LACKAWANNA TRAIL REGULAR-SEASON FOOTBALL: Lions repeat division championship

Lackawanna Trail not only repeated its Lackawanna Football Conference Division 3 title.

The Lions did so rather emphatically, building a 40-0 lead in a final-game, first-place showdown at Riverside with what was perceived as their only threat.

The only things keeping the Lions from putting up bigger numbers in division competition were the running clock of the Mercy Rule, liberal use of substitutions and play-calling that avoided the pursuit of loftier totals.

Lackawanna Trail, which went 9-1 overall in the regular season to land the top seed and home field in the District 2-11 Class A Subregional, outscored its five Division 3 opponents by a total of 220-67 (44-13 on average). More impressively, they scored 99 first-quarter points for an average lead of 20-0 after one quarter and 36-4 at halftime.

“We always say we want to be playing our best football in November and we’re right on track to do that,” Lions coach Steve Jervis said.

Isaac Ryon, District 2’s top scorer for the second straight season, led the way, surpassing 2,000 rushing yards in the process.

“The key to our success is being able to spread the ball around on offense,” coach Jervis said after a mid-October win at Susquehanna. “Isaac is obviously an extremely talented player, but we’re being able to utilize all facets of our offense.

“Defensively, we’re limiting the big explosive plays. Special teams wise, we’ve been doing a good job of controlling the battle of field position. So, overall, we’re happy right where we’re at.”

A look at the last four games of the regular season, all Division 3 contests:

Lackawanna Trail 40, Riverside 14

From Day One, the Oct. 24 game at Riverside stood out as a likely championship battle.

The two defending district champions did not disappoint as they each arrived at the regular-season finale with 4-0 division and 8-1 overall records.

Ryon’s latest exploits made sure it was no contest.

Ryon rushed for 279 yards and four touchdowns in the first half alone and finished with 370 yards and five touchdowns in just 13 carries. He scored from 44 and 79 yards in the first quarter, 68 and 61 yards in the second quarter and 77 yards in the third quarter.

Carter Edwards added the 9-yard touchdown that made it 40-0 going to the fourth.

Lackawanna Trail 53, Holy Cross 12

Ryon turned 10 carries into 242 yards and six touchdowns Oct. 18 at Holy Cross.

Tyler Jervis scored two defensive touchdowns.

Jervis returned a fumble to go along with the first four Ryon touchdowns for a 34-0 lead after one quarter. He later returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown.

Lackawanna Trail 54, Susquehanna 14

SUSQUEHANNA – Ryon led the way as Lackawanna Trail scored on more than half its first-half offensive plays on the way to the rout of host Susquehanna Oct. 11.

The Lions needed just 11 plays to score six offensive touchdowns.

Ryon carried five times for 188 yards, all in the first half. Three of those carries resulted in touchdowns and he added a kickoff return for a fourth score as Lackawanna Trail opened a 48-6 lead with 3:47 remaining in the half.

All four Ryon touchdowns covered at least 50 yards.

Sean Dwyer ran for 72 yards and two touchdowns on three carries.

Anthony Paolucci and Kaylix Douglas tackled the punter at the 1 before he could get the ball away and lineman Colin Owens got a chance in the backfield, scoring from there on the next play.

Lackawanna Trail 35, Carbondale 7

Tyler Jervis and Ryon each accounted for three touchdowns in the Oct. 3 victory at Carbondale.

Jervis ran for two scores and passed to Ryon for another.

Ryon, who carried 15 times for 233 yards, scored three touchdowns in the second quarter, one of them from 85 yards.