2026 Face In The Crowd – Week 12

A FACE IN THE CROWD – WEEK 11

Although we’ve come to the end of the road
Still I can’t let go
It’s unnatural
You belong to me, I belong to you

Boyz II Men (1991)

Here in the Mobile FITC Command Center/Luxury SUV, located this week in the parking lot of Pocono Transportation in lovely Moscow, we have come to the end of the road, and the beginning. Sparky, Jeffrey the Intrepid German Shepherd, and I are awaiting our final meeting with Big Aaron, the proprietor of this establishment and our primary (read “only”) sponsor. Your terrific trio has traversed the landscape of NEPA, following the best and worst of high school football, all the while with tongues firmly in cheek. Well, Jeffrey’s tongue has been in places far too foul to discuss, but you get the picture. Fittingly, our final POCONO TRANSPORTATION GAME OF THE WEEK is here in Moscow as the immaculately coiffed Greg Dolhon and his Men of Troy host the Cougars of Valley View on Friday night.

Big Aaron is considering letting Sparky open up a branch in Las Vegas, since even degenerates need buses. At least, that’s the case Sparky will attempt to make. As that complicated commerce is about to take place, we need to finish our business with all of you reprobates, our quasi-intelligent and fiercely loyal readers. This is our final entry since, as you know, I don’t have time to read about Archbishop So and So, or Northwestern Middle Schuylkill County Area. We care only about our beloved District 2 and, as all but one of the tournaments will close up this week, it seems like as good a place as any to conclude business. Besides, Vegas is calling.

But do not despair. We have lessons culled from nearly three months of superficial research, I mean assiduous study and focus. And then, we will not only choose the four winners from the games this weekend, but we’ll add our thoughts on next weekend’s Class 4A title game.

LESSON 1

At least in District 2, the current format of the district tournament, split into six classifications, makes for terribly uncompetitive football. In the ten games last weekend that featured two District 2 programs, the average margin of victory was nearly 33 points and not a single one of the losing teams ever led in the football game. Those are astonishing facts, but they very clearly tell the tell of the disparity between the have’s and the have not’s in our district. Part of the problem is that there are only 33 schools. Since there is a very distinct and precipitous drop once you get past the top four programs, very often the games are lopsided. While I am not sure what the resolution is, since we cannot readily add schools to our district, I do know that more layers of playoffs is certainly not the answer.

LESSON 2

In Week 6, Abington Heights traveled to Dunmore High School, where they were summarily trounced by the Wyoming Avenue Jesuit Giants by the ungracious score of 35-0. At that moment, the Comets’ record stood at 2-4. Since then, the Comets have reeled off five consecutive wins, including last weekend’s district title victory over the Fighting Paisans of Pittston Area. In that span, the Comets boast wins over Wallenpaupack, Valley View, and Delaware Valley, three of the top ten teams in all of District 2. This success does not come accidentally. Abington Heights, under the tutelage of Joe Repshis, has developed culture and an expectation of excellence that pervade the program. Not all high school football programs can exhibit this type of resilience on a year to year basis. On Friday evening, the Comets host Hollidaysburg. The 8-2 Golden Tigers are the champions of District 6. I like the Comets to extend their run to glory and advance to the state tournament.

LESSON 3

In much the same manner as the aforementioned Comets, Wyoming Area spun their season around after Week 3. After suffering two shutout losses in the first three weeks to Dunmore and Berwick, the Warriors have proceeded to win 8 in a row. Coaching and culture once again saved the day, with a healthy dose of offensive productivity. Quarterback Luke Kopetchny took some time to become acclimated to the position, having matriculated to that spot as a result of a preseason injury to Jack Gravine. Since Week 3, the Warriors have averaged nearly 44 points per game and now will test their offensive pyrotechnics against Scranton Prep in the district final. More on that later, but credit to Coach Randy Spencer and the character of the program he has developed.

LESSON 4

Only 12 of the district’s 33 member schools finished with winning records. Since intra-district games always work out to .500, that means the district had a losing record on the outside. Specifically, the district went 159-171 against non-district opponents. What does that tell us? Hell if I know. But I know it isn’t good. The caliber of football played in our area has receded. That indisputable fact must lead to steps that reverse it. It is indeed time for the difference makers in the sport to get together and determine what those next steps must be. Certainly changes in scheduling and perhaps some conference re-configuring are in order. Well, not perhaps, most certainly. But there are other issues as well. If those who can effect change can look past the bottom line and wins/losses, perhaps we can get back to the time when District 2 football could held its own anywhere in the state.

LESSON 5

Dunmore averaged over 57 points per game this year. Certainly that is the most prolific offense in recent memory in our area. Just as importantly, the Bucks have surrendered just over 5 point per game with a smothering defense that features athletes at all three levels. The state championship game is Shangri-La for head coaches in any sport. As the state brackets are currently constituted, and with the football factories and cheaters from District 12 and District 7 looming as one moves deeper in the state tournament, it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible for anyone in the larger classes to make a serious run at a state championship. In my not so humble opinion, only the Bucks have a reasonable opportunity to reach this level. Everyone here in the Command Center is hoping that Coach McHale and his squad from #9SQUAREMILES reach the top of the mountain.

That was a lot of lessons. 60 to be exact, strewn over the 12 weeks of this lunatic fever dream. I’m rather winded. Sparky has retreated to the RV for a nap before we wind this thing down. Jeffrey, ever vigilant, has his eyes on a miniature collie across the street who may have or may not have just wagged her tongue at him. She looks a bit windswept but Jeffrey has rather low standards. Sparky has trained him well.

