2025 The Rick’s Picks – Week 10

The Rick, Week 10 – 2025

By Righetto Notari, BDFN
@BDFN_OldForge
(2211-609 overall, .784 winning percentage)

2,000 Man….

Well, my name is a number. Don’t you know, I’m a 2,000 man. The kids, they just don’t understand.

Those words, written by The Rolling Stones and made famous by the late Ace Frehley and the band KISS, perfectly describes the season we are all witnessing in Berwick – a 2,000-yard regular season by running back Ty’Meere Wilkerson.

Wilkerson has been a freight train against opposing defenses this year. The senior averages 244 yards a game and has scored 30 touchdowns. He has games remaining against Tunkhannock and at least one D2 playoff game. Wilkerson has a legitimate shot at 3,000 if he and the Dawgs can get to the D2 Class 3A title game.

In a regular season that currently has only four 1,000-yard rushers compared to eleven 1,000-yard passers, the kids may just not understand the enormity of the regular season Wilkerson is having. It is possible only one more running back gets to 1,000 yards for the regular season. Four players would need 200 yard-rushing nights in Week 10 to get to 1,000.

That has to be an all-time low. We were once a culture that only ran the football here in NEPA! Kudos for Coach CJ Curry at Berwick for going back to the roots of the gridiron to bring the Dawgs back to prominence, and congrats to Wilkerson on a fine season.

Ok, enough of The Rick spacin’ out and havin’ fun, let’s get to Week 10….

THE RICK’S PICKS (137-29)

May their first child be a masculine child (5-4)

(The Big Boys)

Lackawanna Trail at Riverside

These two small schools may not be considered ‘Big Boys’ by the Big Boy Schools, but rest assured, there are no bigger boys in the small-school yard than Lackawanna Trail and Riverside. The Lions and Vikings have been on a collision course all season. Predicted to be the best two teams in LFC 3, the gridders from Tunnel Hill and Taylor have not disappointed. Lackawanna Trail has been one-dimensional on offense behind wrecking ball Issac Ryon, who has 1,709 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground. The senior tailback is also the Lions leading receiver with 11 catches for 269 yards and four scores. And while Ryon will be the focal point of the Riverside defense this week, quarterback Tyler Jervis is a dynamic athlete who will beat you with his arm and legs when you least expect it. The Vikings, who lead all of D2 in scoring with 400 points, are more balanced on offense. But most of that balance comes from Brayden Rose. The junior quarterback has thrown for 1,000 yards and 16 TDs on just 61 completions. He also leads Riverside in rushing with 699 yards and 16 TDs. Will all that offense, it will be the defenses that feel the pressure this week. The Vikings are led by D1 recruit Tavian Branch while the Lions are a no-name bunch that plays fast and physical. All the numbers point to Riverside, but The Rick is no Tessio.

Lions 24, Vikings 21

The Luca Brasi (7-2)

(Toughest Pick of The Week)

Wallenpaupack at Valley View

The Rick told yinz if you wanted to listen. Despite winning only three games this year, Wallenpaupack has not been a cake by the lake for opponents. The Buckhorns were within an extra point of possibly upsetting WVC 1 champion Pittston Area last week and played tough against the best teams in the LFC. Valley View exploded last week, scoring roughly 33 percent of its total points for the year when they posted a 50-burger on Valley West. Did the Cougars finally find the answers on offense? Defensively, Valley View has been stout for most of the year and will need to stop the running attack of Wallenpaupack. This game also has D2 Class 4A playoff implications. A win by Wallenpaupack could give them the fourth seed, and a loss by Valley View could put them on the road in the Week 11 semifinals. Lots can happen on Friday night.

Cougars 27, Buckhorns 20

Don’t ask me about my business (6-3)

(No Rhyme or Reason)

West Scranton at Honesdale

Family bias sometimes warps The Rick’s mind. This is one of those games. West is looking for its third victory of the season – something they have not done under the leadership of Coach Jake Manetti. Honesdale is looking for its fourth win of the year – and possibly hosting an Eastern Conference game in Week 11. So, despite disappointing seasons by both, there is still lots to play for. The Invaders have some big play ability on offense. But will they be able to stop Hornets running back Gabe Duda, who can go over the 1,000-yard rushing mark with a big night. Remember, don’t ask The Rick about his business.

Invaders 20, Hornets 16

Leave the gun, take the cannoli (9-0)

(Lead-Pipe Lock of The Week)

Mid Valley at Lakeland

Another game that both teams need to win to improve their playoff chances. For Mid Valley, they need to win to possibly get IN to the playoffs. For Lakeland, a victory assures them of the No. 1 seed in D2 Class 2A. So, even though this doesn’t fit the usual Cannoli game, The Rick believes the Chiefs are ready to start its post-season run a week early. There aren’t a lot of Italians on either roster, but I bet Lakeland can get a cannoli at Rocco Spataro’s house! Mangia!

