Kastreva's Picks
(Eastern Playoffs, WK 13)
Season Record 172-70
Class AAAA
Downingtown East over North Penn
Bethlehem Liberty over Frankford
Class AAA
Manheim Central over Muhlenberg
Strath Haven over Pottsville
Class AA
Lancaster Catholic over Montoursville
Hanover Area over Wilson Area
Class A
Southern Columbia over Schuylkill Haven
Bishop Carroll over Steelton-Highspire
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The official District 2 rankings of WVCD2.com
These rankings are compiled by Frank Kastreva for entertainment purposes only. All questions or comments can be made to wvcgridironman@aol.com
2005 Week 12 Rankings
Wyoming Valley Conference
1.) Hanover Area (11-1)
2.) Hazleton Area (10-2)
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.) Hanover Area (11-1)
3.) Hazleton Area (10-2)
4.) 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 (8-4)
Playoff football alive WB Memorial because of who? Hanover Area!
By Frank Kastreva, WVCD2.com
If your a diehard high school football fan, Thanksgiving weekend is always an awesome time to look forward to. You now have the Unico game on Thanksgiving morning and usually a playoff game at WB Memorial Stadium, which always seems to get blasted for bad parking, bad lighting, ect.,ect. BUT how about football tradition, memories unlocked lurking in the past. That's what playoff football at WB Memorial does for me and I am sure it does the same for many more.
This coming Friday night the Hanover Area Hawkeyes will continue their march on in the PIAA championship tourney, clashing with district 11's Wilson Area. A win by the Hawks would secure them a spot in the Eastern Region finals.
Hanover Area finally got revenge on the Lakeland Chiefs with a 35-0 win in WB to advance to the semis. Lakeland prior to this year's game had been dominating the WVC in AA ball, winning 4 D2 titles in 5 years.
With the win Hanover Area will have their day on Thanksgiving weekend, Friday 7 PM to be exact. In years past we have all watched the Berwick Bulldogs continue their march in the playoffs on Thanksgiving weekend at WB Memorial. Fans have packed the stadium that has seen more football then any other stadium in the area, the football gods call it HOME and this year is the Hawkeyes turn to try and awake them.
I only hope that all the of us make it a point to be at this game and support Hanover Area in what may be their biggest game since the early 90's.
Playoff football is alive and well in Hanover Area, which has been tabbed as "Coaltown" again this season. An area that was once a lure in black gold, coal is say. A town that was made up of blue collar workers and still is to this day.
So pack your leftover lunch bucket and head to the game Friday night. The Hawks have kept playoff football alive in WB and to them, I TIP MY HAT!
Lakeland vs. Hanover Area
(Friday, November 18th, D2 AA championship, WK 12)
Hawks smack Lakeland 35-0, advance to state tourney
By Frank Kastreva, WVCD2.com
WB MEMORIAL STADIUM- In the early 90's Hanover Township was known for their state championship caliber football, winning the class AA title in 1990 20-19 in OT over Canevin Catholic. The following year they march right back to the state finals, but suffered a loss to the Aliquippa Quips. Actually a player by the name of Ty Law played on that Aliquippa championship team. Law went on to the NFL and played with the super bowl champion New England Patriots. The Hawks lost the game to the Quips 27-0 and have not returned to the big dance since. 14 years later the Hawkeys are only 2 games away from making there third trip to the state finals, the talk in Coaltown is playoff football and that's a nice thing to see.
Hanover Area brought with them a huge crowd and they were not disappointed. The Hawks' would jump out early, scoring on their first drive going 58 yards on 10 plays. Sr. RB Dave Paveletz would cap the drive on a 6 yard scamper. The Hawks would use a fake punt on 4th and 12 from the Lakeland 45 yard line, Sr. Corey Dominick would dash to the Chiefs 32 yard line for the first down to keep the drive alive. Hanover gained the momentum in the game on that play and never gave it up throughout the rest of the game.
Sr. Matt Kaufer would score the Hawks' second TD of the night on a 54 yard reception from Sr. QB Kyle Krupa. Hanover was up 14-0 in the 1st half, but were not quite done yet. Kaufer would again strike paydirt on a pass from Krupa, this time a 21 yard TD reception. At the half the Hawks were up 21-0 and in total control of their own destiny.
Kaufer began to show his defensive abilities for the Hawks in the 2nd half intercepting 2 passes. One of them led to a score after setting up the offense at the Lakeland 10 yard line. Three plays later Paveletz would find the gold zone on a 5 yard scamper.
Paveletz would score the Hawks' last TD of the night coming on the defensive side of the ball, rumbling 67 yards on an interception return, scoring his third TD of the night.
"This was only my second start of the season on defense, what a feeling being able to play on both sides of the ball in the district 2 finals. The interception return really topped the night off, when I saw all that open green I knew I was gone", said the senior Paveletz. "Its a special thing to be part of this team", he added.
Kaufer who added the Hawks other 2 TD's was another player that was stellar on both sides of the ball.
"Our goal coming in this season was to be in this game and win it, since we have accomplished that its time to look at the bigger picture", said Kaufer.
The bigger picture is another state title at Hanover Area. Could it really be done? After seeing the Hawks tonight anything is possible. The Hawks have not been letting teams score on them and their offense is clicking at the right time.
"We were able to run and throw tonight, when Lakeland was able to bottle up Paveletz a little bit we were able to get some big pass plays. That's the thing with this team if you stop them one way these guys just seem to find another way to win and we hope that will carry us through, said coach Fisher after the game.