Scranton Prep’s Noah Krzyweic (2) runs the ball during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
North Pocono’s Cole West (11) runs the ball during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
North Pocono’s Cole West (11) fails to hold on to a pass during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
North Pocono’s Henry Wolff (13) returns a punt during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
North Pocono’s Henry Wolff (13) dives for extra yards during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
North Pocono’s Cole West (11) runs the ball during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Scranton Prep’s Owen Jeffers (13) makes a running pass during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Scranton Prep’s Braedon McPartland (0) runs the ball during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Scranton Prep’s Henry Barrett (15) runs the ball during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
North Pocono’s Chase Zimmerman (12) makes a running pass during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
North Pocono’s Cole West (11) reaches out for a pass during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Scranton Prep’s Owen Jeffers (13) runs the ball during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
North Pocono’s Chase Zimmerman (12) runs the ball during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Scranton Prep’s Braedon McPartland (0) runs the ball during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
North Pocono’s Cole West (11) runs the ball during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
North Pocono’s Chase Zimmerman (12) makes a pass during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
North Pocono’s Cole West (11) runs the ball during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Scranton Prep’s Owen Jeffers (13) runs the ball during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
North Pocono’s Max Lafave (14) dives and narrowly misses a pass during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Scranton Prep celebrates after scoring during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
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Scranton Prep’s Noah Krzyweic (2) runs the ball during a football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
MOSCOW – Scranton Prep and North Pocono presented an unforgettable performance for the thousands of high school football fans who crammed into the North Pocono Trojans bleachers Friday night.
Owen Jeffers saw an opening and sprinted through it for a touchdown. Braedon McPartland then delivered a punishing, unrelenting run for a 2-point conversion, ending a clash of champions and setting off a frenzied celebration.
No. 3 Scranton Prep earned a 37-36 win over No. 1 North Pocono in a showdown that lasted three overtimes between top teams in the Lackawanna Football Conference Division I.
Scranton Prep (6-1 overall, 4-0 in the division) seized sole possession of first place in the division. North Pocono (6-1, 3-1) lost for the first time in 16 regular-season games.
“All week, everybody said this was a championship week,” Jeffers said. “Two top teams in the league. It was going to be a hard-nosed game. In the first half, it was physical, low-scoring. Things started opening up a little in the second half.
“It was really us having trust in our guys. Everybody does their job, and you win games like this.”
Jeffers threw for 161 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 59 yards and three scores, including the one in the third overtime, pulling Scranton Prep to within 36-35.
“The line gave me time,” Jeffers said. “Guys got out of their rush lanes. North Pocono covered the pass well. I had to make a play in that situation to win the game.”
A penalty against North Pocono advanced the ball to the 1-yard line. McPartland took a direct snap, withstood a physical tackle attempt, and powered across the goal line for the game-winning 2-pointer.
“We played good teams in the beginning of the year, so in times like this, in a tough game, we know that we will respond,” said McPartland, who finished with 43 yards rushing and 75 yards on five receptions. “It was an amazing game. Even the referee said to me, ‘When you are 60 like me, you are going to remember this game.’
“I am going to cherish this for the rest of my life.”
The wild finish added the exclamation point after Scranton Prep and North Pocono slugged it out for 48 minutes and 18 extra plays in the three overtimes.
All the stars supplied big plays, and the game had an old-school-clash feel, featuring intense play on the line of scrimmage, open-field collisions and an overflow of emotion.
Scranton Prep scored first when Jeffers raced in on a 22-yard run on the opening possession.
North Pocono answered right back when Chase Zimmerman capped a 12-play, 80-yard drive with a 1-yard sneak with 3:19 remaining in the first.
The teams failed on chances to build a lead. North Pocono kicker Shane Youngblood just missed a 39-yard field goal late in the half. Scranton Prep kicker Tyler Bianchi had a 33-yard field goal attempt at the end of the second blocked by North Pocono’s Henry Wolff.
On its first possession of the second half, North Pocono took a 14-7 lead on a Wolff 11-yard burst through the middle with 8:23 on the clock. Wolff finished with 119 yards on 26 carries for the Trojans.
North Pocono’s defense held the Cavaliers out of the end zone through most of the second half. The Trojans then marched down the field and reached the Scranton Prep 25 but failed to score.
Jeffers connected with Ricky Dewey for a 29-yard reception that led to a 12-yard touchdown pass to McPartland with 2:26 remaining, locking the teams up at 14.
In the extra time, Cole West, who missed the last game with an injury, threw a touchdown pass to Jayden Taylor.
Scranton Prep had a couple of penalties on its possession, but Jeffers scrambled and hit McPartland for 12 yards, and Dewey cradled one in a low pass for a 5-yard touchdown on fourth down to tie it at 21.
“We had our two receivers crossing over the middle, and the linebacker split, and I just needed Owen to get me the ball,” Dewey said. “I just couldn’t believe it. It was so crazy to me. I caught it, and I feel great about it.”
Scranton Prep started the second overtime and turned to McPartland on three straight carries. Jeffers finished the drive with a 1-yard plunge. After a penalty on North Pocono, Brandon Farmer just lunged into the end zone for a 2-point conversion.
North Pocono tied it again. Chase Zimmerman, who had 136 passing yards on 7 of 13, found Wolff, who toe-tapped for a touchdown on fourth down. Matt Laboranti caught the tying 2-point conversion.
West took the first play of the third overtime with an explosive run to give the Trojans a 36-29 lead, setting up Scranton Prep’s wild response and finish to win the game.