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 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.
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
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.
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.
Related posts:
Joby Fawcett has covered high school sports — including football, girls and boys volleyball, girls and boys tennis, girls and boys swimming, boys basketball, girls and boys track and field, and girls and boys lacrosse — for 22 years. The High School Sports Blog offers deeper insights plus statistical and historical information for fans and features photos, videos and graphics along with Top 5 polls for tennis and volleyball. Contact: jbfawcett@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5367; @sportsTT