroning Delaware Valley. The Knights graduated a lot of key pieces of last year’s teams, but have another good senior class that will contend for a district title. Billy Maloney is back under center and just dominated last season throwing for 1,432 yards and 19 touchdowns and also ran for 893 yards and 8tds. If the Knights want to contend they will need to be as good if not better on defense this season, and they have some pieces that can get them there. Craig Pabst is back at Linebacker he recorded 107 tackles last season. Big Javon James returns at DT he recorded 70 tackles and 3 sacks, and Maloney will also play safety where he recorded 6 interceptions.
North Pocono 4A: LS (4-7):
Head Coach: Greg Dolhon
Last season was a bit of a setback for the Trojans as the year previous they played for a district title. The Trojan’s schedule last season did them no favors as they played two of the best teams in the WVC Hazleton and Crestwood on top of the stacked LFC. Overall they will need to be more balanced on offense if they want to compete and that will start with QB Noah West. West threw for 830 yards and 4 touchdowns but also threw 9 picks he will need to cut down that number. The Trojans will also need to rely on Kevin Wickizer and Zach Gallant to fill the shoes of Mike Blaine. On defense, the linebackers, and Defensive backs will be the strength of this team with Gallant and Ryan Marsh at Linebacker and Riley Moore and Wickizer at DBs.
Abington Heights 5A: LS (3-8):
Head Coach: Joe Repshis
The highs were as high as they can be for the Comets in 2022 beating DV and Scranton, but the lows were low including a 49-0 loss to Berwick and a 44-13 loss to Dallas. The Comets will have to replace a lot including Brown University commit Nico Bossi, but still have some weapons in the air attack to give teams a tough time. QB Shawn Theadore is back under center and even though he threw for an impressive 1,563 yards and 12 Tds he threw a district high 20 picks which will need to be cut in half in order for the Comets to contend. The bright spot of this offense will be WR Mason Fedor whose size and jump ball ability has made him one of the best receivers in the district. Fedor caught 49 passes for 660 yards and 6 touchdowns last season, and with wide receivers two and three graduating the possibility of a 1,000-yard receiving season is very possibly.
Wallenpaupack 4A: LS (1-9):
Head Coach: Mark Watson
Paupack is coming off their worse season since 2005 and seems to be in the midst of a rebuild. Paupack was very young last season and now those underclassmen have a year of experience under their belt, but with the cards they have been dealt on the schedule it will be tough early on for Paupack. Paupack will be big upfront and should help RB Dylan Podrazil take a step up from last season. The run game should be able to open up the pass game and if second year starter Drew Kesendahl can hit his targets it will result is success. Jake Holbert and TE Jordan Santiago are both tall athletic receivers who are good matchups against smaller D-backs, those two recorded 28 receptions for 421 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Matts Final projected Standings
- Delaware Valley
- Scranton Prep
- Valley View
- Scranton
- North Pocono
- Abington Heights
- Wallenpaupack
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