{"id":66757,"date":"2025-12-21T12:23:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-21T12:23:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/66757\/"},"modified":"2025-12-21T12:23:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T12:23:14","slug":"2025-times-tribune-all-region-football-defense-scranton-times-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/66757\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 TIMES-TRIBUNE ALL-REGION FOOTBALL \u2014 DEFENSE \u2013 Scranton Times-Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"North Pocono's Cole West.\" width=\"550\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766319787_911_STT-L-allregionfb-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1496672\" \/>North Pocono\u2019s Cole West.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>PLAYER OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n<p>COLE WEST<\/p>\n<p>North Pocono<\/p>\n<p>6-2, 195, Junior<\/p>\n<p>Lackawanna Football Conference Division I defensive player of the year. He led North Pocono to the LFC Division I and District 2 Class 4A championships and a school-record 13 wins. He had 88 total tackles and nine interceptions, including two in the postseason, five tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and 12 passes defended. He has 10 interceptions in his career. He also had 631 yards rushing and nine touchdowns, 29 yards passing and a touchdown and 27 receptions for 496 yards and four touchdowns.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hudl.com\/v\/2TJRrX\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">SEASON HIGHLIGHTS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Riverside's Tavian Branch.\" width=\"534\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/STT-L-tavianbranch-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1403723\" \/>Riverside\u2019s Tavian Branch.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>TAVIAN BRANCH<\/p>\n<p>Riverside<\/p>\n<p>Defensive line<\/p>\n<p>6-4, 300, Senior<\/p>\n<p>Lackawanna Football Conference Division III defensive player of the year. Led Riverside to the District 2 Class 2A semifinals. He had 40 tackles, 29 solo stops and 12 tackles for loss. The powerful interior lineman had six sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, four batted passes, 20 quarterback hurries, a blocked punt and two blocked kicks. Finished his career with 117 tackles, 49 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two blocked punts and four blocked kicks. Signed his National Letter of Intent to attend Auburn University.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Abington Heights' Cayd Sespico\" width=\"2895\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/STT-L-lfcallstars-09_b1dafc.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1181788\" \/>Abington Heights\u2019 Cayd Sespico<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>CAYD SESPICO<\/p>\n<p>Abington Heights<\/p>\n<p>Defensive line\/Tight end<\/p>\n<p>6-2, 220, Senior<\/p>\n<p>Helped Abington Heights reach the District 2 Class 5A championship. He had 61 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, six sacks, two passes defended, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. He finished his career with 201 tackles and 40 for loss. As a tight end, he caught 12 passes for 126 yards this season. Second All-Region selection.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Scranton Prep's Anthony De Los Santos.\" width=\"1289\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/STT-L-allregionfb-01_225425.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1502518\" \/>Scranton Prep\u2019s Anthony De Los Santos.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>ANTHONY DE LOS SANTOS<\/p>\n<p>Scranton Prep<\/p>\n<p>Defensive line<\/p>\n<p>6-3, 265, Senior<\/p>\n<p>Helped lead Scranton Prep to the District 2 Class 3A championship. He was a physical run-stopper with 49 total tackles and three for loss. He helped the Cavaliers limit opponents to 149.6 yards rushing per game this season. He had 78 tackles, five for loss, and a pass defended in the last two seasons as a starter.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Lackawanna Trail's Blake Stage.\" width=\"3024\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/STT-L-playerstowatch6-01_891f25-rotated-1.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1426845\" \/>Lackawanna Trail\u2019s Blake Stage.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>BLAKE STAGE<\/p>\n<p>Lackawanna Trail<\/p>\n<p>Defensive line<\/p>\n<p>6-3, 250, Senior<\/p>\n<p>Helped lead Lackawanna Trail to the LFC Division III and District 2 Class 1A championships. A physical run-stopper, he had 38 tackles and six for loss. He had three sacks and two forced fumbles. He had a season-high six tackles with two for loss in a win over Carbondale Area, and had 12 total tackles in the postseason.