Scranton Prep defense ready for final Class 3A playoff challenge – Scranton Times-Tribune

Scranton Prep is the dominant program in the Lackawanna Football Conference.

The Cavaliers proved that again this season with their eighth District 2 Class 3A championship in the last 10 years and a 199-88 record in the last 25 years. They achieved this success thanks to an explosive, productive offense and a ferocious approach to defense.

While the Cavaliers’ steady and consistent offense draws attention with impressive statistics, the defense thrives in the shadows and focuses each week on keeping its opponents in check.

This year’s team is no exception. Scranton Prep (12-1) is in the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals and gets a highly anticipated rematch with District 11 champion Northwestern Lehigh (13-0) at Hazleton Area’s Harman-Geist Stadium Friday in 7 p.m.

“We play hard and know we always have each other’s backs,” Scranton Prep linebacker Reese Tanner said. “If we give up a big play or a touchdown, we just back each other up and take care of the next play.”

Last season, Scranton Prep lost to Northwestern Lehigh, 27-6, in the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals. The Cavaliers had 367 total yards, including 257 rushing yards on 51 attempts.

Scranton Prep improved its non-conference schedule this season to help prepare for the state playoffs. This process ended with a road game against Loyola (Blakefield, Maryland) and Jersey Shore, and a home game against Canisius (Buffalo, NY). These teams have combined to go 21-11 this season.

“Those games against out-of-state teams really helped us with the speed of the game. The physicality of those games also helped us,” Scranton Prep linebacker Jack Doughton said.

Scranton Prep started the season with a 33-0 victory over eventual District 2 Class 4A champion Valley View, limiting the Cougars to 160 total yards. After splitting the next two games, which included a 26-23 win over Loyola Blakefield and a 39-25 loss to Canisius, Scranton Prep’s defense was a strength, shutting down Scranton, Mid Valley and Tunkhannock over the course of a 10-fight winning streak. .

“We always work hard to minimize big plays from teams against us,” Doughton said. “We play with intensity and try to maintain our excitement and excitement throughout the game.”

Scranton Prep’s defense upped its game in the District 2 Class 3A playoffs.

In a quarterfinal victory over Tunkhannock, the Cavaliers held the Tigers to 73 total yards and five first downs. Scranton Prep contained Mid Valley while taking a 27-7 halftime lead en route to a 40-21 victory.

Last week, Scranton Prep swarmed the ball and throttled Wyoming Area, which entered the championship game with the top-ranked offense in District 2. The Warriors scored 50 or more points four times and came to earn a 36-35 victory over Western Wayne. , in which they totaled 295 yards.

Scranton Prep contained Wyoming Area and held it to a season-low 217 yards and six scores. Andrew Dempsey had 13 tackles, Tanner, lineman Byron Axtell and defensive back Mackey Lynett each had 11 tackles, while Will McPartland had nine and Travis Sharples added eight.

It was a team effort, as it has been all season for the Cavaliers.

Tanner leads the team with 116 tackles and nine for losses. Doughton is second with 109 tackles and eight for loss and has one interception. Dempsey has 88 tackles.

Scranton Prep’s linemen are aggressive and control the line of scrimmage. At 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds, Axtell is forced inside. He has 55 tackles, including seven for loss and two sacks. Travis Sharples, an all-region offensive guard, has 44 tackles. Ambrose Rossi has 57 tackles, four for loss and 2.5 sacks. Anthony De Los Santos has 13 tackles. Starting quarterback Louis Paris has 15 tackles, six for loss and a team-high five sacks.

McPartland has 69 tackles to lead the secondary, with Lynett contributing 50 tackles, four for loss and an interception. Brady Holmes has 30 tackles and Treyvon Dickey has 25 tackles.

Facing Northwestern Lehigh for a second straight year provides another challenge for the group.

Senior Eli Zimmerman has 2,062 rushing yards, averaging 13.1 yards per carry and 23 touchdowns. The team has 3,634 rushing yards this season.

Last week, Zimmerman totaled 222 rushing yards on 17 carries in a 49-7 victory over Conwell-Egan in the first round of the state playoffs.

“We have to stop the run,” Tanner said. “They have good backs and good speed. We have to try to slow them down and give our offense a chance.

Originally published: November 22, 2024 at midnight (Eastern Time)