LACKAWANNA TRAIL FOOTBALL: Ryon leads Lions back to top of two races

Isaac Ryon is once again putting up some of the most impressive offensive numbers in District 2, and the Lackawanna Trail Lions are again leading title races.

Ryon went into October as the leading scorer in District 2, trying to duplicate a feat he accomplished for the entire 2024 season. He also is the top rusher in the Lackawanna Football Conference, going over the 1,000-yard mark for the season and joining Berwick’s Ty’Meere Wilkerson as the only runners to accomplish that feat so far.

The first player in the district to 20 touchdowns, Ryon had 130 total points through six games. He had 17 rushing and three receiving touchdowns along with 10 kicking points.

Lackawanna Trail is on a three-game winning streak, putting the Lions at 5-1 on the season. They share the early lead in Lackawanna Football Conference Division 3, going into an Oct. 3 game with Carbondale — one of the co-leaders, and are on top of the District 2-11 Class A Subregional power ratings race as they try to repeat titles in both.

The Lions will end the regular season Oct. 24 at Riverside, the other division co-leader, which is also off to a 5-1 start.

Lackawanna Trail 38, Old Forge 20

Ryon scored three first-quarter touchdowns to help the Lions jump to a 28-0 lead when visiting Old Forge in the LFC Division 3 opener for both teams.

The game was played on Sunday, Sept. 28, after being moved back two days in response to a safety concern.

Tyler Jervis returned a fumble for a touchdown and threw to Ryon for one of his scores.

Carter Edwards, who rushed for 100 yards, scored a second-quarter touchdown to put the lead at 35-0 and place the entire second half in the Mercy Rule.

Ryon added his second field goal of the season before winless Old Forge scored the game’s final 20 points.

Lackawanna Trail 49, Mid Valley 27

Lackawanna Trail was down 7-6 after one quarter in the Sept. 19, non-league matchup of defending LFC divisional champions.

Ryon made sure that did not last. He broke an 82-yard run for the go-ahead score in the second quarter, then sparked a 34-point second half.

There was much more to Ryon’s effort than the staggering rushing numbers of 308 yards and five touchdowns. He also caught three passes for 45 yards, threw a 42-yard pass, intercepted two passes and kicked a field goal.

Sean Dwyer ran for two touchdowns.

Lackawanna Trail 30, Dunmore 28

Lackawanna Trail won the field position battle late and used it to pull out a home-field victory in the Sept. 12 non-league game.

A Dunmore snap went over the punter’s head and out of the end zone with less than three minutes remaining for a safety.

The safety provided the last points in a game that was tied at 7-7, 14-14, 21-21 and 28-28.

After handling the free kick, the Lions ran the remaining time off the clock.

Ryon scored three touchdowns. He rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns while joining Tim Richmond in turning two Jervis pass completions into touchdowns.

Berwick 33, Lackawanna Trail 12

BERWICK — Two of District 2’s best running backs met in a marquee clash at Crispin Field Sept. 5.

Ryon was good, but Ty’Meere Wilkerson was better — and the Dawgs put another big-time win in their pocket as a result.

Wilkerson ran for 232 yards and three touchdowns, and the Berwick defense put the clamps down on Lackawanna Trail’s run game for large stretches of the night.

The game was the second of five straight 200-yard rushing efforts for Wilkerson and one of the biggest reasons the Bulldogs are sitting at 6-0 with North Pocono as District 2’s only unbeaten teams. They avenged a 35-0 loss at Lackawanna Trail last season.

“Ty’s such a great kid, he worked so hard this offseason,” Berwick coach C.J. Curry said. “To have a guy like that, he’s a leader for us.”

Ryon broke an early 67-yard touchdown run. He finished with 161 yards rushing, but could not get back to the end zone.

Wilkerson’s last touchdown covered 81 yards in the fourth quarter.

Jervis closed the scoring on a 3-yard run for Lackawanna Trail.