Teams that have dominated the Lackawanna Football Conference got off to fast starts, as usual, in the most unusual season in history.

Delayed by five games, football finally arrived last week for 17 of the 18 teams competing this fall. Riverside, as we all know, played its fourth game of the season, while Abington Heights and Carbondale Area opted out of contact sports this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Delaware Valley was the only defending LFC Division champion to lose on opening night. But in fairness, the Warriors, who are favored to defend their title in Division I, did play state Class 6A power La Salle College High School.

Here are the records since 2010 for teams in the LFC Division I

Division I

W

L

Delaware Valley

89

33

Scranton

58

54

Abington Heights

58

56

Wallenpaupack

47

60

North Pocono

46

64

Includes 2020

Technically, Valley View, the Division II champion, moved to 0-1 because of a forfeit levied by District 2 after administrators sought not to play Delaware Valley in Week 1 because it had stoppages this summer with its involuntary workouts and again at the start of the fall sports season because of COVID-19.

Note: We are being told Valley View is appealing that decision to the PIAA.

Division II

W

L

Scranton Prep

95

29

Valley View

78

43

Western Wayne

51

57

West Scranton

39

66

Honesdale

29

74

Includes 2020

Dunmore, the defending Division III champion, opened with a crossover victory over Wallenpaupack. The Bucks program earned the 700th in their history and moved their overall record to 700-354-52.

Division III

W

L

Dunmore

113

24

Lakeland

71

45

Riverside

58

60

Mid Valley

38

67

Carbondale Area

38

67

Includes 2020

 

Old Forge’s Hezekiah Deitz (32) slips away from Riverside’s Kalani Massie-Foster (81) and scores a touchdown.
Photo by Jason Farmer

 

Old Forge opened with a crossover win over Riverside in the annual Triboro Rivalry game. That showdown has a storied history.

THE TRIBORO RIVALRY

1916 – Old Forge 6, Taylor 0
1939 – Old Forge 2, Taylor 0
1940 – Taylor 7, Old Forge 4
1941 – Taylor 9, Old Forge 0
1942 – Taylor 26, Old Forge 0
1943 – Taylor 6, Old Forge 0
1944 – Taylor 19, Old Forge 0
1945 – Taylor 20, Old Forge 0
1946 – Taylor 19, Old Forge 6
1947 – Taylor 6, Old Forge 2
1948 – Old Forge 13, Taylor 6
1949 – Old Forge 26, Taylor 7
1950 – Old Forge 6, Taylor 6
1951 – Old Forge 7, Taylor 0
1952 – Old Forge 52, Taylor 12
1953 – Old Forge 20, Taylor 6
1954 – Old Forge 36, Taylor 0
1955 – Old Forge 7, Taylor 0
1956 – Old Forge 6, Taylor 6
1957 – Old Forge 28, Taylor 7
1958 – Old Forge 54, Taylor 14
1959 – Old Forge 19, Taylor 6
1960 – Old Forge 45, Taylor 12
1961 – Old Forge 54, Taylor-Moosic 13
1962 – Old Forge 47, Taylor-Moosic 12
1963 – Old Forge 32, Taylor-Moosic 0
1964 – Old Forge 31, Taylor-Moosic 6
1965 – Old Forge 38, Taylor-Moosic 0
1966 – Riverside 7, Old Forge 6
1967 – Old Forge 0, Riverside 0
1968 – Riverside 26, Old Forge 6
1969 – Old Forge 21, Riverside 0
1970 – Old Forge 47, Riverside 6
1971 – Old Forge 0, Riverside 0
1972 – Riverside 7, Old Forge 6
1973 – Riverside 24, Old Forge 6
1974 – Old Forge 21, Riverside 0
1975 – Old Forge 7, Riverside 0
1976 – Riverside 38, Old Forge 21
1977 – Old Forge 29, Riverside 12
1978 – Riverside 27, Old Forge 6
1979 – Riverside 20, Old Forge 6
1980 – Riverside 12, Old Forge 0
1981 – Riverside 14, Old Forge 0
1982 – Old Forge 12, Riverside 0
1983 – Old Forge 35, Riverside 6
1984 – Old Forge 7, Riverside 0
1985 – Riverside 21, Old Forge 8
1986 – Riverside 15, Old Forge 8
1988 – Riverside 14, Old Forge 0
2000 – Riverside 25, Old Forge 18
2001 – Old Forge 14, Riverside 13
2002 – Old Forge 33, Riverside 12
2003 – Riverside 23, Old Forge 6
2004 – Riverside 27, Old Forge 19
2005 – Old Forge 40, Riverside 24
2006 – Riverside 28, Old Forge 24
2007 – Riverside 42, Old Forge 14
2008 – Riverside 42, Old Forge 6
2008 – Riverside 48, Old Forge 21
2009 – Old Forge 43, Riverside 12
2009 – Riverside 30, Old Forge 14
2010 – Riverside 36, Old Forge 7
2011 – Riverside 15, Old Forge 14
2011 – Old Forge 47, Riverside 6
2012 – Old Forge 54, Riverside 7
2012 – Old Forge 42, Riverside 7
2013 – Old Forge 57, Riverside 7
2014 – Old Forge 35, Riverside 0

2015 – Old Forge 27, Riverside 0

2016 – Riverside 39, Old Forge 18

2017 – Old Forge 24, Riverside 12

2018 – Old Forge 38, Riverside 0

2019 – Old Forge 33, Riverside 26

2020 – Old Forge 43, Riverside 12

 

Division IV

W

L

Old Forge

99

27

Lackawanna Trail

81

40

Susquehanna

51

58

Holy Cross

15

90

Montrose

11

89

Includes 2020

 

BATTLE FOR THE BLUE STONE

Overall this rivalry game was played for the 50th time. Susquehanna earned its 33rd win in the series.

