Each team’s quest to maintain a championship standard fuels the storied rivalry between Dunmore and Lakeland.

It has intensified with the outcome of the meetings becoming more important than ever.

On Friday, the two most successful programs in District 2 Class 2A history meet again to determine the champion and the team that will advance to the PIAA playoffs. Third-seeded Dunmore (8-3) visits No. 1-seeded Lakeland (10-1) at 7 p.m. at Lakeland Stadium in the title game.

“It’s going to be a great experience and a great atmosphere playing a championship game at home,” Lakeland quarterback David Naniewicz said. “This rivalry goes back before we were all born. We know every time we play Dunmore, it is special. All of that tradition with the rivalry is in the back of our minds, but we have to focus and play our game.”

Dunmore, which has a record of 734-374-52, has 14 district championships with 13 coming in Class 2A.

Lakeland, which started its program in 1961, has a record of 446-247-5 and has eight district titles with six in Class 2A.

The power programs met six times in the Class 2A final with each winning three times.

“We are excited for the opportunity to play against Lakeland in the District 2 championship game,” Dunmore running back Ryan Mecca said. “We know it’s a great rivalry when we play against each other.”

Lakeland won this year’s regular-season meeting, 28-14. It was an intense battle and the teams were tied at 14 at halftime. The Chiefs pulled out the win with touchdown runs by Naniewicz and Gavin Roberts. Naniewicz ran for 62 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 131 yards. Sophomore Jackson Pochas had four receptions for 77 yards, and Chase Rosenkrans had a key interception at the goal line to extinguish a Dunmore scoring opportunity.

“We know that we have to try to contain No. 7 Naniewicz,” Mecca said. “He had a great game. We know they are going to pass the ball, but they are also going to run it with him. That will be important for us to slow him down.”

Dunmore quarterback Weston Yannone had 60 yards rushing and 22 yards passing, and Ryan Mecca had 81 rushing yards and a touchdown for the Bucks.

“We know that they have a great team,” Naniewicz said. “They can run the ball and throw the ball. We have to fly around on defense and make plays.”

Lakeland and Dunmore have been the top two statistical teams in the Lackawanna Football Conference Division II.

Offensively, Lakeland had the most balanced attack. The Chiefs average 363.5 total yards per game, with 200.5 yards rushing and 162.9 yards passing.

Naniewicz is the key. He is Lakeland’s leading rusher at 846 yards with 12 touchdowns, and he has 1,528 yards passing and 15 touchdowns. Roberts has 640 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns, Pochas has 35 receptions for 629 yards and eight touchdowns, and Chase Rosenkrans has 37 catches for 627 yards with nine touchdowns.

Dunmore ranks second behind the Chiefs at 357.0 total yards per game, but it relies much more heavily on the running game at 289.1 yards per game.

Ryan Mecca has 832 yards rushing with 13 touchdowns, and Yannone has 770 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns and 537 yards passing and four touchdowns. Jack McHale leads the team with 18 receptions for 201 yards and a touchdown.

Dunmore has the top defensive team in Division II at 174.9 total yards. The Bucks give up an average of 107.5 rushing yards per game and are coming off a dominant effort against Riverside in a 27-7 win.

Linebackers Brandon Mecca and Xavier Burke each have 71 total tackles to lead Dunmore. Jackson Harding has a team-high eight tackles for loss and forced a fumble that he returned for a touchdown last week against Riverside. Yannone has three interceptions and returned two for touchdowns this season.

Lakeland’s first-string defense has more than held its own, and the defense is ranked No. 2 behind the Bucks. The Chiefs give up 203.1 total yards per game, and last week recorded a shutout against Holy Redeemer.

Caden Cuzzo has 55 tackles, and Roberts has 50 to lead the defense for Lakeland. Rocco Spataro and Nathan Boyarsky each have two sacks, and Rosenkrans has three interceptions.

DISTRICT 2 CLASS 2A CHAMPIONSHIP

3-DUNMORE (8-3) AT 1-LAKELAND (10-1)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Lakeland Stadium.

Last: Lakeland, 28-14 (2025).

Up next: The winner advances to the PIAA Class 2A first round to play the winner of the District 1-12 subregional final between Bristol and Lansdale Catholic, which is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m.

The buzz: Dunmore leads the all-time series, 33-26, but Lakeland has won five of the last seven. Lakeland has recovered from winning just 4 of 21 games in 2023 and 2024. Lakeland’s last District 2 Class 2A title came against Dunmore in 2022. Dunmore’s last District 2 Class 2A championship came in 2023.