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Barnauskas Breaks Loose as Mid Valley Rolls Past Lackawanna Trail, 42-16

Barnauskas Breaks Loose as Mid Valley Rolls Past Lackawanna Trail, 42-16

By: SportzWire | SportzWire | September 26, 2026 | Photo courtesy Andrea Mecca

FACTORYVILLE — It didn’t take long for Kayden Barnauskas to turn a close game into a track meet.

Lackawanna Trail struck first Friday night with a 27-yard field goal, but just 23 seconds later Barnauskas found daylight and was gone..82 yards to the end zone to put Mid Valley in front.

The Spartans never trailed again.

Mid Valley scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter and continued pulling away after halftime, rolling to a 42-16 victory over the Lions and improving to 3-2 on the season.

Barnauskas was at the center of it all.

The Mid Valley standout carried 16 times for 182 yards and three touchdowns, averaging more than 11 yards per carry. After his 82-yard burst in the opening quarter, he added touchdown runs of five yards and one yard in the second.

But the Spartans weren’t limited to the ground.

Mid Valley stretched the field through the air as Nick Hricenak caught six passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns.

His first came on an 18-yard pass from Cole Skotleski with 3:14 remaining in the second quarter. Barnauskas’ third touchdown followed with just five seconds left before halftime, sending Mid Valley into the locker room ahead 28-3.

The big plays continued immediately after the break.

On the opening stages of the third quarter, Aiden Willson connected with Hricenak for a 50-yard touchdown, pushing the advantage to 35-3.

Lackawanna Trail continued battling and found the end zone twice in the second half. Lucas Filipek scored on a nine-yard run late in the third quarter, while Colby Stanton broke free for a 29-yard touchdown in the fourth.

The Lions finished with 225 rushing yards, but Mid Valley’s ability to generate explosive plays proved too much to overcome.

Paxton Grebb supplied the Spartans’ final score, breaking a 43-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

By night’s end, Mid Valley had accumulated 384 total yards, including 273 on the ground, scored six touchdowns and produced scoring plays of 82, 50 and 43 yards.

The Spartans leave Factoryville at 3-2 with a much different challenge waiting next.

Top-ranked Dunmore visits Mid Valley next Friday in a matchup that will give the Spartans an opportunity to measure themselves against one of District 2’s top teams.

Lackawanna Trail falls to 0-5 and returns home next Friday to host Old Forge.