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Dunmore's Xavier Burke.\" width=\"3024\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/STT-L-playerstowatch8-01_f9bf86-rotated-1.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1439959\" \/>Dunmore\u2019s Xavier Burke.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>XAVIER BURKE<\/p>\n<p>Dunmore<\/p>\n<p>Linebacker<\/p>\n<p>6-2, 205, Junior<\/p>\n<p>Lackawanna Football Conference Division II defensive player of the year. Helped lead the Bucks to the District 2 Class 2A final. He had 101 tackles, nine for loss, two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, and two forced fumbles. He has 220 tackles, 25 for loss, 12 passes defended, four sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions in his career.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Evan Wolff, North Pocono\" width=\"487\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/STT-L-gamefaceptwweek11-02.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1134760\" \/>Evan Wolff, North Pocono<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>EVAN WOLFF<\/p>\n<p>North Pocono<\/p>\n<p>Linebacker<\/p>\n<p>6-2, 225, Senior<\/p>\n<p>Helped North Pocono to the LFC Division I and District 2 Class 4A championships and a school-record 13 wins. He was the emotional leader of the defense and had 125 total tackles, including 73 solo. He had 15 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, five passes defended and three forced fumbles. He also contributed 11 receptions for 199 yards and three touchdowns as a tight end.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"TYLER JERVIS\" width=\"1276\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WGN-L-TYLERJERVISFB-01-1.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1466114\" \/>TYLER JERVIS<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>TYLER JERVIS<\/p>\n<p>Lackawanna Trail<\/p>\n<p>Linebacker<\/p>\n<p>5-10, 160, Senior<\/p>\n<p>Helped lead Lackawanna Trail to the LFC Division III and District 2 Class 1A championships. He was the team leader in tackles with 87 and had seven tackles for loss. He had five sacks, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries and returned two interceptions and two fumbles for touchdowns this season.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Justin Estevez, Delaware Valley\" width=\"1600\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/STT-L-GAMEFACE_ESTEVEZ-XXXX-1.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1389716\" \/>Justin Estevez, Delaware Valley<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>JUSTIN ESTEVEZ<\/p>\n<p>Delaware Valley<\/p>\n<p>Linebacker<\/p>\n<p>6-0, 215, Senior<\/p>\n<p>Leader of the defense that helped Delaware Valley win the District 2 Class 5A championship. He had 103 total tackles, including a season-high 17 in a win over Pittston Area in the District 2 Class 5A semifinals. He also had 12 tackles against Jersey Shore. Finished his career with 229 tackles.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"COLIN OWENS\" width=\"1133\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WGN-L-COLINOWENSFB-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1455966\" \/>COLIN OWENS<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>COLIN OWENS<\/p>\n<p>Lackawanna Trail<\/p>\n<p>Linebacker<\/p>\n<p>6-1, 225, Senior<\/p>\n<p>Helped lead Lackawanna Trail to the LFC Division III and District 2 Class 1A championships. He finished second on the team with 78 total tackles and had five tackles for loss. He had two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He had a season-high 12 tackles in a win over Dunmore and had 10 tackles in a win over Riverside.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Valley View's Jeffrey Wasilchak.\" width=\"496\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/STT-L-ptw-02_0a0a74.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1393155\" \/>Valley View\u2019s Jeffrey Wasilchak.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>JEFFREY WASILCHAK<\/p>\n<p>Valley View<\/p>\n<p>Linebacker<\/p>\n<p>5-11, 225, Junior<\/p>\n<p>Helped lead Valley View to the District 2 Class 4A semifinals. He had a team-high 91 total tackles and five passes defended. He had a season-best 15 tackles in the District 2 Class 4A playoffs against Dallas, 11 in a win over Scranton Prep and 10 in a win over Wilkes-Barre Area. He is a two-year starter who has 198 total tackles, six for loss and a sack in his career.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Lakeland's Jackson Pochas.\" width=\"632\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/STT-L-playerstowatch2-01_f895b7.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1400824\" \/>Lakeland\u2019s Jackson Pochas.