NORTHWESTERN LEHIGH
AT 2-VALLEY VIEW
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: John Henzes/Veterans Memorial Stadium
Last: First meeting
The buzz: Northwestern Lehigh won the last three District 11 Class 3A championships, eliminated Scranton Prep in the PIAA quarterfinals each season, finished as the state runner-up in 2023 and 2025, and won the state title in 2024. Valley View is 4-3 all-time against District 11 teams and 0-2 against Lehigh Valley teams.
WYOMING AREA
AT 3-DUNMORE
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Dunmore Veterans Memorial Stadium
Last: Wyoming Area, 35-6 (2021)
The buzz: The series is 5-5 all-time. Both programs won PIAA championships: Dunmore (Class 1A, 1989) and Wyoming Area (Class 3A, 2019). Wyoming Area is considered the strongest team in the Wyoming Valley Conference and a contender in District 2 Class 3A. Pennlive.com ranks Dunmore in Class 2A. Dunmore starts the season with a 739-382-52 all-time record.
4-SCRANTON PREP AT
LOYOLA BLAKEFIELD (Md.)
When: Friday, 4 p.m.
Where: Loyola Blakefield High School Stadium
Last: Loyola Blakefield, 45-13 (2025)
The buzz: The series is 1-1 all-time. Loyola Blakefield finished 5-6 last season. Junior quarterback Carlos Spencer Jr. is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound college recruit with offers from South Florida, Memphis and Morgan State. Last season, Spencer threw for 259 yards and four touchdowns against Scranton Prep.
ALLENTOWN CC AT
5-ABINGTON HEIGHTS
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Abington Heights HS Athletic Complex
Last: Allentown CC, 23-0 (2012)
The buzz: Allentown Central Catholic won all three meetings in the series. Allentown CC, which has 14 District 11 championships, is one of the favorites to win the Class 4A crown in 2026. Junior WR/DB Tahir Edmondson, a college recruit, is a speedster who caught 36 passes for 588 yards and seven touchdowns and recorded 49 tackles and three interceptions last season.
6-DELAWARE VALLEY
AT BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Bethlehem Area School District Stadium
Last: First meeting
The buzz: Bethlehem Catholic finished 8-5 last season and is one of the favorites for the District 11 Class 4A championship. Quarterback Axel Burkhart shared time as the starter last season and threw for 1,474 yards and 12 touchdowns, and also played tight end and had 14 catches for 216 yards and a touchdown. Delaware Valley starts the season against three District 11 opponents – Bethlehem Catholic, Northampton and East Stroudsburg South.
WELLSBORO AT 7-LAKELAND
When: Saturday, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Lakeland HS Stadium
Last: First meeting
The buzz: Lakeland initially was scheduled to host Holy Cross in Week 1, but the Crusaders forfeited due to low roster numbers and injuries. The game will count toward Lakeland’s District 2 power ratings. Wellsboro, a District 4 Class 3A team, finished 6-5 last season and returns several starters. Lakeland starts the season with a 450-256-5 all-time record.
HONESDALE AT WALLENPAUPACK
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Wallenpaupack HS Stadium
Last: Wallenpaupack, 47-20 (2025)
The buzz: Wallenpaupack swept both meetings between last season, including in the Eastern Conference Class 4A playoff final. Wallenpaupack won eight straight in the series and leads 30-23-1 all-time. Honesdale’s last win in the series was in 2018. Wallenpaupack RB Edward Kiesendahl had 189 rushing tards and two touchdowns in the two meetings in 2025.
10-LACKAWANNA TRAIL
AT WESTERN WAYNE
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Lions Pride Stadium
Last: Lackawanna Trail, 35-3 (2025)
The buzz: Lackawanna Trail is the defending LFC Division III and District 2 Class 1A champions. Lackawanna Trail leads the all-time series, 20-11-1. Western Wayne coach Dave Shimkosky is in his first season. Western Wayne went 2-1 against LFC Division III opponents last season. Lackawanna Trail has a 450-285-9 overall record.
WEST SCRANTON
AT HAZLETON AREA
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Harman-Geist Memorial Field
Last: Hazleton Area, 40-0 (2025)
The buzz: West Scranton moved up to compete in the LFC Division I and District 2 Class 6A. West Scranton leads the all-time series, 12-6. Hazleton Area lost to Wilkes-Barre Area, 46-20, in last season’s District 2 Class 6A final. Hazleton Area RB Xavier Heck ran for 224 yards and three touchdowns in last season’s win over West Scranton.
POCONO MOUNTAIN WEST
AT SCRANTON
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Scranton Veterans Memorial Stadium
Last: Pocono Mountain West, 38-19 (2025)
The buzz: The programs have split two meetings, with Scranton winning in 2024. Pocono Mountain West junior running back/linebacker Christian Stiehler is a force at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds and ran for 140 yards and two touchdowns against Scranton last season. Scranton coach Jack Miles is in his first season.
CARBONDALE AREA
AT NANTICOKE AREA
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Frank Chicknoski Stadium
Last: Carbondale Area, 37-2 (2025)
The buzz: The programs split the last four meetings in the series, which also includes a 26-2 win by Nanticoke Area in 1927, according to statistics by the late historian Dr. Roger Saylor. Carbondale Area running back Francisco Roman ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns in last season’s win over Nanticoke Area.
LAKE-LEHMAN
AT MID VALLEY
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Spartan Stadium
Last: Mid Valley, 35-18 (2024)
The buzz: Lake-Lehman leads the series, 3-1. Mid Valley will play three Wyoming Valley Conference teams in the first four weeks. Lake-Lehman lost 12 straight games against LFC opponents, with the last win coming against Riverside on Oct. 29, 2021. Lake-Lehman plays its first four games against LFC Division II teams – Mid Valley, Lakeland, Riverside and Dunmore.
NATIVITY BVM
AT MONTROSE
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Bennett/Mullen Stadium
Last: First meeting
The buzz: Montrose coach Brett Stage is in his first season. Nativity BVM lost to LFC member Lackawanna Trail, 50-6, in 2025, and 47-20 in 2024. Nativity BVM finished 4-7 last season. Nativity BVM QB Owen Holley returns to the field after sitting out last season because of the District 11 transfer rules.
OLD FORGE
AT PEN ARGYL
When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Where: Pen Argyl HS Stadium
Last: First meeting
The buzz: The teams scrimmaged last season. Pen Argyl is a District 11, Class 2A program. Pen Argyl finished 7-4 last season. Pen Argyl senior Chris Crespo had 51 tackles last season and is one of six starters returning on defense. Old Forge is 10-7 all-time against District 11 teams. Old Forge starts the season with a 586-432-55 all-time record.
— Joby Fawcett