CLINTON TWP. – When asked to recount his favorite moment from Friday”s subregional championship at Lions Pride Stadium, Isaac Ryon could easily fill the time. His performance against Tri-Valley was nothing short of extraordinary. Ryon scored five touchdowns, rushed for more than 300 yards, and set a new record as the school”s all-time leading rusher. Meanwhile, the Lackawanna Trail defense stepped up, shutting out the Bulldogs in the last three quarters, leading to a decisive 41-14 victory in the District 2-11 Class 1A subregional championship.
“We really came together on defense, especially in the second half,” said Blake Stage, a senior on the Trail team. “We made some effective adjustments to counter their offense. We just played our hearts out and need to keep that momentum going.”
With this win, Lackawanna Trail improved to 11-1 and advanced to the PIAA Class 1A tournament, where they will face District 4 champion Line Mountain, who defeated Montgomery 20-14. Last season, the Lions reached this stage but experienced a narrow loss to Muncy at Scranton Veterans Memorial Stadium. Ryon expressed the team”s determination: “Returning to this point motivates us. We lost here last year, so we”re dedicated to working hard in practice. It”s win or go home now, and we intend to play our game.”
As for Ryon”s standout moments, it could be argued that his 73-yard run on the first play of the game, which put the Lions up 7-0 just 16 seconds in, was a highlight. Alternatively, it could be his 25-yard run in the second quarter that allowed him to surpass Richard Jackson“s previous record of 4,546 rushing yards. Ryon started the game needing around 140 yards to break the record and nearly achieved it by the end of the first quarter, accumulating 130 yards on his first three carries. He finished with 319 yards on 19 carries, averaging nearly 17 yards per carry.
“It”s win or go home, so I”m going to run hard on every play,” Ryon stated. “I trust my offensive line, and they block with all their might. It”s a team effort. Honestly, it”s all about the line; without them, those yards wouldn”t be possible. I”m incredibly grateful for their work.”
Despite his offensive accomplishments, Ryon”s pivotal interception late in the second quarter may have changed the game”s momentum. With the Lions leading 21-14 and Tri-Valley threatening at the Lions” 13-yard line, Ryon made a crucial interception in the end zone as the Bulldogs were marching toward a potential score. This defensive play allowed the Lions to mount an 80-yard drive in just six plays, four of which were Ryon”s carries, culminating in his third touchdown of the half and a 28-14 lead.
“That was a critical moment,” acknowledged Jeff Sampson, head coach of Tri-Valley. “Our quarterback made a mistake trying to throw across his body, but he”s been a great player for us all season. Isaac Ryon is an incredible athlete; he”s tough to bring down.”
The Lackawanna Trail defense tightened up significantly in the second half, limiting the Bulldogs to only five first downs, three of which came against the second-string defense. Stage was instrumental during this period, recording eight tackles in the final 24 minutes. One of his most impactful moments came when he disrupted two back-to-back plays near the 50-yard line, effectively halting a promising drive from Tri-Valley.
“Our coaches prepare us well at halftime, giving us the right adjustments to control the game,” Stage noted. “Winning my last game at home as a senior is a special moment. I”m excited to keep this going.”
Tri-Valley, now 7-5, started strong, matching Lackawanna Trail point-for-point in the first quarter. The Bulldogs responded to Ryon”s opening touchdown with a lengthy 14-play drive, converting multiple fourth downs, including a crucial fourth-and-goal, where Cole Gemberling scored from four yards out, aided by a facemask penalty against the Lions. Following Ryon”s second touchdown—a 55-yard sprint down the sideline—the Bulldogs countered once more with a six-play drive capped by a touchdown run from quarterback Trey Porter.
“We played exceptionally well in that first quarter, trading touchdowns with them,” Sampson reflected. “We knew we had to make adjustments at halftime because we couldn”t maintain that pace for the entire game.” After that, Lackawanna Trail responded with 27 unanswered points.
“Our players are accustomed to high-pressure situations,” said Steve Jervis, head coach of Lackawanna Trail. “They understand that there will be ups and downs during the game. Our experience should help us. Defensively, we executed much better in the second half, limiting their big plays.”