Saturday night was the ninth time that the Sabers and Meteors played for the Bluestone Trophy. Susquehanna has won eight of the meetings since then.

HIGHLIGHTS

 

HS FOOTBALL: Battle for the Blue Stone – Highlights

Posted by Joby Fawcett, The Times-Tribune on Sunday, October 4, 2020

 

 


 

BATTLE FOR THE BELL

This week’s big rivalry game pits Scranton against West Scranton for The Bell Trophy. That coveted item has been around since 1953 and goes to the winning school for display for an entire year in the school building.

There will be some fans at the game after Gov. Tom Wolf enacted new guidelines based upon stadium capacity for outdoor events.

Courtesy Scranton School District

RIVALRY

1991: West Scranton 14, Scranton 0

1992: West Scranton 19, Scranton 0

1993: West Scranton 34, Scranton 6

1993: West Scranton 21, Scranton 6*

1994: West Scranton 32, Scranton 0

1995: Scranton 6, West Scranton 0

1996: West Scranton 14, Scranton 12

1997: Scranton 26, West Scranton 8

1998: West Scranton 28, Scranton 7

1999: West Scranton 39, Scranton 28

2000: Scranton 21, West Scranton 12

2001: West Scranton 23, Scranton 0

2002: Scranton 33, West Scranton 14

2003: Scranton 24, West Scranton 8

2004: Scranton 21, West Scranton 0

2005: West Scranton 41, Scranton 27

2006: Scranton 34, West Scranton 20

2007: West Scranton 43, Scranton 32

2008: Scranton 27, West Scranton 7

2009: Scranton 33, West Scranton 14

2010: West Scranton 34, Scranton 8

2011: Scranton 49, West Scranton 7

2012: Scranton 35, West Scranton 20

2013: Scranton 42, West Scranton 14

2014: Scranton 42, West Scranton 0

2015: Scranton 21, West Scranton 14

2016: West Scranton 28, Scranton 21

2017: Scranton 35, West Scranton 20

2018: West Scranton 6, Scranton 0

2019: Scranton 41, West Scranton 7

Scranton’s Tylil White and cheerleaders celebrate with the bell after defeating West Scranton after the Bell Game at Memorial Stadium in Scranton on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019.
Jake Danna Stevens / Staff Photographer

 


GAME POSTPONED

Lackawanna Trail announced Thursday that it must postpone its scheduled game against Montrose this week after two positive COVID-19 tests among staff at the school.

In Class 2A this season, no open week for a District 2 championship game, which means the Lackawanna Football Conference schedule runs right up until the first round of the PIAA playoffs.

By losing a game at this point, Lackawanna Trail, which is in Class 2A, would only have three remaining on its regular-season schedule. The next game on the slate for the Lions is Oct. 16 at Dunmore. If they can play.

All extra-curricular activities are shutdown at Lackawanna Trail at least until Tuesday.

CLICK HERE FOR STORY


PIAA PLAYOFFS

 

Based on the approved motion at the PIAA Board of Directors meeting, the state playoffs are moving forward.

District 2 has not yet finalized its plan on how it will determine its champions. But with the layout of the brackets, the scenarios are pretty concrete.

Here’s a look:

CLASS 1A

Nov. 13-14: District 2 Champion vs. District 1 Champion.

NOTE: District 2 could schedule a championship game between Old Forge and Holy Cross on Nov. 6-7.

 

 

CLASS 2A

Nov. 6-7: District 2 Champion vs. District 12 Championship

NOTE: Final week of regular season is Oct. 30-31. The District will likely send the team with the highest Power Rating as the reprentative.

 

CLASS 3A

Nov. 13-14: District 2 Champion vs. District 3 Championship

NOTE: District 2 could schedule a championship game between the top two teams on Nov. 6-7.

 

CLASS 4A

Nov. 13-14: District 2 Champion vs. District 4 Championship

NOTE: District 2 could schedule a championship game between the top two teams on Nov. 6-7.

 

 

CLASS 5A

Nov. 13-14: Wyoming Valley West vs. Either the District 6 or District 10 Champion

NOTE: Wyoming Valley West is the only Class 5A team in District 2.

 

CLASS 6A

Nov. 6-7: District 2 Champion vs. Either the District 4 or District 6 Champion

NOTE: There is no open week to play a District 2 championship game unless teams choose to cancel their Week 5 games. Delaware Valley has a bye that week. Wilkes-Barre Area is scheduled to be at Wyoming Valley West, Hazleton Area has a home game against Williamsport, which will have to cancel because it will need to play the District 6 champion on Oct. 30. Scranton is at Wallenpaupack.

This is a tricky scenario. The District could choose to have the team with the highest Power Rating represent as champion in the state playoffs.

 

 

STAY TUNED


CONGRATULATIONS

 

LAKELAND CHIEFS

CAREER RUSHING RECORD

GIOVANNI SPATARO

3,552 YARDS

 

RIVERSIDE VIKINGS

CAREER LEADER

JOHNNY GILCHRIST

5,914 YARDS 70 TOUCHDOWNS

 

 


WHAT’S AHEAD

FRIDAY

Division I

Delaware Valley at Wallenpaupack

Division II

Honesdale at Valley View

Western Wayne at Scranton Prep

Division III

Dunmore at Mid Valley

Nonleague

Riverside at North Pocono

SATURDAY

Division IV

Old Forge at Holy Cross, 1 p.m.

Nonleague

Lakeland at Susquehanna, 11 a.m.

Scranton at West Scranton, 2 p.m.