53 Years in the Making: Carbondale Claims Outright Division III Championship
By: Justin Bradley | SportzWire | October 31, 2026 | Photo courtesy Justin Focus
CARBONDALE — Fifty-three years. That’s how long Carbondale Area waited for another outright division football championship.
Friday night, the wait was over.
With a 28-13 victory over Old Forge, the Chargers completed their climb to the top of Lackawanna Football Conference Division III, celebrating an outright title on Senior Night in front of their home crowd.
For head coach Jeff Arthur, the championship carried a meaning that extended well beyond football.
Earlier this year, the Carbondale community lost longtime team bus driver Joe Waibel, a familiar face who had transported Arthur and his teams to games over the years. The Chargers dedicated their season to his memory.
And the connection to Friday night’s historic achievement was remarkable.
“In 1973, Joe Waibel scored the winning touchdown in the championship game, and here we are playing in his honor tonight,” Arthur shared during his postgame interview with SportzWire.
Fifty-three years later, the Chargers brought the outright championship back to Carbondale.
On the field, senior Caedon Voglino delivered another standout performance, rushing for 205 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. The effort also pushed Voglino past 1,000 rushing yards for the season.
Coming off his selection as SportzWire’s HYDRABATHS Swing Salt Athlete of the Week, Voglino added Cryotherapy Rejuvenate Player of the Game honors to an already memorable week.
Frank Roman opened the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown run in the first quarter before Old Forge answered in the second on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Dante Gonzalez to Sean Williams.
Voglino responded with a 32-yard touchdown run to put Carbondale ahead 14-7 at halftime.
The senior added touchdown runs of 4 and 6 yards in the second half, helping the Chargers maintain control. Old Forge scored late on an 18-yard Gonzalez touchdown pass to Ayden Aversa.
Carbondale piled up 330 rushing yards, with Mason Voglino adding 69 yards and Roman contributing 26 yards and a touchdown.
Old Forge’s Rylan Gutowski rushed for 83 yards, while Gonzalez threw for 125 yards and a touchdown. Elio Castaldi led the Blue Devils’ receivers with five catches for 69 yards.
Arthur credited his offensive line, his playmakers and defensive coordinator Bobby Matoushek for the team’s championship performance, also highlighting a key interception by Cage Nolan.
“I can’t say enough about this football team and this community and our fans,” Arthur said. “I’m just excited to be a Charger.”
For Caedon Voglino, the championship was especially meaningful in his final regular-season home game.
Asked about his relationship with Arthur, Voglino reflected on the coach who welcomed him into the program three years ago.
“Coach Arthur’s been here for me for everything,” Voglino said. “Three years ago when I came on this team, he opened with a big hug. I can’t thank him enough.”
The Chargers had already secured a share of the division championship entering Friday. But sharing wasn’t how they wanted to finish.
On a night dedicated to their seniors, their community and the memory of Joe Waibel, Carbondale completed a journey more than five decades in the making.
1973 to 2026. The Chargers are outright champions once again.
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter / X
YouTube
