H.S. Football: Rivalry games highlight final weekend of regular season

Oct. 26—The final weekend of the Wyoming Valley Conference football regular season brings two things — teams fighting for district playoff positions and rivalries.

Four major rivalries dot the eight-game schedule Friday night, all with playoff implications and unique histories. Here's a look at them.

Dallas at Lake-Lehman

The two Back Mountain rivals play in the Old Shoe Game annually since 1958. Lake-Lehman won the first game 26-6, but Dallas has dominated the series.

The Old Shoe Trophy dates back to 1948 and was awarded to the best Back Mountain team among Dallas Township, Kingston Township, Lehman Township and Westmoreland high schools until school consolidations.

Dallas has won eight consecutive times twice — 1960-66 (the teams played twice in 1966) and 1970-77. The Mountaineers also have won seven in a row from 2001-07.

Dallas has won seven of the last eight meetings, with Lehman's only win in that span coming in 2020. The Black Knights won 42-0 in Week 4 of a season disrupted several times because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There is also another Old Shoe Game on Friday night. Canton Area hosts Troy Area in the 69th annual version of their game.

Dallas will finish anywhere from first to third in the D2-4A standings. Lehman will be attempting to nab a D2-3A playoff spot. The Black Knights are currently third and four 3A teams make the postseason.

Nanticoke Area at Hanover Area

The rivalry was named the Sans Souci Struggle starting in 2018. Hanover Area is on the Sans Souci Highway while Nanticoke Area is one turn at the end of the winding road.

The current incarnation dates back to 1967 when both schools took on their current forms. However, Hanover High and Nanticoke High first played in 1920, with Hanover winning 7-0. There were no meetings from 1926-30 and again in 1932. But since 1933, the neighbors have plays annually.

Hanover Area won 11 consecutive games from 2000-10. Nanticoke Area has won the last seven games. The teams have never met in the postseason.

As for playoff implications, Nanticoke Area is trying to solidify fifth in the District 2 Class 4A standings while Hanover Area is trying to hold on to a D2-3A playoff berth.

Pittston Area at Wyoming Area

Both schools were formed in 1966 but didn't play until the following year. Pittston Area won the inaugural meeting 28-7.

There have been some odd scores. Pittston Area won 7-5 in 1974 and 6-2 in 1989. The cross-river rivals played on Thanksgiving for the final time in 1977. Since then, it's been the regular-season finale for both, although there were exceptions in 2000 and 2001. The WVC and Lackawanna Conference merged those two seasons to form the ill-fated Northeast Pennsylvania Football Conference and the game was played in Week 4.

The teams have played twice in the postseason — in 2001 and 2003. The winner of the regular-season game lost the playoff game.

The game doesn't have a catchy moniker, but the Carmelo Falcone Award has been presented to the game's most valuable player since 1978. Falcone was the owner of Falcone Beverage and a supporter of high school football. He died in 1977.

The Patriots snapped a four-game losing streak to Wyoming Area with a 35-0 victory last year. Pittston Area will likely be the fourth seed in the D2-5A playoffs while Wyoming Area can land anywhere from first to third in the D2-4A playoffs.

Wyoming Valley West at Wilkes-Barre Area

The first Battle Of The Bridge was held in 2019 with the formation of Wilkes-Barre Area, but the rivalry is an offshoot of Wyoming Valley West vs. Coughlin. Those two teams first played in 1967. The game finished in a 6-6 tie.

Valley West was founded in 1966, but had three football teams — Forty Fort, Kingston and Plymouth — before uniting under one banner the following year. Kingston and Coughlin played annually from 1922-1966.

The game is the regular-season finale for both teams for a second consecutive year. It bounced around the schedule the other three times. Wilkes-Barre Area has won all four games.

The 2021 game had numerous incidents inside and outside the stadium, so last year's meeting was moved to noon on Saturday. Wilkes-Barre Area was the home team in 2021, but used Valley West's stadium for its home games because its new stadium wasn't ready and Wilkes-Barre Memorial was no longer available because of the closing of Meyers High School.

The winner is given a huge trophy modeled after the Market Street Bridge. The North Street Bridge is closer to Valley West's stadium and the old Coughlin High School, but is far from aesthetically pleasing and would make for a dull trophy.

Wilkes-Barre Area is all but certain of a D2/4/11 Class 6A playoff berth. Valley West has been eliminated from the Class 5A playoff picture.

EASTERN CONFERENCE UPDATE

Williamsport's win over Hazleton Area last Friday moved the Millionaires into position for a D2/4/11 Class 6A playoff spot and out of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

No WVC team currently qualifies for an Eastern Conference berth. Eleven of the conference's 14 teams are expected to make the district playoffs.

