2025 Face In The Crowd – Week 6

A FACE IN THE CROWD – WEEK 6

As we have reached mid-week, the Econoline, aka the FITC Mobile Command Center, is parked outside Bandit’s Roadhouse in good old Berwick, US of A. The sign out front says, “We are Motorcycle Friendly.” Apparently, that welcome does not extend to the mustard green behemoth that is belching black smoke with a carburetor that sounds like Cousin Gino in REM sleep after a few too many White Claws. Gino is currently conscious and sampling the Cowboy Kisses, some diabolical combination of bacon, shrimp, and jalapenos. We are here for the big one on Friday night at Crispin Field, home of the DAWGS and the place where the entire Wyoming Valley Conference used to go yearly for a roadhouse style beating, like the one you’d likely get if you waltzed into Bandit’s wearing Wyoming Area green and gold.

This one is clearly the marquis matchup of Week 6 and Gino and I are enjoying the local flavor. Berwick has a very different feel during the high school football season. Coach C.J. Curry has brought luster back to this program that his grandfather, George, once put on the national map. Berwick was once the center of the high school football universe and George Curry was an innovator, a motivator, and an agitator. His offenses looked different from anyone else’s. Receivers were spread all over the field and college offensive coordinators would flock to Crispin to get a look at what the man in the Wise Potato Chip hat was drawing up. The new Coach Curry has awakened the echoes of those legendary Berwick teams and has brought pride back to the community. I walked into Bandit’s, planted myself at the bar, and asked the bartender about ol’ George and grandson, C.J. With a tear in his eye, he gave me a plate of Cajun Roadhouse Chicken (it seemed like a good idea at the time) and regaled me with stories of the days when the Dawgs were Dawgs.

We’ll talk about the big one on Friday in the Fistfights, but first, we have to disseminate some lessons we’ve learned. I’ve assured Gino that “disseminate” means nothing untoward. And on we go.

LESSON 1

Pittston Area is for real and Coach Paul Russick may be fitted for a statue outside Charlie Trippi Stadium if the Patriots (Tomatoes no more) can hang on and win a title in Division I of the Wyoming Valley Conference. Last weekend’s overtime thriller in the Back Mountain removed the last doubters and filled the PA bandwagon in record time. Brody Spindler, Lucas Lo Presto, Paulie Ferentino, and the rest of the Patriot Mafia achieved a statement victory that resounded throughout Luzerne County. Not since the days of legendary coach, Steve Armillay, has there been such noise in Yatesville. Another titanic Division I clash awaits the Patties this weekend in Mountain Top. Stay tuned for our views on that battle later in the Fistfights.

LESSON 2

Speaking of statements, North Pocono made one in all caps at the Pit on Saturday, standing alone as the one unbeaten in the wild and wooly Division I of the LFC. As an onlooker remarked to me, the difference in the football game was that the Trojans had Cole West and Abington Heights did not. Amen, my good man. That’s why the dynamic junior athlete still stands at the apex of the candidates for the Henzes Award. He’s big, fast, and electrifying, and scares the Bejeezus out of defensive coordinators when he lines up behind center in the Wildcat. Coach Greg Dolhon (such great hair) has a big, physical, gritty football team that will be a tough out the rest of the way. And West will lead the way.

LESSON 3

If Mr. Cole West is tops on the Henzes list, Lackawanna Trail’s Isaac Ryon is not far behind. The shining star of Coach Steve Jervis’s bewildering mechanism known as the Delaware Wing-T ran for 308 yards in Olyphant/Dickson City/Throop against the Spartans of Mid-Valley on Friday night. That first number is a 3!!! He scored 5 touchdowns! And, Dude kicked a freaking field goal to add to his heroics! Let’s have some more stats, please! Ryon has rushed for 960 yards and 15 TD’s in 5 games. He has caught 9 passes for another 205 yards and 2 more scores. In addition to his field goal on Friday night, he has booted four extra points. That’s 109 points in 5 games. In a season replete with impressive statistical performances on the offensive side, Ryon’s act on Friday night is among the very best.

LESSON 4

The two best squads in Division 2 of the LFC go at it on Friday night in the #NINESQUAREMILES. The winner of the Lakeland vs. Dunmore clash will most certainly be the lead dog in the pack and probably will not be caught. While it is a bit disheartening essentially to crown a champ in Week 6, that’s the way the schedule shakes out. Lakeland’s lone loss came to Wyoming Area, one of the three remaining unbeatens in all of District 2. The Scarlet Venison, on the other hand, have lost two games by a total of 5 points. Both teams have been versatile offensively and have dynamic signal callers. David Naniewicz of Lakeland and Weston Yannone of Dunmore are athletes who can get the job done in myriad different ways. Another one to look forward to as we head toward the Fistfights.

LESSON 5

With so much talk of the Henzes Award, it’s time to unveil this week’s list of players who have exhibited their “electrifyingness” for all of District 2 to see thus far. Since we’ve reached the halfway mark of the season, the list is becoming a bit firmer. Still, there is time for a dark horse to emerge as we move into colder weather.

