Week 1 of District 2 football had it all, power in the trenches, highlight-reel returns, clutch kicks, and plenty of style. SportzWire rolled out its first slate of weekly features, celebrating the athletes who set the tone under the Friday night lights and the local sponsors who make it possible. From Lakelands dominant offensive line to Riversides game-winning heroics, Lackawanna Trails electric playmaking to Valley Views throwback swagger, these performances defined the opening weekend. And this is just the beginning. Each week, SportzWire will continue shining a spotlight on the athletes, the moments, and the stories that bring our communities together.

Valley View and Mid Valley battled in more than just a non-conference matchup Thursday night. It was friends turned rivals for 80 minutes, with bragging rights on the line before they reunite as teammates for Anthracite FC. In the end, Gavin Walsh set up Braden Loff for the decisive second-half goal, giving the Cougars a 1-0 win on their home field.

Week 1 brought chaos to the District 2 Coaches Poll as Valley View stunned the field by leaping from seventh to the top spot after a gritty win over Scranton Prep. Delaware Valley slipped from No. 1, North Pocono made a statement, and newcomers Wallenpaupack and Honesdale shook up the rankings in a dramatic opening weekend.

District 2 Small Schools wasted no time shaking up the rankings in Week 1. Lackawanna Trail jumped into the top spot with a strong opener, Riverside surged into the Top 4 after an overtime thriller at Dunmore, and Berwick made their debut at No. 7. Meanwhile, preseason No. 1 Scranton Prep slipped to second after a loss to Valley View, and Old Forge dropped out of the Top 10 entirely.

SportzWire has taken game coverage to the next level with live scoreboards across District 2, 4, and 11. From Friday night football to weekday soccer and volleyball, our team is on the ground delivering real-time updates. Visit SportzWire.com, click the Live Scoring menu, and follow along. Special thanks to our main sponsor Redleaf for making it possible.

When Lake-Lehman and Wyoming Area take the field, it’s never just another game. It’s neighbors against neighbors, friends who grew up playing youth sports together suddenly squaring off under the lights, and two communities that pour their hearts into every pass, every save, and every goal.

With Week 1 in the books and Week 2 starting Thursday night, the 2025 District XI high school football season is officially underway, and the D11 Big and Small School Rankings are already heating up. Dominant performances, hard-fought wins, and a few early upsets have set the tone for what promises to be a thrilling season.

As the dust settles on Week 1 of the high school football season, the District IV landscape has already seen its share of surprises, shakeups, and statement wins. The preseason rankings gave us a glimpse of potential, but now that the pads are popping and the games are official, it\'s clear some teams came out swinging—while others have ground to make up.

Lakelands C.J. Dippre didn’t survive the Patriots final cut to 53, but the undrafted rookie tight end could still find his next opportunity, whether on New England’s practice squad or with another NFL team in search of depth and grit.

Week one of the high school football season is in the books and if it was any indication of things to come, this could be a very fun season. Pittston pulled off the biggest upset, and perhaps the most dominant win last week with their 46-7 win over the Mid Valley Spartans. Valley View and Riverside picked up key wins over rivals Scranton Prep and Dunmore respectively. West Scranton picked up their first win since 2023.

SportzWire is proud to launch its first-ever Wired Athlete of the Week, powered by Envy Electrical. This weekly honor celebrates student-athletes who are wired right to make an impact in more ways than one, on the field of play, in the classroom, and throughout their communities. Our debut honoree, North Pocono senior golfer Lyla Jones, has set the bar high with championship performances, leadership, and a true love for the game that lights up everyone around her.

SportzWire’s own Justin Bradley has earned global recognition. Out of nearly 1,000 entries worldwide, his powerful photo of Greater Pittston Township’s 10-year-old Kaysen Simmons was selected as one of just three winners in Little League International’s 2025 Global Photo Contest. The honor places Justin’s work on the world stage, featured in the World of Little League Museum, showcased during the Little League World Series, and advancing to the Professional Baseball Photographer’s Association Contest later this fall.

As The Valley League continues to grow, so does its impact—on and off the court. And if this year’s finale is any indication, the future of local basketball is brighter than ever.

Week 1 of District 2 football delivered everything from nail-biters to dominant statements. Wyoming Area pulled out a 24–21 win over Crestwood on a late Gavin Feeney field goal, while Lakeland rolled past Carbondale behind a balanced offensive attack. Berwick earned revenge on Lake-Lehman behind Ty’Meere Wilkerson’s 120 yards and two scores, and Abington Heights went on the road for a hard-fought win at East Stroudsburg South. Elsewhere, Nativity, North Pocono, Riverside, and Valley View all made strong opening impressions to kick off the new season.

The Nativity BVM golf team is on a tear, winning six straight matches and showing significant improvement with each outing. The highlight came on August 21st when the team shattered the school scoring record with a combined 299.