NEPA Sports Nation

Trojans, Cavaliers climb in rankings

Three teams move up in this week’s Gaughan Auto Store Super Six Power Rankings and two will immediately have their new ranking tested.

The highest-level change finds Crestwood moving from fourth to third among Big Schools in the rankings, which are compiled by our partner website, NEPAFootball.com. District 2 teams and Williamsport, which plays in the Wyoming Valley Conference where every other member is from District 2, are eligible for the rankings.

Valley View and Scranton are the other teams on the rise this week. They are involved in the two Week Four games that pit ranked teams against each other.

Valley View moved up one spot to fourth while Scranton moved into the Big School rankings in sixth among Big Schools.

No. 5 North Pocono is at No. 4 Valley View Friday night. Scranton faces No. 2 Small School Scranton Prep Saturday afternoon.

Hazleton Area and Lakeland continue to lead the rankings after each improved to 3-0 with another dominant effort.

The Big School Cougars have won each game by at least 32 points while outscoring opponents, 146-29. They have both scored the most points and produced the largest scoring margin in District 2.

The Small School Chiefs have led each opponent by at least 34 points while outscoring them, 127-21. Lakeland, which is also ranked fifth in the state among Class 2A teams by PennLive.com, has allowed the fewest points of any District 2 team.

Lakeland and Scranton Prep are once again followed, in order, by Western Wayne, Dunmore, Lackawanna Trail and Old Forge in the Small School rankings.

The Big Schools have been shuffled.

Hazleton Area defeated North Pocono, 54-7, to disrupt the rankings a bit and will play at Hazleton Area (2-1) Friday.

Dallas downed Williamsport, 41-20, to hold No. 2 and will play at West Scranton (1-2) Friday. The Mountaineers are also listed among the Teams to Watch in Class 4A, putting them among the top 15 in the state, according to PennLive.com.

Crestwood (2-1) gained one position into third with its 49-7 romp over Wyoming Area. The Comets play at Wyoming Valley West (0-3) Friday.

Valley View (2-1) is up one spot to fourth after winning at Honesdale, 35-17. The Cougars host North Pocono, which dropped from third to fifth after suffering its first loss at Hazleton Area.

Scranton joined the rankings in sixth after beating West Scranton, 39-20, to improve to 3-0.

Delaware Valley dropped out of the rankings after suffering its third straight loss.

Lakeland is coming off a 34-0 shutout of Riverside and will host Susquehanna (2-1) Friday.

Scranton Prep reached 2-1 with a 63-6 rout of Lake-Lehman.

Western Wayne (2-1) won a game between ranked teams, 35-7, over Old Forge. It hosts Abington Heights (0-3) Friday.

Dunmore ripped Susquehanna, 56-7, and is home against Riverside (1-2) Friday.

Lackawanna Trail joins the two No. 1 teams as the only in District 2 allowing fewer than 10 points per game. Following a 14-8 win over Nanticoke, the Lions (3-0) are at Honesdale (1-2) Friday.

Old Forge will try to bounce back at Mid Valley Friday in a meeting of 1-2 teams.

The full rankings, with records and last week’s rankings:

GAUGHAN AUTO STORE SUPER SIX POWER RANKINGS

(By NEPAFootball.com)

Big Schools

RankSchoolRecordRank
  1Hazleton Area  3-0  1
  2Dallas  3-0  2
  3Crestwood  2-1  4
  4Valley View  2-1  5
  5North Pocono  2-1  3
  6Scranton  3-0  6

Small Schools

RankSchoolRecordRank
  1Lakeland  3-0  1
  2Scranton Prep  2-1  2
  3Western Wayne  2-1  3
  4Dunmore  2-1  4
  5Lackawanna Trail  3-0  5
  6Old Forge  1-2  6

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