Scranton Prep’s Will McPartland (12) runs the ball during the PIAA D2 Class 3A district championship in Berwick on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Berwick’s Ty’meere Wilkerson runs the ball during the PIAA D2 Class 3A district championship in Berwick on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Will McPartland (12) runs the ball during the PIAA D2 Class 3A district championship in Berwick on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Berwick’s Brayden Cleaver sheds a tackle during the PIAA D2 Class 3A district championship in Berwick on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Anthony Prince (6) runs the ball during the PIAA D2 Class 3A district championship in Berwick on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Will McPartland (12) runs the ball for a touchdown during the PIAA D2 Class 3A district championship in Berwick on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Berwick’s Brayden Cleaver rolls out for a pass during the PIAA D2 Class 3A district championship in Berwick on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Braedon McPartland (14) runs the ball during the PIAA D2 Class 3A district championship in Berwick on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Berwick’s Brock Simms (44) runs the ball during the PIAA D2 Class 3A district championship in Berwick on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Mackey Lynett celebrates with his team after they score during the PIAA D2 Class 3A district championship in Berwick on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Berwick’s Brayden Cleaver (10) makes a pass during the PIAA D2 Class 3A district championship in Berwick on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Will McPartland (12) runs the ball during the PIAA D2 Class 3A district championship in Berwick on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Braedon McPartland (14) runs the ball during the PIAA D2 Class 3A district championship in Berwick on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Braedon McPartland (14) runs the ball during the PIAA D2 Class 3A district championship in Berwick on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Berwick’s Ty’meere Wilkerson fumbles the ball during the PIAA D2 Class 3A district championship in Berwick on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Mackey Lynett receives a hail mary pass in the end zone during the PIAA D2 Class 3A district championship in Berwick on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep celebrates after defeating Berwick 42-7 in the PIAA D2 Class 3A district championship in Berwick on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Scranton Prep’s Will McPartland (12) runs the ball during the PIAA D2 Class 3A district championship in Berwick on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
BERWICK — Each year, Scranton Prep continues to set the bar higher and higher. On what began as a normal night at Crispin Field with fireworks lighting up the sky, Friday night proved to be just another night for the Cavaliers at this time of the season.
Scranton Prep scored on its first four possessions, and quarterback Will McPartland had a perfect night throwing the football as the Cavaliers won their fifth consecutive District 2 Class 3A championship with a convincing 42-7 victory over Berwick.
The Cavaliers (7-5) advance to the first round of the PIAA playoffs next week, where they will play District 4 champion Mifflinburg, who defeated Montoursville on Friday, 35-12, at a site and time to be determined.
Berwick’s season ends at 11-1.
Scranton Prep took a much different route to this district championship than those of the past. Starting the season 0-3 while playing without Will McPartland, the Cavaliers fought and clawed their way back to the No. 3 seed in Class 3A. Last week, they defeated Wyoming Area, 42-0, to earn another trip to the final.
“The older guys have been through it the last couple of years,” Scranton Prep coach Terry Gallagher said. “There is a standard here, and guys have to earn the right to play. We have guys who are role players, the guys on the scout team bust their butts all week and they make a difference in a game like this. I thought for the most part we did a pretty good job. We are lucky we have really good kids.”
Scranton Prep needed five plays to score its first touchdown and four plays to score on its second possession to grab a 14-0 lead with 4:19 left in the first quarter. Following a bad snap on a Berwick punt that was partially blocked, the Cavaliers used two plays to grab a 21-0 lead before the quarter ended.
McPartland finished the game rushing for 48 yards and four touchdowns. He completed all nine of his pass attempts for 226 yards and two touchdowns.
“Our record doesn’t show it, but we played a pretty tough schedule,” McPartland said. “We went through a ton of adversity. Those first three games really helped us.”
With the Cavaliers holding a 28-0 lead and time winding down in the second quarter, McPartland took the snap from center with 2.7 seconds left and scrambled around to allow his four receivers, all running verticals to the end zone, to get where they needed to be. As he moved to his right towards the Berwick sideline, McPartland threw the ball high into the end zone. Mackey Lynett came down with it between the Berwick secondary to put the Cavaliers ahead, 35-0.
“I knew we were going deep,” McPartland said. “I saw (Lynett) was one-on-one and I knew he would be open. I trusted my guy and threw it up. He made a heck of a play and our line blocked well.”
While the Scranton Prep offense was executing quickly and efficiently, the defense was passing a big test of its own. Faced with the task of containing Berwick running back Ty’Meere Wilkerson, the Cavaliers did a better job stopping him than any of the previous 11 teams the Bulldogs faced. Wilkerson, who came into the game averaging 13.7 yards per carry, finished with 144 yards and one touchdown. Of those yards, 57 came in the first half.
“They haven’t thrown often this year,” Gallagher said of the Bulldogs. “We thought he is a really good back. Obviously, they moved the ball a bit when we had other guys in. We expect our guys to play technique. We have played some pretty good teams this year. In this one they came out and executed and didn’t let go.”