Falcons Land at No 12 as Final JUCO Season Kicks Off

By: Justin Bradley | Sportzwire | August 18, 2025

The Lackawanna College football team enters its farewell season in the junior college ranks with a number next to its name. The Falcons will open 2025 at No. 12 in the NJCAA Division I preseason poll, setting the stage for one last run before moving to the NCAA Division II and the PSAC in 2026.

Lackawanna finished 7-3 last fall, with all three setbacks coming by a combined 10 points against powerhouses Georgia Military and Snow College. The Falcons led or had a chance to win in the fourth quarter of each, showing just how close they were to breaking through.

This fall’s schedule offers no soft landings. Lackawanna will square off with at least four ranked opponents, including road dates at Georgia Military and Snow in September, and a November home showdown against four-time defending Division III champion College of DuPage. Those games, combined with a hungry roster of returners and newcomers, give the Falcons plenty of chances to prove themselves before their leap to the four-year stage.

The team returns playmakers like receivers Carmelo Taylor and Christian Harrison, who both flashed big-play ability last year, along with safety Victor Holt and linebacker Micah Brown anchoring the defense. A new quarterback and running back rotation will step into the spotlight, with plenty of fresh faces ready to leave their mark. Head coach Mark Duda, now in his 32nd season, will guide the program into its final JUCO ride.

The season begins September 6 at home against Sussex County CC, and the Falcons know every Saturday counts. A top-15 ranking is the start. The finish? That’s for them to write.

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