Chiefs 43, Spartans 17

Going to the mattresses (6-3)

(A Rivalry-type Game)

Lake-Lehman at Dallas

The Old Shoe Game in the Back Mountain is typically a toss-up. Even when one team has a much better record than the other. But that is not the case this year. Both teams are 4-5 coming into Week 10 and while the records look like this will be a toss-up, the analytics may show otherwise. Dallas has won three straight games after the first six weeks of the season saw them go 1-5 against teams with a combined record of 44-10. Lake-Lehman on the other hand has lost two in a row. Their four wins have come against teams that are 8-28. This game is one of the best and oldest rivalries in all of District 2. Expect some good old-fashioned football but also expect the Mountaineers to win.

Mountaineers 31, Black Knights 13

Fredo, You broke my heart (5-4)

(Upset Special)

North Pocono at Scranton Prep

North Pocono showed the D2 world last week that they are indeed the best team in our local football fiefdom after its overtime victory over Delaware Valley. And junior Cole West made his case to be included in the conversation for POY in D2. With the win, the Trojans have nothing to play for this week in terms of the post-season. They have locked up the LFC 1 title and the top seed in D2 Class 4A. They are only playing for pride – and an undefeated regular-season record. But what does that mean anymore? Scranton Prep is playing for much more. The Cavaliers are playing for a playoff berth. Lots of wacky stuff would have to happen for Prep to not make the D2 Class 3A field, but a win would make sure none of that wacky stuff would matter. The Cavs have won five of six, and a win this week would solidify the third-seed in the tournament. Prep can argue it has been a Top 5 team since all-everything Will McPartland returned to their lineup in Week 4. The Rick is calling the upset this week. No way O’Fredo breaks my heart two weeks in a row.

Cavaliers 24, Trojans 23

Keep Your Friends Close, Keep Your Enemies Closer (7-2)

(They just don’t like each other)

Pittston Area at Wyoming Area

The Rick has waited all season long to be able to put this game into this slot. Previous teams in the KYFC-KYEC game have not liked each other. But this rivalry is a friendly one. The Rick has long joked that this really isn’t a rivalry because the two teams have breakfast together just a few days before the game! My old friends in Greater Pittston will get a chuckle out of that. But what they won’t be laughing about is the seriousness of this game. For the first time in a long, long time, both Pittston Area and Wyoming Area seem to be evenly matched. The Patriots are the surprise of District 2 with their only loss coming to unbeaten North Pocono. The Warriors’ only loss is to unbeaten Berwick. That’s how good both of these teams are. Pittston Area features the electrifying Lucas LoPresto who has 38 catches for 517 yards and five TDs receiving. He also has 281 yards and eight TDs rushing. The junior has scored on defensive and special teams returns this season. The Warriors better know where LuLo is on every play. The Patriots all sport bruising running back Brody Spindler who has 10 rushing TDs and is within a big night of eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark. Wyoming Area has its share of offensive weapons as well as quarterback Jack Gravine has thrown for 979 yards and 15 TDs and rushed for 609 yards and seven scores. The Warriors also have backs Nick Ciampi and Trustin Johnson who have split just over 1,200 yards rushing and have nine and six touchdowns, respectively. And don’t forget about wideout Luke Kopetchny and his 23 catches for 548 yards and 10 TDs. Wow! Lots of big numbers from these teams. This game has been dominated by the green and gold lately, but The Rick says, NOT TODAY!

Patriots 37, Warriors 33

Time to settle all Family Business (92-11)

Delaware Valley over Scranton

Old Forge over Carbondale Area

Wilkes-Barre over Williamsport

Crestwood over Valley West

Dunmore over Western Wayne

Abington Heights over Hazleton Area

Montrose over DELCO

Hanover Area over Nanticoke

Midd-West over Holy Redeemer

Berwick over Tunkhannock

Holy Cross over Susquehanna

The Rick Six

(The top 3 big schools & top 3 small schools)

North Pocono (9-0, 1)
Berwick (9-0, 2)
Wyoming Area (8-1, 3)
Abington Heights (7-2, 5)
Pittston Area (8-1, NS)
Lakeland (8-1, 6)

Next Six: Delaware Valley (4-5, 4); Scranton Prep (5-4, NS) Lackawanna Trail (8-1, NS); Riverside (8-1, NS); Wilkes-Barre (6-3, NS); Valley View (5-4, NS).

PLAYOFF PICTURE

D2 Class 6A (Subregional with D4)