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>JACKSON POCHAS<\/p>\n<p>Lakeland<\/p>\n<p>Secondary<\/p>\n<p>5-10, 160, Sophomore<\/p>\n<p>Helped lead Lakeland to the LFC Division II and District 2 Class 2A championships. He had 42 total tackles with one for loss. He had one interception, three passes defended and a fumble recovery. He had a season-high eight tackles against Riverside and against Dunmore in the district final. He also contributed 46 receptions for 759 yards and eight touchdowns.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Dunmore's Weston Yannone.\" width=\"3024\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/STT-L-playerstowatch9-01_5cf551-rotated-1.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1446971\" \/>Dunmore\u2019s Weston Yannone.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>WESTON YANNONE<\/p>\n<p>Dunmore<\/p>\n<p>Secondary<\/p>\n<p>6-0, 190, Junior<\/p>\n<p>Helped lead Dunmore to the District 2 Class 2A final. He had 30 tackles with three interceptions, returning two for touchdowns, two sacks, a forced fumble and a tackle for a loss. He has had five interceptions, returning three for touchdowns, in the last two seasons. Second All-Region selection.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"North Pocono's Chase Zimmerman.\" width=\"508\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/STT-L-playerstowatch10-01_769e26.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1453537\" \/>North Pocono\u2019s Chase Zimmerman.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>CHASE ZIMMERMAN<\/p>\n<p>North Pocono<\/p>\n<p>Secondary<\/p>\n<p>5-11, 180, Senior<\/p>\n<p>Helped lead North Pocono to the LFC Division I and District 2 Class 4A championships and a school-record 13 wins. He had 67 total tackles and eight for loss. He had two interceptions and 11 passes defended. He had a season-high nine tackles, including one on fourth down in overtime in a win over Delaware Valley that clinched the LFC Division I title.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Riverside's Brayden Rose.\" width=\"766\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/STT-L-playerstowatch9-04.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1446970\" \/>Riverside\u2019s Brayden Rose.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>BRAYDEN ROSE<\/p>\n<p>Riverside<\/p>\n<p>Secondary<\/p>\n<p>6-3, 185, Junior<\/p>\n<p>Helped lead Riverside to the District 2 Class 2A semifinals. He played safety and outside linebacker and had 50 total tackles, seven for loss, three sacks, three interceptions and three forced fumbles. He contributed four kickoff returns for 296 yards and three touchdowns, and had 137 yards on punt returns with a touchdown.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Santino D'Amico, Riverside\" width=\"1316\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/STT-L-santinodamico-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1181823\" \/>Santino D\u2019Amico, Riverside<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>SANTINO D\u2019AMICO<\/p>\n<p>Riverside<\/p>\n<p>Specialist\/Punter<\/p>\n<p>5-11, 195, Senior<\/p>\n<p>Helped Riverside to the District 2 Class 2A semifinals. He was the top kicker and punter in the LFC Division III. He averaged 35.5 yards per punt with a season-long of 52 yards. He hit six punts inside the 20. He kicked 49 extra points and two field goals with a season-long of 45 yards. Second All-Region selection.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"North Pocono's Greg Dolhon\" width=\"470\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/STT-L-allregionfootball-01_50eb7e.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1496691\" \/>North Pocono\u2019s Greg Dolhon<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>COACH OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n<p>GREG DOLHON<\/p>\n<p>North Pocono<\/p>\n<p>Guided North Pocono to the Lackawanna Football Conference Division I and District 2 Class 4A championships and a school-record 13 wins. He has a career record of 77-75 in 14 seasons.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"North Pocono\u2019s Cole West. \u00a0 PLAYER OF THE YEAR COLE WEST North Pocono 6-2, 195, Junior Lackawanna Football&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":66758,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[305,178,180,179,726],"class_list":{"0":"post-66757","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-scranton","8":"tag-high-school-sports","9":"tag-scranton","10":"tag-scranton-headlines","11":"tag-scranton-news","12":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66757","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66757"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66757\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/66758"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66757"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66757"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66757"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}