Lakeland @ Meyers
(Friday, November 11th, 1st RND Playoffs, WK 11)
Chiefs cruise by Mohawks, advance to District 2 Championship game
By Frank Kastreva, WVCD2.com
This was to be the Lakeland Chiefs rebuilding year. If you talk about teams rebuilding you usually are in a sense saying it's not their year. Don't tell that to the Chiefs, they may have been in rebuilding mode, but now they are in playoff mode and headed to the D2 title game.
The Chiefs rolled into Wilkes-Barre Friday night to battle the Meyers Mohawks at W/B Memorial Stadium in the opening round of the D2 AA playoffs. Lakeland brought with them a bruising defense that held the Mohawks scoreless in a 25-0 win for the Chiefs.
The fact of the matter is that this Lakeland team is young, but play good solid football they CAN. It's a scary thought for teams to know that the Chiefs will return the majority of their team and will have all their skilled position players back next season. But never mind next season, how about this team RIGHT NOW.
So. FB Craig Chopko rushed for 203 yards with 2 TD's in the Lakeland win. As for the Lakeland "D" they did a good job of filling the gaps, their team speed seemed to match-up well with the Mohawks' offensive scheme. This game was really a bruising game in the trenches, both teams really smacked each other around playing smashmouth football.
Lakeland would strike quickly scoring on their first possession of the game. Jr. Matt Norton would return a punt back to the Mohawks' 2 yard line. From there the FB Chopko would strike gold on a 2 yard rumble. The PAT was missed after a bad snap, but only 1:47 into the game Lakeland was up 6-0 and just scored the winning TD.
Meyers would have a few nice drives, but nothing ever came of them. The Lakeland "D" was stellar and didn't break in times of need. They do have some nice size to them and really like to get at it.
Chopko would score one more time in the 2nd half on a 23 yard scamper to paydirt. Jr. WR Harry Curnow also scored a TD on a 32 yard reception from Jr. QB Anthony Besten on a 4th and 6 play. Sr. FB Louis Gonsauls pitched in with an 11 yard TD rush in the 4th quarter.
Chopko who is only a sophmore was very impressive tonight with 203 yards on the ground, but like any good RB, the line is his best friend.
"Our line stepped up big tonight. We knew they were going to be a tough team, but we practiced hard all week," said Chopko. "Lakeland has always preformed well in the playoffs, we didn't want to let all those teams that played before us down. We had to step it up," added Chopko.
These rankings are compiled by Frank Kastreva for entertainment purposes only. All questions or comments can be made to wvcgridironman@aol.com
2005 Week 10 Rankings
Wyoming Valley Conference
1.) Hazleton Area (10-1)
2.) Hanover Area (10-1)
3.) Wyoming Area (8-3)
4.) Berwick (7-3)
5.) Dallas (6-4)
6.) Meyers (7-4)
7.) Valley West (5-5)
8.) Tunkhannock (4-6)
9.) Lake-Lehman (6-4)
10.) Coughlin (4-6)
District 2 Overall
1.) Abington Heights (10-1)
2.) Hazleton Area (10-1)
4.) Hanover Area (10-1)
3.) Wyoming Area (8-3)
5.) Berwick (7-3)
6.) North Pocono (8-3)
7.) Delaware Valley (8-3)
8.) West Scranton (7-3)
9.) Scranton (6-4)
10.) Lakeland (8-3)
D2/Subregional
Class AAAA
(#4) Delaware Valley 21 vs. (#1) Hazleton Area 42
(#3) Easton 10 vs. (#2) Bethlehem Liberty 48
AAAA TITLE GAME
(D11) Bethlehem Liberty (10-1) vs. (D2) Hazleton Area (10-1)
Class AAA
(#4) Whitehall 13 vs. (#1) Abington Heights 10
(#3) Wyoming Area 6 vs. (#2) Pottsville 14
AAA TITLE GAME
(D11) Whitehall (9-2) vs. (D11) Pottsville (10-1)
Class AA
(#4) Scranton Prep 10 vs. (#1) Hanover Area 26
(#3) Lakeland 25 vs. (#2) Meyers 0 WB MEM
AA TITLE GAME
(D2) Lakeland (8-3) vs. (D2) Hanover Area (10-1)
Class A
TITLE GAME
(#1) Lackawanna Trail 49 vs. (#2) Mid Valley 6 Valley View HS
Eastern Conference
Division IV
(#4) Scranton 13 vs. (#1) Governor Mifflin 34
(#3) Parkland 21 vs. (#2) Stroudsburg 14
DIV IV Championship
(D11) Parkland (7-4) vs. (D3) Governor Mifflin (8-3)
Division III
(#4) Daniel Boone 18 vs. (#1) Allentown CC 28 Crumb Stadium
(#3) North Pocono 14 vs. (#2) Lehighton 20 OT
DIV III Championship
(D11) Lehighton (9-2) vs. (D11) Allentown CC (8-3)
Division II
(#4) Warrior Run 14 vs. (#1) Wyomissing 49
(#3) Athens 13 vs. (#2) Palisades 37
DIV II Championship
(D11) Palisades (9-2) vs. (D3) Wyomissing (10-1)
Division I
(#4) Bishop O'Hara 34 vs. (#1) Lourdes Regional 18
(#3) Old Forge 43 vs. (#2) Cardinal Brennan 14
DIV I Championship
(D2) Bishop O'Hara (8-3) vs. (D2) Old Forge (7-4)
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Kastreva's Picks
(Playoffs, Week 12)
Season Record 165-70
PIAA Playoffs
Bethlehem Liberty over Hazleton Area
Whitehall over Pottsville
Hanover Area over Lakeland
Southern Columbia over Lackawanna Trail
Eastern Conference
Parkland over Govenor Mifflin
Allentown Central Catholic over Lehighton
Wyomissing over Palisades
Old Forge over Bishop O'Hara