District 2 Small School Week 1 Story & Rankings Recap

By: SportzWire | Sportzwire | August 27, 2025

Week 1 in District 2 football didn’t disappoint. From defensive slugfests to overtime thrillers and a few eye-opening blowouts, the Small School landscape already looks different than it did just a week ago.

The marquee matchup was Valley View’s 14-10 win over Scranton Prep, where the Cougars shut down the Cavaliers in the second half and leaned on a stingy defense to secure an emotional rivalry victory. Prep, the preseason No. 1, took its first stumble but remains firmly in the mix as one of the division’s most complete teams.

Riverside delivered the week’s biggest jolt. The Vikings went on the road and outlasted Dunmore 17-14 in overtime, a game many see as a preview of the AAA title picture. Quarterback Brayden Rose accounted for both Riverside scores, while Santino D’Amico drilled the game-winning field goal to send a statement across the league.

Western Wayne showed no rust with a 32-0 shutout of Susquehanna, proving their retooled offense and trademark physical defense are already in sync. Meanwhile, Lackawanna Trail, the reigning district champions, opened their campaign with a 35-21 win over Tunkhannock. Isaac Ryon found the end zone four times as the Lions reminded everyone why they sit at the top of the rankings.

Elsewhere, Mid Valley was stunned by Pittston Area 46-9, dropping the Spartans in the polls after a one-sided opener. Lakeland rolled past Carbondale 52-14 with six different players scoring touchdowns, and Berwick avenged last year’s opening loss to Lake-Lehman behind Ty’Meere Wilkerson’s 120 yards and two scores. West Scranton snapped a long losing streak with a 20-7 win over Old Forge, thanks to a pick-six by Kaz Colbert, while Holy Cross impressed in a 32-6 victory over Montrose led by Aiden Wudarski’s three-touchdown performance.

Rankings Movement

• Lackawanna Trail climbed into the No. 1 spot after their strong opener.

• Scranton Prep slipped to No. 2 following the loss to Valley View.

• Riverside surged into the Top 4 with their overtime win at Dunmore.

• Dunmore slid a spot but proved they’ll contend all season.

• Mid Valley dropped after being upset, while Berwick and Lakeland pushed higher with convincing wins.

• Holy Cross sits just outside the Top 10, knocking on the door after a balanced showing.

Week 1 reminded everyone how unpredictable District 2’s Small Schools can be. With rivalry games and championship previews already shaking up the polls, the race to November is officially underway—and no spot in the Top 10 looks safe.

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