District 2 Football Playoff Preview
By: Nate Johns | SportzWire | October 29, 2025 | Photo courtesy Sportzwire
The high school football regular season concluded in Pennsylvania with Week 10, and district playoffs are set to begin this weekend. District 2 has brackets for all six PIAA classifications and each bracket will feature four teams and last two rounds. Here is a preview of each classification and a championship prediction. Teams will be listed in order from highest to lowest seed.
Class A (District 2/11 Subregional)
Teams: Lackawanna Trail, Marian Catholic (D11), Tri-Valley (D11), Nativity BVM (D11)
The Lions come in as heavy favorites to repeat as subregional champions after a 9-1 season. They are undefeated at home and have won seven straight games largely thanks to senior running back Isaac Ryon and an elite defense. Ryon rushed for 2,079 yards and 33 touchdowns in the regular season and Lackawanna Trail’s defense held opponents to 17 points per game during their winning streak. Marian Catholic has won two straight to snap a three game losing streak, which came against teams with a combined record of 27-3. The Colts also beat Tri-Valley 17-14 at home in Week 2. Tri-Valley enters the playoffs on a two game losing streak, but finished the regular season 6-4 with losses to Marian Catholic and the same teams that beat the Colts. They held Williams Valley to a season-low 14 points. Nativity BVM has lost three straight games and six of their last eight. The Lions and Colts will likely advance, and the Lions at home should be celebrating another district title.
Championship prediction: Lackawanna Trail defeats Marian Catholic
Class AA
Teams: Lakeland, Riverside, Dunmore, Holy Redeemer
Lakeland went 9-1 in the regular season and hasn’t lost a game since Week 4. They own wins over Riverside and Dunmore and both games were on the road. Quarterback David Naniewicz leads an offense with two 500-yard receivers in Chase Rosekrans and Jackson Pochas, an 800-yard rusher in Naniewicz and a 600-yard rusher in Gavin Roberts. Riverside will open the playoffs hosting Dunmore, who they beat 17-14 in overtime in Week 1. Vikings’ Quarterback Brayden Rose is having a season for the ages with 32 total touchdowns. Dunmore has a four-headed monster in their backfield with Ryan Mecca, Westone Yannone, Xavier Burke and Brandon Mecca who have combined for 31 rushing touchdowns. The Royals have the ability to put up video game numbers on offense, but will need a lot of breaks to upset the Chiefs. The Chiefs will likely advance and play a team they beat by multiple scores earlier this year.
Championship prediction: Lakeland defeats Riverside
Class AAA
Teams: Berwick, Wyoming Area, Scranton Prep, Hanover Area
The Bulldogs went 10-0 for the first time since 2013 thanks to a 2,423 rushing yard, 34 rushing touchdown season from Ty’Meere Wilkerson. Brady Cleaver took over at quarterback to give the offense another weapon in the running game. Berwick won every game this year by multiple scores and has the ingredients for a special playoff run. Wyoming Area secured the No. 2 seed and had some big non-conference wins over Dallas, Pittston Area and Lakeland and their only loss coming against Berwick. Jack Gravine has been a true dual-threat quarterback with 16 passing touchdowns vs two interceptions and 661 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Scranton Prep started the season 0-3 and went on to win five of their last seven games, including a 51-19 over state powerhouse Jersey Shore. Cavaliers’ Quarterback Will McPartland returned from injury midway through the year and passed for over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns along with 689 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. Hanover Area went 6-4 and ended the year with a three-game winning streak where they outscored opponents 161-0. The Hawkeyes offense is one of the deadliest in the district, averaging 37.8 points per game. Berwick already beat Hanover Area this season, and the Cavaliers vs Warriors might be a game of the year contender. My prediction leans to the team that has experience winning in these situations.
Championship prediction: Scranton Prep defeats Berwick
Class AAAA
Teams: North Pocono, Valley View, Dallas, Crestwood
North Pocono completed an undefeated regular season for the third time in program history. The Trojans won the LFC Division I and are looking for their first district championship since 2016. Their offensive trio of quarterback Chase Zimmerman, Josiah Gray and Cole West have rushed for 23 combined touchdowns and connected on six touchdown passes. Valley View struggled in the middle of the season losing four of six games, but then ended the year with a two-game winning streak to secure a home playoff game. Dallas enters the postseason on a four-game winning streak with one of the most dynamic players in the area in Sam Kelley. Crestwood still has one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in Jaden Shedlock. North Pocono should handle business in the semi-finals and Valley View hosts Dallas in Archbald, a house of horrors for the Mountaineers. In the end, it feels like there’s magic in Moscow, and nobody has been able to stop the Trojans all season.
Championship prediction: North Pocono defeats Valley View
Class AAAAA
Teams: Abington Heights, Pittston Area, Delaware Valley, Wyoming Valley West
Abington Heights locked up the No. 1 seed with its win over Hazleton and Pittston Area’s loss to Wyoming Area. The Comets got quarterback Nick Bradley back after he missed several weeks with an injury. Running back Jayden Anglin and wide receiver Gavin Anders serve as the primary weapons, and the defense has been stout, only allowing 16 points per game. Pittston Area enters the playoffs cold after a one-point win over Wallenpaupack and a 19-point loss to Wyoming Area. Lucas LoPresto remains one of the best receivers in the WVC with 14 total touchdowns and 927 all-purpose yards. Brody Spindler is a force at running back with 957 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Delaware Valley won five of its last six games and has one of the most potent offenses in the area. Trey Newton has been a star at wideout with 649 receiving yards, eight receiving touchdowns and a rushing touchdown. Wyoming Valley West will get good experience for their young players. Abington Heights should host the district final, however their opponent is a toss up. I expect a rematch from Week 6, with the result flipped.
Championship prediction: Abington Heights defeats Delaware Valley
Class AAAAAA
Teams: Wilkes-Barre Area, Williamsport (D4), Scranton, Hazleton
Wilkes-Barre met Williamsport in Week 10 and it is highly likely they will meet again. The Wolfpack have one of the best quarterbacks in the WVC in Jake Howe, who passed for over 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns. Davon Underwood and Kevon Creech are both pass catchers who can operate in space and are nightmares for opposing defenses. The question for the Wolfpack is their defense, which cost them in games against Dallas and Pittston. Williamsport won the subregional last year and already owns a win over WBA on the road. That win also snapped a four-game losing streak for the Millionaires. Scranton has dealt with injuries and have lost six straight and failed to score 20 points in any of those games. Hazleton is in its first year under a new coach and will be getting good experience for a young core that can make noise next year. The championship should be a Week 10 rematch, but with a different result.
Championship prediction: Wilkes-Barre Area defeats Williamsport
