Football coaches and athletic directors competing in District 2 Class 3A received some clarity as to how the playoff field reduced from eight to four qualifiers when the PIAA released this season’s bracket.

District 2 Football Chairman Mike Ognosky sent an email to the athletic directors and coaches for the 10 schools involved. It relayed the message from PIAA officials as to why the District 2 champion advanced to the state first round Nov. 14-15 instead of the following weekend, which would be the state quarterfinals, as it did in 2024. This season is the second in a two-year cycle.

According to the email, because the four districts that make up the bracket had “approximately the same number of Class 3A teams,” the state approved a format that had Districts 2 and 4 holding a three-week district tournament that would advance the champion to the quarterfinals in the first year of the cycle (2024). District 3 and the District 11-12 subregional playoffs would have a three-week tournament in 2025.

District 2 officials were not aware of the caveat and therefore set its qualifying number at eight to start the season in its procedures post on piaad2.org.

A member school brought the discrepancy to the attention of District 2. After receiving a clear explanation, Ognosky revised the format, and four teams will qualify for the District 2 Class 3A playoffs this season.

Berwick (8-0, .778) leads the power rating standings. Wyoming Area (7-1, .728) is second, with Scranton Prep (4-4, .521) third and Lake-Lehman (4-4, .495) fourth.

In Week 9, fifth-place Hanover Area (4-4, .483) plays at Lake-Lehman in a game that takes on a new importance.

Mid Valley (3-5, .451) is sixth, Carbondale Area (4-4, .441) is seventh, Tunkhannock (3-5, .377) is eighth, Western Wayne (2-6, .316) is ninth and Montrose (2-6, .263) is 10th.

Making history

Abington Heights wide receiver Gavin Anders became the all-time leader in career receptions at the school. He has 119 catches in three seasons, and passed the mark of 118 set by Mason Fedor from 2021 to 2023.

Anders is closing in on becoming the program’s career leader in receiving yards with 1,676. Corey Perkins has the record with 1,699 yards from 2017 to 2019.

Old Forge wide receiver Chris Rasmus moved into second place on his school’s career receiving yards list. He has 1,514 yards, which trails Chris Schuback — who had 1,627 yards from 1994 to 1996.

Delaware Valley sophomore receiver Trey Newton tied the school record for receptions in a career. He has 100 to pull even with Dylan Kelly (2015-2018).

Lakeland junior receiver Chase Rosenkrans moved into a tie for second on his school’s career receptions list. He has 113 receptions to tie tight end Lacota Dippre. They are second in program history to Chris Washko’s 136 from 1997-2000.

Lackawanna Trail senior Isaac Ryon has 3,571 yards rushing in his career. He is third on the school’s list behind Ray Melnikoff, who had 3,573 yards from 2017-20, and Richard Jackson, who owns the record with 4,546 from 1998-2000.

Coaching milestones

Scranton Prep coach Terry Gallagher earned the 99th win of his career in the 35-0 victory over Mid Valley.

Gallagher is in his 10th season with the Cavaliers and has a record of 99-22 for a winning percentage of .818.

Blakely’s legendary coach, John “Papa Bear” Henzes, had a record of 69-9-6 for a winning percentage of .857 in his first 10 seasons from 1936 to 1945, according to the statistics library of the late Roger Saylor.

Former Valley View head coach Frank Pazzaglia had a record of 90-18-4 for a winning percentage of .821 from 1969 to 1978.

Riverside’s Harry Armstrong is also closing in on 100 career wins. He is in his second stint as coach at his alma mater and earned his 97th win in 13 total seasons. His overall record is 97-58.

LFC division chases

Undefeated North Pocono (8-0, 4-0) can win its first LFC division championship since 2009 if it can defeat Delaware Valley on Friday.

The Trojans are one game ahead of the Warriors in the division standings. A win would give them a two-game lead with one to play. Abington Heights (6-2, 3-2) and Scranton Prep (4-4, 3-2) already have two losses in the division.

Lakeland (7-1, 3-0) has a one-game lead over Dunmore (5-3, 2-1) and last season’s co-champion Mid Valley (3-6, 2-1) in Division II. The Chiefs play at West Scranton (2-6, 1-2) on Friday at Scranton Veterans Memorial Stadium and finish at home against Mid Valley.

Lackawanna Trail (7-1, 3-0) and Riverside (7-1, 3-0) are tied for first in Division III. The Lions host Holy Cross (3-5, 0-3), while Riverside will host Triboro rival Old Forge (2-6, 2-1) on Friday.

Originally Published: October 13, 2025 at 12:00 AM EDT