WEEK 10 AT A GLANCE

Crestwood (5-4) at North Pocono (3-6)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Crestwood's Ryan Arcangeli, 5th year; North Pocono's Greg Dolhon, 12th year

Last Meeting: Crestwood 47-0 in 2022

First Meeting: North Pocono 50-0 in 1969

All-Time Series: North Pocono 7-5

Scouting Crestwood: The Comets held off a late rally attempt by Berwick for a 33-27 victory. The running game rushed for 300 yards for a third consecutive game and sixth time overall. WR Matt Sklarosky had a TD catch as Crestwood threw only twice. He had 14 receptions for seven TDs, numbers which would be better if Crestwood wasn't so run oriented. Colin Lazo picked off his WVC-leading fifth pass.

Scouting North Pocono: The Trojans' three wins have come against opponents who are a combined 5-22, including Hazleton Area and Wyoming Valley West. However, they only lost to Valley View 14-7 so they could be dangerous. The offense has scored only 13 touchdowns so far. RB Kevin Wickizer has put up some decent numbers at times. A D2-4A road game looks certain.

Bottom Line: Crestwood solidifies a D2-4A home game next week.

Dallas (9-0) at Lake-Lehman (2-7)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Dallas' Rich Mannello, 9th year; Lake-Lehman's Jerry Gilsky, 14th year

Last Meeting: Dallas 49-6 in 2022

First Meeting: Lehman 26-6 in 1958

All-Time Series: Dallas 49-14-2

Scouting Dallas: The Mountaineers did what they needed to defeat Wilkes-Barre Area 14-7. QB Brady Zapoticky threw only eight times as inclement weather altered the game plan. The defense held a strong WBA offense to 236 yards and intercepted three passes. Dallas has a WVC-best plus-15 turnover ratio. The Mountaineers hold a slim lead over Valley View for the D2-4A top seed.

Scouting Lehman: The Black Knights knocked off Hanover Area 35-6 in a key game in the D2-3A playoff picture. Ben Dowling and Jim Mitkowski combined for all five touchdowns. Lehman is now in third place and will probably stay there regardless what happens vs. Dallas. Dallas has dominated the Back Mountain rivalry as Lehman has won only four times this century.

Bottom Line: The Old Shoe trophy stays in Dallas.

Hazleton Area (2-7) at Berwick (2-7)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Hazleton Area's Dennis Buchman, 4th year; Berwick's Mike Bennett, 2nd year (interim coach Bo Orlando)

Last Meeting: Hazleton Area 20-0 in 2022

First Meeting: Berwick 14-6 in 1992

All-Time Series: Berwick 21-8

Scouting Hazleton Area: The Cougars' district playoff hopes took a nose dive with a 24-21 last-second loss to Williamsport. They've lost five games by seven or fewer points and are now 12th in the D2/4/11 Class 6A standings. Passing four teams in the final week seems highly unlikely. An Eastern Conference spot also seems doubtful. Hazleton Area is young as a whole and better things are ahead in 2024.

Scouting Berwick: The Dawgs had a chance last Friday vs. Crestwood, but a bad snap ended late ended the threat in a 33-27 loss. QB Ethan Lear and RB Tyler Winter both gained over 100 yards on the ground, with Lear running three times for scores. Despite the record, Berwick is in very good shape for a D2-4A playoff berth because of the taxing schedule which includes an unbeaten team and three others with one loss.

Bottom Line: A tough game to figure out. Should be a good one.

Holy Redeemer (0-9) at Montrose (0-7)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Redeemer's Tyson Kelley, 5th year; Montrose's Steve Hinds, 2nd year

Last Meeting: Redeemer 34-12 in 2022

First Meeting: Redeemer 31-0 in 2021

All-Time Series: Redeemer 2-0

Scouting Redeemer: The Royals lost 41-0 to Pittston Area, the fifth time they've been shut out this season. On a positive note, the offense rushed for a season-high 91 yards, marking only the second time it has gained positive yardage on the ground. Redeemer will be trying to avoid its third winless season in the last five years. It could have just enough offense to do so.

Scouting Montrose: Montrose is playing an independent schedule as the program retools for what would eventually be a return to the Lackawanna Conference. Last year, the Meteors managed three wins under such conditions. This year, things haven't gone as well. They have scored just 20 points and forfeited to Hanover Area in Week 7 because of a shortage of healthy players. The defense, though, has been decent.

Bottom Line: Should be a low-scoring game ... maybe.

