LACKAWANNA TRAIL FOOTBALL: Ryon adds records, helps Lions to quarterfinals

Isaac Ryon set a series of school and conference records while helping Lackawanna Trail go 12-2 and advance to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class A state football quarterfinals.

Ryon’s 2,856 rushing yards were the most in school history and his 54 touchdowns were the most ever by a Lackawanna Football Conference player. He finished with 4,945 career rushing yards.

Belmont Charter 52, Lackawanna Trail 40

Nafis Watkins threw five touchdown passes and Belmont Charter remained in front throughout a high-scoring second half Nov. 21 to defeat Lackawanna Trail in a state quarterfinal at Northern Lehigh.

LFC Division 3 and District 2-11 Class A Subregional champion Lackawanna Trail led twice, but was hurt by its own turnovers in the first half and explosive plays by Belmont Charter in the second half.

Lackawanna Trail played almost half the game without record-setting running back Ryon because of one injury, then lost Tim Richmond, who was having a big night, to an injury early in the second half.

Ryon entered the game in the waning moments of the first half and ran for three second-half touchdowns. He finished with 100 yards on 21 carries.

Richmond caught two passes for 104 and also exceeded 100 yards on his two kickoff returns.

It was not enough to keep up with Tigers.

Lackawanna Trail fumbled on the first play, but came up with a goal-line stand, stuffing the opponent from Philadelphia on third down from the two yard line and fourth down from the one yard line.

Richmond’s 49-yard touchdown reception from Tyler Jervis gave the Lions a 7-0 lead.

Shyneem Newsuan ran 10 yards for the first of his three touchdowns and the Tigers added the first of their pair of two-point conversions for an 8-7 advantage.

Jervis and Richmond connected for another long pass to set up Sean Dwyer’s -yard touchdown run for a 14-8 Lackawanna Trail lead midway through the second quarter.

Watkins threw a pair of touchdown passes less than two minutes apart with the help of an interception in between.

The Lions closed the gap to 22-20 before halftime after Richmond’s long kickoff return set up Dwyer’s 6-yard touchdown.

Belmont Charter stopped Lackawanna Trail on fourth-and-one to begin the second half and got a 28-yard touchdown pass from Watkins to Tahir Tucker.

Ryon’s 1-yard touchdown pulled the Lions back within two points for the last time with 4:04 left in the third quarter.

Less than a minute later, the Tigers had a 40-26 lead.

Newsuan ran 52 yards for a touchdown on the first play after Ryon’s score, the Lions could not handle the ensuing kickoff and the Tigers scored again in one play on a 22-yard pass from Watkins to Tucker.

Ryon’s 4-yard run made it 40-33 in the first minute of the fourth quarter, but the Tigers again had a swift response.

Kabir Knight turned a short Watkins pass into a 67-yard touchdown on third-and-13.

Following a defensive stand in the Red Zone, Newsuan went 74 yards for a touchdown and 52-33 lead.

Ryon added a 2-yard touchdown in the closing seconds.

Lackawanna Trail 31, Line Mountain 20

Ryon and Jervis produced all the points Nov. 15 as Lackawanna Trail advanced into the state quarterfinals with a victory over previously unbeaten Line Mountain at Shamokin.

Ryon, who also kicked four extra points and a field goal, and Jervis scored two touchdowns each.

It was Jervis who provided an early spark, making sure the Lions never trailed.

With Line Mountain threatening on the game’s first possession, Kaylix Douglas deflected a pass that Jervis picked off and ran 78 yards for a touchdown.

Line Mountain tied the game 7-7 after one quarter on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Kaiden Maurer to Bryce Smeltz on fourth-and-11.

Ryon put the Lions ahead for good with his 20-yard field goal, then added a 10-yard touchdown run.

Maurer found Hank Malfara for a 12-yard touchdown to bring Line Mountain back within 17-14 at halftime.

The Lions opened some breathing room on Ryon’s 22-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and a Jervis 2-yard run in the fourth for a 31-14 lead.

Ryon’s 44-yard run on third-and-16 set up the Jervis touchdown.

Maurer passed for 218 yards and three touchdowns, including a 12-yarder to Dalton Schadel for the game’s final score.

Line Mountain had the yardage advantage on a day when Lackawanna Trail did not complete a pass, but the Lions defense answered with big plays.

Douglas forced two fumbles and Ryon added an interception. Lackawanna Trail also stopped Line Mountain inside the 10 while up 10 points in the third quarter.

Ryon carried 16 times for 146 yards. Jervis ran for 69 yards on 10 carries.

Lackawanna Trail 41, Tri-Valley 14

Ryon led a 479-yard rushing attack and Lackawanna Trail’s defense held Tri-Valley scoreless for the last three quarters Nov. 7 to repeat its Subregional title with a home-field victory.

Ryon carried 19 times for 319 yards and five touchdowns, at least one in each quarter. He added to his list of school records by becoming Lackawanna Trail’s career rushing leader. Ryon also added five extra points.

The Bulldogs scored twice in the first quarter for a 14-14 tie before the Lions scored the game’s last 27 points.

Ryon ran 73 yards for a touchdown on the game’s first play.

Chase Gemberling’s 4-yard run forced a 7-7 tie

Ryan ran to the record with a 55-yard touchdown down the right sideline later in the first quarter.

Trey Porter from Tri-Valley created the last tie with a 10-yard touchdown.

Jervis ran 11 yards for what proved to be the winning touchdown, then Ryon added the remaining scores.

Ryon protected that lead with an end zone interception, then added the last three touchdowns – a 37-yarder in the second quarter, an 11-yarder in the third and a 1-yarder in the fourth.

Jervis finished with 74 yards on nine carries and Sean Dwyer had 65 on five carries.