Wyoming Area quarterback Jack Gravine keeps the ball in the first quarter against Berwick. ——- Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Fred Adams | For Times Leader 9-26-25
Pittston Area’s Brody Spindler (0) breaks Tyce Mason’s tackle to romp into the endzone for a 19-yard Patriot touchdown. Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Pittston Area and Wyoming Area have the type of rivalry that has produced 60 intense games regardless of the teams’ records, which often are impressive at least on one side in any given year.
Friday night’s game shapes up as potentially the most anticipated since the teams split a pair of games in 2003. That year, Pittston Area matched Berwick for the best record in Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1, but Wyoming Area beat both on the way to the District 2 Class 3A championship.
There will not be any playoff rematches this year – Pittston Area will chase a District 2 Class 5A title while Wyoming Area plays in 3A. Bragging rights will have to be settled just once, unlike those 2003 matchups when Pittston Area won the regular-season finale 26-23, but Wyoming Area won the playoff rematch 28-21.
Barring an upset this weekend, in games that were played after this special section was printed, each team will go into the rivalry game at Wyoming Area’s Anthony “Jake” Sobeski Stadium with just one loss.
For as hard as they will try to beat each other, each side recognizes that the opponent’s success just helps make this year’s version of the game even more special.
“It’s only very healthy for our rivalry to play meaningful football games within the rivalry with great energy on both sides and at the highest level of competition,” Wyoming Area coach Randy Spencer said.
Paul Russick split with Wyoming Area, winning there, in two games as Honesdale coach. He now gets his first shot at the Warriors as a Pittston Area coach.
“Even being here, you want them to win,” Russick said. “You want to get to the end of the season where we’re at right now or close to it.”
The Patriots get to this game as WVC Division 1 champion, even better credentials than that 2003 team after winning all five division games.
Four-year starter Brody Spindler leads the strong senior class that Pittston Area will bring into a matchup of similar teams.
Each team has multiple running options, a prolific wide receiver, their division’s most efficient passer in a first-year starting quarterback, a physical defense and dangerous special teams.
The differences are subtle.
Pittston Area’s passing game is more about a high completion percentage while Wyoming Area’s tends to produce the more explosive plays. In the running game, it is the Patriots who are more explosive, although they are closer to the Warriors’ grinding style when they turn more to Spindler in a power game. The Warriors will use quarterback Jack Gravine more in the running game.
Spindler leads Pittston Area in both rushing and tackles. His carries tend to increase in big games on the way to 635 yards and nine touchdowns. His 44 tackles, 22 assists and five tackles for losses are all team-high totals.
Both freshman Kayden Bailey and junior Lucas LoPresto average more than 10 yards per carry. Bailey has 533 yards on just 51 carries, pushing that average above 10 by taking his only carry in last week’s title-clinching victory 85 yards for a touchdown. LoPresto has seven touchdowns on just 22 carries.
Jude Ferentino missed much of the season with injury, but still has 226 rushing yards.
Paulie Ferentino has hit 61.8 percent of his passes, going 63-for-102 for 875 yards and 13 touchdowns with five interceptions.
LoPresto has 37 catches, while tight end John Jadus adds 13 and Stephen Barnic has nine. All three have at least three touchdown receptions.
Victor Narsavage is second to Spindler in tackles while Matt D’Aiello leads the team with three sacks.
Jordan Talarico averages 38.6 yards per punt and Bailey averages 28.6 yards as Pittston Area’s most frequent kickoff returner.
Wyoming Area boasts three 500-yard rushers.
Nick Ciampi has become the big-play threat with a 9.4-yard average for 619 yards and nine touchdowns. Gravine has 568 yards and six touchdowns while Trustin Johnson adds 512 yards.
Gravine is 37-for-90 for 880 yards and a 13-2, touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Luke Kopetchny has eight touchdowns among his team-high 19 catches while Josh Mruk adds 11 catches and Ciampi seven.
Donavon Miller leads the defense with 33 tackles, 20 assists and 5.5 tackles for losses.
Johnson and Ben Gravine are second and third in tackles while Mruk leads in sacks and is second in tackles for losses.
Drew Keating has blocked two field goals.
EDITOR’S NOTE: All statistics in this preview were through eight games. Both details played their ninth game Friday night.
EDITOR’S NOTE: All statistics in this preview were through eight games. Both details played their ninth game Friday night.
