Fans at Lackawanna Trail and Riverside couldn’t ask for a better scenario.
The two best teams in the Lackawanna Football Conference Division III will decide the champion in a Week 10 showdown at Riverside Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The No. 2 Lions, who have won two straight division titles, challenge the No. 4 Vikings at 7 p.m. in the most anticipated game of the season among the small schools.
“This will be a lot of fun,” Lackawanna Trail senior quarterback Tyler Jervis said. “They are a good team with a lot of talent. It is going to be an absolute war. This is a really big game that will help both teams get ready for the playoffs when the season really starts to count.”
The game has star power. There is no question about that.
Lackawanna Trail played a daunting schedule that included five District 2 Class 3A opponents.
Isaac Ryon leads the explosive and productive running attack that averages 313.0 yards per game. He has 1,730 yards rushing and 28 touchdowns. He has also caught 11 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns and leads the conference with 33 total touchdowns and 213 points.
He runs behind one of the most physical offensive lines in District 2. Lucas Evans was a Class 1A all-state player last season. The Lions have size and experience with returning starters Blake Stage (6-3, 265), Anthony Paolucci (6-1, 260), and Colin Owens (5-11, 235) and newcomer Coper Castellano.
Jervis is 18 of 33 passing for 420 yards and five touchdowns. The senior also has 184 yards rushing and four touchdowns. Fullback Carter Edwards has 375 yards rushing.
“They are going to run hard, so we are going to have to fly to the ball and make gang tackles,” Riverside’s Brayden Rose said.
The Riverside defense, which ranks first in the division, gives up 209.7 yards per game. Tavian Branch is the dominant interior lineman in District 2 and a sought-after recruit who is committed to Penn State.
Madden Sandly is a physical player on the defensive line, and Rose is a playmaker in the secondary with 44 tackles, three interceptions, three forced fumbles, three sacks and three blocked kicks.
Riverside has the second-best offense in Division III. Rose is the catalyst. In his first season as a starter, he 1,008 yards passing and 17 touchdowns. He is also the team’s leading rusher with 699 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Freshman Charlie Anstett is second on the team with 442 yards rushing and seven touchdowns.
Jared Jackson is tied for second in the division with 31 receptions, which have gone for 557 yards and six touchdowns. Carmelo Barnett is fourth in the division with 17 catches for 254 yards and four touchdowns.
Riverside’s kicker Santino D’Amico is a weapon. He has 47 extra points and two field goals, including a 45-yarder against Holy Cross.
After averaging 24.7 points per game in the first three games, Riverside rang up 54.3 points and won by an average margin of 47.5 points during a six-game winning streak.
“They are a very talented team,” Jervis said. “They have great athletes, a strong line, and good backs. They handle the ball well. We have to do our best to play the game we have been playing all year and focus on taking it play by play.”
Lackawanna Trail’s defense is ranked second in Division III. The Lions give up 227.1 yards per game.
The defensive line is tough against the run, giving up 128.0 yards per game. Evans, Paolucci, Stage and Kaylix Douglas lead the group.
Owens is an outstanding linebacker, Holden Edwards has returned from injury, Jervis is a standout at linebacker and Ryon leads the secondary.
Lackawanna Trail led its games by an average margin of 24.3 points in the first half since its loss to Berwick in Week 3.
“It’s going to be a good game,” Rose said. “We are hyped for it. There is going to be a big crowd. We have to take in the moment and make good out of it.”
2-LACKAWANNA TRAIL (8-1) AT 4-RIVERSIDE (8-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Riverside Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Last: Lackawanna Trail, 42-20 (2024).
The buzz: For the second straight season, the teams will determine the LFC Division III champion. Lackawanna Trail has won two straight division titles. Riverside’s last division championship came in 2008. Lackawanna Trail is the No. 1 seed for the District 2-11 Class 1A playoffs. Riverside could still climb to the No. 1 seed for the District 2 Class 2A playoffs.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Lackawanna Trail’s Holden Edwards.
HOLDEN EDWARDS
Lackawanna Trail, FB-LB
He is a senior who had been sidelined with an injury, but returned last week to contribute to a win over Holy Cross.
Riverside’s Tavian Branch.
TAVIAN BRANCH
Riverside, DL-OL
He is one of the top linemen recruits in the country. He remains committed to Penn State, but has received several college scholarship offers, including from Nebraska, Maryland, and Ole Miss.
SCOUTING REPORT
Lackawanna Trail: The Lions run a productive Wing-T attack. RB Isaac Ryon is the leading rusher (1,730 yards) and scorer (213 points) in the Lackawanna Football Conference. He benefits from having one of the biggest, most physical, and experienced offensive lines in the conference. Defensively, the Lions are solid up front against the run and are giving up 128.0 yards rushing per game.
Riverside: Coach Harry Armstrong is one of the most innovative offensive minds in high school football. He is creative in his play designs and maximizes his talent. This season, Armstrong put Brayden Rose at quarterback, and it has worked out, giving the Vikings a multi-prong attack. Rose has thrown for 1,008 yards and run for 699. Penn State commit Tavian Branch is a force defensively for the Vikings, who have yielded eight points or less in six straight games.
Originally Published: October 24, 2025 at 12:00 AM EDT