Anyway, on we go to the Fistfights. We went 4-1 last week. After our many hosannas to Coach George Howanitz, the ol’ ball coach went out and lost one for the Gipper, getting drummed by the Valley View Cougars, his former ball club. This week, we have just four games on the menu. It’s our last chance. I feel the pressure in my gut. Or the loaded cheeseburger from 3D’s Deli has bottomed out. Either way, the results will not be good. Let’s get to it.

FISTFIGHT #4 DISTRICT 2 CLASS 2A CHAMPIONSHIP

LAKELAND (8-3) at DUNMORE (11-0)

Well, let’s see. Exactly two weeks ago on the very same field, the Bucks bum rushed the Chiefs to the tune of 53-6. The Bucks are incredibly talented on both sides of the football. The Chiefs have run old #5 Chase Rosenkrans out there at quarterback. Earlier this year, Chase became the leading receiver in school history. It may be that the Chiefs have put in a package in which Rosenkrans throws the ball to himself. It may be that this is another mismatch. I’ll choose the latter. The Bucks’ joy ride continues.

FISTFIGHT #3 DISTRICT 2 CLASS 4A SEMIFINALS

WALLENPAUPACK (7-4) at DALLAS (11-0)

Well, the Mountaineers have clearly emerged as the best team in the Conference of the Damned. That has been the case all year long and it is undisputed. But that’s a bit like boasting that you’re the smartest guy at an Athletic Directors’ conference. It’s just not all that impressive. But Dallas has an opportunity to send a jolt through the pajamas of all the haters out there (including me) who have denigrated the Conference with Far Too Many Divisions. I believe Dallas won the Kirby Center for the Performing Arts Division. No one else was in it, but who really cares, right? But, I digress. The Buckhorns have turned a corner this year, garnering respect that was not forthcoming from their division foes in years past. Ed Kiesendahl is a workhorse of a back who can carry his ball club on a given night to unforeseen heights. But in the Back Mountain on Friday night? In front of a packed house wearing the old pewter and white. I don’t think so. Onward to the district title game for Coach Mannello and his guys.

FISTFIGHT #2 DISTRICT 2 CLASS 3A CHAMPIONSHIP

“The Keith Jackson Game”

WYOMING AREA (9-2) at SCRANTON PREP (10-1)

Since this game is not at Scranton Prep, nor is it at Dunmore, but at Scranton Memorial Stadium, we had to supply ol’ Keith with a roadmap. If the spectre of the big fella showed up on the premises on Wyoming Avenue, the Jesuits may have had him summarily cuffed and tossed in the hoosegow. Alas, this is Keith’s last game of the year. Sparky has a tear in his eye. Jeffrey’s visage is downcast, though that may be because the blast-beruffled collie has spurned his untoward advances. Memorial Stadium is a fitting way for Keith to finish up this particular pigskin campaign, as the cavernous monument to the crowds of yesteryear on Providence Road will not be populated anywhere near its capacity on Friday. But Keith is going to fire us up, nonetheless.

When young men see a glint of gold in the distance, their hearts are filled and they all but bust their breeches trying to get their mitts on the precious metal. Well, tonight in the big city, the Cavaliers and the Warriors will fight a holy war for the gold medals representing the championship of District 2. The Prep is mighty and the denizens of the old castle on the Avenue feel entitled to a crown they’ve garnered for six years running. Wyoming Area is driving up the interstate with blood in their eyes, fire in their bellies, and lust in their hearts, a lust for a trophy that reads “champion” on its center plate. It’s cold in the old stadium but the blood of teenagers is hot. Strap down the prize hens and hold on tight to your pick-axe. We’ve got a title fight on our hands in the Electric City.

Keith fired Jeffrey up so much that the canine sprinted across the street at full gallop, aiming to make one final go at the collie. Godspeed, Jeffrey. Just be back in an hour or I’m headed to Vegas without you.

As far as the game, Scranton Prep is the best team in Lackawanna County. They have proven that consistently all year long. Coach Terry Gallagher has built his group for this time of year. The Cavaliers will win. Three touchdowns should do it.

FISTFIGHT #1 THE POCONO TRANSPORTATION GAME OF THE WEEK

DISTRICT 2 CLASS 4A SEMIFINALS

VALLEY VIEW (6-5) at NORTH POCONO (10-1)

When last these two squads met, the Trojans traveled to Blakely and departed with a 27-14 victory. Much has changed since then, particularly for the Cougars. Their season has been uneven to say the least, with disappointing losses to Wallenpaupack and Abington Heights, but with an encouraging victory over Delaware Valley and a strong showing against Scranton Prep in a losing effort. But the Cougars are still a bit young. North Pocono seniors Cole West, Chase Zimmerman, and Henry Wolff are readying themselves to play a football game in Moscow for the very last time. I cannot for the life of me imagine them walking off the field on Church Street as losers on Friday night. I have been a believer in Coach Dolhon and the Men of Troy all year long. That has not changed. I’ll take the Trojans by a margin similar to the one back in September. Fight On! And for good measure, I’ll take the Trojans to defeat Dallas in a dream final next weekend!

That sound you just heard was my lengthy exhale. Once again, the Triumvirate in the RV would like to thank our friend Big Aaron for his generosity, without which we would not be the sports communications mavens whose very words move the needle across NEPA. For now, the three of us have our scheduled trek across country to the great state of Nevada for a few weeks of irrational and inconsiderate gambling, unmitigated and unchecked debauchery, and dangerous and unashamed gluttony. If we survive, we’ll be back in time for Christmas. But before we rev up the engines on the RV, let’s give you one final Power 5.

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