So, this is it.

The final journey. Day 8 included a trip north to Montrose and the last practice visit of the summer at Carbondale Area. This year has been very interesting. There are three new coaches — Dunmore’s Kevin McHale, Lakeland’s David Piwowarczyk and Montrose’s Bill Sandly.

What also struck me is that Delaware Valley coach Keith Olsommer is now the elder statesman among the LFC coaches as he enters his 21st season.

Think of this: With the retirement of Dunmore’s Jack Henzes and Lakeland’s Jeff Wasilchak the conference lost a combined 623 wins.

Another hot button theme for the tour came in the form of concern over depth. Overwhelmingly, coaches in the LFC are worried about declining participation and any injury to front-line players, which they all know is inevitable.

And finally, there is strong belief that parity will hit the conference this year more than any other. Yes, the usual suspects, Valley View, Delaware Valley, Dunmore and Old Forge are again expected to be among the best, but each program had energy at their practices and a true feeling that they can contend this season.

Trust me when I tell you, scrimmages won’t tell a lot this year. Coaches are going to play this only scrimmage with kid gloves.

With so many teams qualifying for the District 2 playoffs, expect Week 1 to be the first evaluation for a lot of teams, only with a lot more intensity.

OK. The tour has ended. Maybe we will do it again some day. …

 

DAY 8 MILES: 94

TOTAL MILES: 560

 

 

---

 

 

AROUND THE CAMPS RECAP

 

In case you have missed the first two visits you can visit thetimes-tribune.com

 

DAY 1

 

 

CLICK LINK FOR DAY 1 – Dunmore, Scranton and Lakeland

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/sports/around-the-camps-day-1-dunmore-scranton-and-lakeland-1.2516828?fbclid=IwAR2MgB-82wiTzLJ0cKyrg8b-dqqfglyzqExqJH4oOFH9WfDUp60ReqkjsWk#.XUlvcbMG8ao.facebook

 

DAY 2

 

 

CLICK LINK FOR DAY 2 – North Pocono and Delaware Valley

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/sports/around-the-camps-day-2-north-pocono-and-delaware-valley-1.2517266

 

DAY 3

 

 

CLICK LINK FOR DAY 3 – Lackawanna Trail and Susquehanna

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/sports/around-the-camps-day-3-lackawanna-trail-and-susquehanna-1.2517734?fbclid=IwAR3zghLbKjQ5rXb09TXDxu6zvhGWPOQnf5QPCxsRPmCizQfuo7LDnVkobaI#.XUwc6EZm9Pg.facebook

 

DAY 4

 

 

CLICK LINK FOR DAY 4 – Valley View and Old Forge

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/sports/around-the-camps-day-4-valley-view-and-old-forge-1.2518047

 

 

DAY 5

 

 

CLICK LINK FOR DAY 5 – Mid Valley and West Scranton

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/sports/around-the-camps-day-5-west-scranton-and-mid-valley-1.2518413

 

 

DAY 6

 

 

CLICK LINK FOR DAY 6 – Abington Heights, Riverside and Scranton Prep

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/sports/around-the-camps-day-6-scranton-prep-abington-heights-and-riverside-1.2519362?fbclid=IwAR2-B6vvqvBh5YlwPq-6oX0Kp1zEhQ2LphSUGmK6mlfs7seqyKyTtchuNfA#.XVKwUvS39Qo.facebook

 

 

DAY 7

 

 

CLICK LINK FOR DAY 7 – Honesdale, Wallenpaupack and Western Wayne

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/sports/around-the-camps-day-7-western-wayne-honesdale-and-wallenpaupack-1.2519800?fbclid=IwAR1behGCtlikpqRKtLX9Q3NETbYc9mpihMvX_MD6Jgf2rvmXg_l4hxfgFn0#.XVQEvgr4FQc.facebook

 

 

 

---

 

 

2019 MONTROSE METEORS

 

The Meteors and coach Sandly are fighting a numbers crunch. But one position where the new staff is encouraged is quarterback.

Ethan Cina looked poised and athletic after a season where he threw for more than 800 yards and had 10 touchdowns.

 

 

 

 

ETHAN CINA

---

MONTROSE QB

 

PASSING YARDS BY GAME

 

• 67 vs. Wyalusing

• 46 vs. Holy Cross

• 29 vs. Lackawanna Trail

• 5 vs. Meyers

• 62 vs. Susquehanna

• 195 vs. Carbondale Area

• 103 vs. Dunmore

• 150 vs. Honesdale

• 166 vs. Riverside

• 26 vs. Old Forge

 

VISIT NO. 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

 

 

2019 CARBONDALE AREA CHARGERS

 

This season, the Chargers are strong and experienced up front.

There are four starters back and that obviously makes assistant coach and line guru Bob Matoushek happier than when he draws the No. 1 pick for his three Fantasy Football Leagues that he dominates every fall.

One of those starters back is guard Jadden Hayner, who has made the transition from a potential tight end or fullback to a solid interior lineman.

 

 

JADDEN HAYNER

---

CARBONDALE AREA GUARD

 

 

FINAL VISIT

 

 

 

 

---

 

SCRIMMAGE SCHEDULE

 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17

Abington Heights at Lakeland, 10 AM

Mid Valley at West Scranton, 10 AM

Dallas at Dunmore, 10 AM

Honesdale at Hanover Area, 10 AM

North Pocono at Old Forge, 10 AM

Riverside at Valley View, 10 AM — LOCATION CHANGE

Athens at Susquehanna, 10 AM

Tunkhannock at Carbondale Area, 10 AM

Wallenpaupack, Western Wayne at Lackawanna Trail, 10 AM

Bethlehem Liberty at Delaware Valley, 11 AM

Towanda at Montrose, 11 AM

Scranton Prep at Scranton, 12:30 PM

 

 

---

 

 

THE SUNDAY TIMES

 

Don’t forget to pick up The Sunday Times for GAMEFACE 2019.

Conor Foley and Chris Imperiale did a bang up job with this season’s preseason insert.

Here’s the cover which features Valley View’s Janaasah Boone, Lakeland’s CJ Dippre and Scranton Prep’s Carter Odell. The dramatic photo taken by Jason Farmer.

 

 

 

 

---

---