Nanticoke Area (5-4) at Hanover Area (3-6)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Nanticoke Area's Ron Bruza, 14th year; Hanover Area's Jason Majiros, 2nd year

Last Meeting: Nanticoke Area 63-7 in 2022

First Meeting: Nanticoke Area 20-6 in 1967

All-Time Series: Nanticoke Area 31-24-1

Scouting Nanticoke Area: The Trojans surrendered 21 consecutive points in a 28-14 loss to Shamokin. The defense gave up 247 yards on the ground, the most since a Week 3 loss to Lackawanna Trail. The offense, led by RB Zack Fox, topped 300 yards rushing for a third consecutive game. A Week 11 date at Crestwood in the D2-4A playoffs has been predicted for weeks.

Scouting Hanover Area: The Hawkeyes lost 35-6 to Lake-Lehman, dropping from third to fourth in the D2-3A standings. To remain there, they will probably need a win here or a loss by Carbondale Area. Of course, the power rankings are difficult to predict so maybe a Carbondale Area win won't hurt. Malichi Downey had 127 yards rushing vs. Lehman.

Bottom Line: Nanticoke Area wins the rivalry game for an eighth consecutive time.

Pittston Area (5-4) at Wyoming Area (8-1)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Pittston Area's Nick Barbieri, 7th year; Wyoming Area's Randy Spencer, 15th year

Last Meeting: Pittston Area 35-0 in 2022

First Meeting: Pittston Area 28-7 in 1967

All-Time Series: Wyoming Area 33-25

Scouting Pittston Area: The Patriots defeated winless Holy Redeemer 41-0, locking up a D2-5A playoff berth and all but assuring a long ride to Delaware Valley next weekend. QB Drew DeLucca threw three TD passes despite horrible playing conditions. The running game was strong for a second consecutive week, although both opponents have had trouble vs. the run. Lucas Lopresto had his second pick-6 of the year.

Scouting Wyoming Area: Trailing by seven at halftime vs. Southern Columbia, a quick swing in the third quarter led to a 34-7 loss. The Warriors planned to throw the ball and QB Anthony DeLucca (the PA quarterback's cousin) did so well until the heavy rain hit. The running game struggled to gain any momentum. The Warriors will be back home next week in the D2-4A playoffs, but the standings are too turbulent to predict an opponent.

Bottom Line: Wyoming Area avenges last year's loss.

Williamsport (4-5) at Tunkhannock (4-5)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Williamsport's Mike Pearson, 2nd year at Williamsport, 7th year overall; Tunkhannock's Pat Keating, 1st year at Tunkhannock, 11th overall

Last Meeting: Williamsport 69-7 in 2022

First Meeting: Williamsport 19-13 in 1989

All-Time Series: Williamsport 19-6

Scouting Williamsport: The Millionaires' postseason hopes were saved by the leg of Connor Poole, one of the best kickers in the state. His 45-yard field goal with nine seconds left gave Williamsport a 24-21 win over Hazleton Area. A win vs. Tunkhannock should mean a spot in the D2/4/11-6A playoffs. The running game has over 100 yards in each of the last four games. That's not a great accomplishment, but certainly better than earlier in the season.

Scouting Tunkhannock: The Tigers had their game at Towanda bumped to Thursday last week because of a lack of available officials in District 4. The results were painful as Tunkhannock turned over the ball six times in a 55-7 loss. Aside from a long TD run by QB Joey Ross, the offense did little. The Tigers' D2-4A chances are slim as they are at the bottom of the standings. Even an upset of Williamsport probably won't change the situation.

Bottom Line: Williamsport will probably be playing next weekend.

Wyoming Valley West (1-8) at Wilkes-Barre Area (5-4)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Valley West's Bob Stelma, 1st year; WBA's Ciro Cinti, 5th year at WBA, 18th year overall

Last Meeting: WBA 45-6 in 2022

First Meeting: WBA 28-0 in 2019

All-Time Series: WBA 4-0

Scouting Valley West: The Spartans fell into a 41-0 crevasse before scoring in a 41-21 loss to D2-3A power Scranton Prep. Tyler Mattis rushed for two TDs as Valley West topped 100 yards rushing as a team for the first time in its last six games. Moving the ball through the air has been an issue as well. The Spartans won't be in the postseason for a second straight year after a run of 16 consecutive playoff appearances.

Scouting WBA: The Wolfpack didn't get on the board until midway through the fourth quarter in a 14-7 loss to unbeaten Dallas. Weather conditions hampered what both teams had planned. RB Howie Shiner ran for 127 yards and is on the cusp of a 1,000-yard season. He should get that vs. WVW. The passing offense will face a secondary that has struggled to stop throwing teams. WBA will be somewhere in the Lehigh Valley area next week.

Bottom Line: The Bridge trophy stays put.