LACKAWANNA TRAIL FOOTBALL

OLYPHANT — The Lackawanna Trail football team has all the ingredients necessary to continue its recent run of success.

“We’re definitely going to miss some senior leadership that graduated last year,” coach Steve Jervis said during an interview at Lackawanna Football Conference Media Day. “We lost our leading tacklers and our leading rusher, however, we feel very comfortable that the cupboard is not bare.

“We have good size and experience coming back on both the offensive and defensive lines. I feel like we have some very good speed at the skill positions.”

The Lions ended Old Forge’s five-year division championship run by claiming the Lackawanna Football Conference Division 3 title. They then went on to win District 2 and District 1-2 Subregional titles in Class A and went unbeaten and barely challenged before falling to Steelton-Highspire in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state quarterfinals.

After a 22-point win over Mid Valley in the opener, Lackawanna Trail faced just one game closer than that in its 13-0 start.

Demetrius Douglas, Max Kimmel, Blake Stage, Tony Paolucci, Cooper Patterson and Lucas Evans are all returning two-way starters from that team.

The status of Patterson, an all-state defensive end, is uncertain, however, as he works his way back from injury issues.

Douglas, who returns at running back and outside linebacker, averaged 9.5 yards while running for 811 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Kimmel, part of an outstanding defensive backfield, made the most of his limited receiving opportunities in the run-heavy, wing-T offense the Lions employ. He turned 13 catches into 406 yards – and average of 31.3 per catch – and seven touchdowns.

Stage is at tight end and defensive end.

Paolucci, the returning center, occupies the other defensive end position.

Patterson started at guard on offense, along with Colin Owens.

Evans, a 6-foot-3, 265-pound junior, is a two-way tackle.

Several other players have experience.

Isaac Ryon returns at free safety and also takes over in the backfield after running the ball effectively in a reserve role there last season. He averaged 11.7 yards on his 20 carries.

Brian Gow returns at tackle and takes over at nose guard on defense.

Tyler Jervis, the coach’s younger son, played frequently as a nickelback and will move into the defensive lineup more regularly as a linebacker. He will also take over for older brother, Stephen Jervis, as the quarterback after getting some experience there last season.

Logan Edwards played some at fullback where he takes over.

Depending on Patterson’s status and some potential shifting of positions, centers Christopher Kohinsky and Cooper Castellano could also figure into the offensive line.

Other potential defensive starters are cornerbacks Brandon Kalinoski and Sean Dwyer, linebacker Holden Edwards and lineman Will Kilmer

The Lions should also remain strong on the special teams.

Douglas returned three kickoffs for touchdowns last season and Ryon returned one. Dwyer also has returned kicks.

Kimmel is back at punter with Ryon and Holden Edwards returning as kickers.

“Experience in our kicking game should also be a strength,” coach Jervis said.

Others who could add to the rotation and depth include: defensive end Kaylix Douglas, linebacker Brayden Martinez and Aiden Mecca.