Home → Sports ( August 26, 2026 )
OLYPHANT – Forest City students will once again be part of the Carbondale football team in a cooperative sponsorship this season.
Sophomore Evan Lisi is a returning two-way lineman for the Chargers. Ayden Sopko, a junior, is another two-way lineman who is back after being a key substitute last season.
Junior Ethan Lee started at linebacker late last season and also plays fullback.
Two-way lineman Chase Spangenberg and offensive lineman/linebacker Colton Hillriegel are newcomers to the team.
With senior running back/defensive backs Francisco Roman and Caedon Voglino leading the way, the Chargers appear to be the top threat to defending champion Lackawanna Trail in Division 3 of the realigned Lackawanna Football Conference.
Other observations from around the conference following Stan Kucharski LFC Media Day prior to the season:
Lackawanna Trail lost half its starting lineup from the LFC Division 3 and District 2 Class A champions, including state Class A Player of the Year Isaac Ryon.
The Lions still could have the division’s best line with Tony Paolucci, Kaylix Dougas and Cooper Castellano returning.
Montrose returns to the LFC and could fit right into the middle of the division, which also includes rival Susquehanna.
Old Forge will try to shake out of a down cycle after going 2-8 and being unable to move the ball on the ground last season.
The return of Ryan Gutowski, the starting tailback and linebacker before an early injury, could help.
Linemen Danny Churla and Gavin McNichols, running back/linebacker Joey Dominick and wide receiver/defensive back Ayden Aversa are returning two-way starters for the Blue Devils.
Holy Cross had been making some mild progress in recent years, but the Crusaders have a small roster and are expected to struggle just to remain competitive. Their roster on Media Day listed just 19 players.
With Montrose’s return, Riverside has left Division 2 and moved to Division 3.
Dunmore, with former Susquehanna Saber and current National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I prospect Weston Yannone leading the way, is expected to battle defending champion Lakeland for the Division 2 title. Yannone, who has offers from Army West Point and Maine, is a threat as a running quarterback and is a returning all-star at defensive back.
Yannone should get plenty of help from wide receiver/defensive back Jacob Costanzo, another Division I prospect; physical fullback/linebackers Xavier Burke and Brandon Mecca and a big, experienced line.
Lakeland is loaded with returning starters, including the division’s top receiver in Chase Rosenkrans.
The Chiefs suffered a preseason setback, however, when returning defensive back and expected quarterback starter Rocco Spataro was lost to an injury.
Jackson Pochas, a returning standout at wide receiver and defensive back, may need to play quarterback.
Linemen Cole Hastings and linebacker Dylan Loomis are also among the top returnees.
Riverside has a new coach in Jim Tucker, but returns Brayden Rose, who has multiple major Division I offers. Rose is being recruited as a defensive back, but he is a threat as a quarterback as well.
Mid Valley, Honesdale, Western Wayne complete the division.
Dave Shimcosky takes over as coach at Western Wayne, which returns most of its starting lineup.
North Pocono, coming off an unbeaten regular season and its first-ever state tournament win, is the favorite in Division 1.
Versatile Cole West returns to lead the Trojans.
Abington Heights, with 1,300-yard rusher and standout linebacker Jayden Anglin leading the way, is the top threat.
Valley View, Delaware Valley and Scranton Prep are yearly contenders.
Long-time defensive assistant Jack Miles takes over as head coach at Scranton.
West Scranton could be improved, but is likely to struggle after a move up from Division 2.
Wallenpaupack rounds out the division.
Elk Lake’s Colby Ruark shot a 6-over-par, 78 Aug. 17 at Elkview Country Club and Mountain View posted a team score of 335 to lead Susquehanna County golfers in the Bob Simons Memorial Golf Tournament for Lackawanna League boys’ golfers.
The Eagles finished sixth in the 24-team field.
Scranton Prep won the team title when it had the only three players in the tournament to break par.
Cole Powell, Brendan Bell and Bobby Stott each shot 71 then had a playoff, which Powell won for the individual title.
Abington Heights had four players shoot 75 or better to finish second behind Scranton Prep, 288-299.
Lakeland was third with 308, followed by Honesdale 319 and Holy Cross 330.
Mountain View put together a strong team showing, led by Landon Weida’s 80.
Logan Thatcher (83), Jesse Keating (84) and Coe Masters (88) completed the team score.
Cooper Sipe and Parker Stone each shot 86 to help Elk Lake finish ninth with a 341.
Blue Ridge finished 13th with a 355.
Jackson Decker led the way with an 83. Chris Kowalewski shot 88 and Tyler Soden 90.
T.J. Collins had an 86 to help Forest City place 19th with a 387.
Susquehanna, in its first year back in the sport, was led by Griffin Fisk’s 91 and finished 21st with a 403.
The Sabers beat two other teams, Old Forge and Carbondale.
Montrose was the only team not to produce a four-player score.
Dave Newman shot 85 and Matt Dovin 89 while representing the Meteors.
Brett Stage makes his debut as Montrose head football coach Friday night when the Meteors host Pottsville Nativity BVM in a non-league game.
Nativity went 4-7 last season, losing to Lackawanna Trail, 50-6, in a District 2-11 Class A Subregional semifinal.
The teams had one common opponent with both beating Holy Redeemer. Nativity won, 36-0, and Montrose won, 30-25.
Montrose went 3-7.
Susquehanna also opens with a non-league game, playing at former division rival Riverside.
Riverside was 8-3 last season and Susquehanna was 1-9. The Vikings won their meeting, 55-7.
High school football predictions return and will again include all games involving LFC teams.
Last year’s predictions were 118-34 (77.6 percent), including 18-7 (72.0 percent) in the playoffs.
Opening week picks, with home teams in CAPS: Pottsville Nativity 24, MONTROSE 21 … RIVERSIDE 40, Susquehanna 13 … Carbondale 33, NANTICOKE 7 … Lackawanna Trail 27, WESTERN WAYNE 14 … LAKELAND 49, Holy Cross 0 … PEN ARGYL 45, Old Forge 21 … DUNMORE 17, Wyoming Area 14 … WALLENPAUPACK 30, Honesdale 14 … MID VALLEY 22, Lake-Lehman 12 … NORTH POCONO 31, Berwick 13 … ABINGTON HEIGHTS 21, Allentown Central Catholic 20 … NORTHWESTERN LEHIGH 30, Valley View 16 … BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC 19, Delaware Valley 14 … LOYOLA BLAKEFIELD (Md.) 36, Scranton Prep 15 … Pocono Mountain West 34, SCRANTON 23 … HAZLETON AREA 31, West Scranton 12.
TOM ROBINSON writes a weekly local sports column for the Susquehanna County Transcript. He can be reached online at RobbyTR@aol.com or followed on Twitter at @tomjrobinson.