COLE WEST NORTH POCONO
ISAAC RYON LACKAWANNA TRAIL
TY’MEERE WILKERSON BERWICK
WILL MCPARTLAND SCRANTON PREP
LUCAS LO PRESTO PITTSTON AREA

Honorable Mention: Nick Bradley – Abington Heights, Brayden Rose – Riverside, Jack Gravine – Wyoming Area, Weston Yannone – Dunmore, Jake Howe – Wilkes-Barre Area

It’s Happy Hour at Bandit’s. Ain’t nobody happier than Gino, who now gets his Corn Nuggets and Bourbon Beef Bites at half price. As the Porky Paisan begins another foray into gastrointestinal distress, we begin the Fistfights!

FISTFIGHT #5 HOLY REDEEMER (1-4) at HOLY CROSS (2-3)

Holy Pillow Fight, Batman. It’s time for the annual Unholy War between the Diocese of Scranton’s two football-playing Catholic high schools. Played this year (as it should be every year) at Monsignor Crotti Field, the home of the Crusaders, this annual rivalry tilt shakes out a bit differently than other games between schools that have a healthy disdain for one another. Instead of a bonfire, the Royals will hold a two-hour Novena. The Crusaders will attempt to match their rivals’ religiosity by marching up Drinker Street to the tune of “Onward, Christian Soldiers”. The winners on Saturday will get freshly autographed pictures of Bishop Bambera and a trip to the Shrine of the Sacred Screen Pass in Altoona. It’s little known, but very important. I’ll take the Cross and three Hail Mary’s. I’m sure I’ve sinned somewhere in this misbegotten parody.

FISTFIGHT #4 HANOVER AREA (2-3) at TUNKHANNOCK (2-3)

It’s been a while since these two programs have found their way into the top games of the week. But, there has been resurgence at both schools and signs of better days ahead. Hanover served notice that they had improved greatly under Coach Eric Richardson when they took Riverside to the wire in Week 2. Consecutive blowout wins over Holy Cross and Old Forge continued the trend. Veteran coach, Pat Keating, is now at the helm of the Orange and Black, and his Tigers will host this Division 2 clash on Friday. Tunkhannock has authored two big victories of their own over Holy Redeemer and Nanticoke. One of these teams will creep toward the top of the division with heavyweights Berwick and Wyoming Area, while the other will sojourn down Pretender’s Alley. No one wants to be there, particularly after dark. I’ll take the Tigers at home in a very close and entertaining affair.

Ah, yes. We’ve reached the dark place in the piece where I allow Gino, sauce stains and all, to make his weekly selection. The waitresses here at Bandit’s find him “sad”. That’s apparently a quasi-compliment among the young folk these days. It means “faintly evocative of pathos and condescension”. Here he is…

FISTFIGHT #3 PITTSTON AREA (4-1) at CRESTWOOD (3-2)

Cousin Gino’s pick is brought to you this week by Bingo’s Big Bowling Balls – “Because Size Does Matter”.

So, it’s me, Gino. Like my cousin told yas. Finally, he lets me pick a game with some real juice. I might throw some “scarol” down on this myself. My ma needs a new hip. She called me last week and told me she fell and smashed all her pictures of Al Martino. A freakin’ shame is what it is. The pictures, not my ma. The Pittston kids have an edge, cuz they won last week and what not. And why is this place called Crestwood? Is there such a place or is it a filament of someone’s imagination? Who knows? Minchia, all I know is it’s a long ride and my uber bills are cramping my social hors d’oeuvres with the opponent sex, as they say. Anyway, I went with my gut last week. I’m picking Crestwood, wherever that is. My gut is on fire, two ways. And if yas sees me on the top of the mountain at the game, pretend yas don’t know me, cuz yas don’t.

If you followed that sea of non-sequiturs, the Big Kid just picked Crestwood to shatter the dreams of Pittston Area, much like Aunt Modesta crushed Al Martino.

FISTFIGHT #2 ABINGTON HEIGHTS (4-1) at DELAWARE VALLEY (1-4)

This one lost some of its luster when news of Nick Bradley’s injury surfaced at Bandit’s this week. The rifle-armed senior from Abington Heights threw for over 300 yards last week in the loss to North Pocono, most of that coming to seemingly “uncoverable” receiver Gavin Anders. I liked Delaware Valley before that bit of bad news. The Warriors are about to go on their annual mid to late season run. And this weekend, in the lovely hamlet of Milford, the Comets are in the way. I’ll take the Warriors to win their second straight.

FISTFIGHT #1 WYOMING AREA (5-0) at BERWICK (5-0)

So we’ve arrived at the big one. There is a crowd gathered behind by word processor here at Bandit’s to see what my selection will be. This is the biggest game at historic Crispin Field in quite some time. Both teams have playmakers who can change games: Ty’Meere Wilkerson of the Dawgs and Jack Gravine of Wyoming Area. Coach Randy Spencer of the Warriors has been on the sidelines for so many of these meaningful regular season contests, while C.J. Curry is coaching in the biggest game of his young career. Word has it that Bo Orlando and Ron Powlus will heave 60-yard spirals at one another during the pre-game festivities. Not a dry eye among Berwick fans when that escapade occurs. Enough, already. It’s Crispin Field and it’s Berwick football. I’m waiting for that siren to start wailing, signaling to all the denizens here at Bandit’s that the glory days have returned. I’m barking with the Dawgs by less than one score on Friday. And may I please have a Big Bandit Smash Burger?

Finally, we get to the exclamation point on this epic…

THE POWER 5 – the five best football teams in all of District 2, heedless of record, classification, or cholesterol level.