Lackawanna Trail’s Junior Lion “A” Team members celebrate last season after winning the NAJFL Super Bowl. The Lions have returned to the gridiron.
BY KEVIN WOODRUFF
Wyoming County Press Examiner
Tunkhannock’s Tiger Cubs and Lackawanna Trail’s Junior Lions are gearing up for another fall filled with youth football action.
Both organizations play in the Northern Area Junior Football League. The Lions have three teams, an A, B and C team, while Tunkhannock has an A, B, C and D team.
The teams are the “D” team, which are 5 year-olds, the “C” team, which are 6-10 year-olds; the “B” team, which are 10-12 year-olds; and the “A” team, which are 12-14 year-olds.
Lackawanna Trail’s organization is coming off a superb 2011 campaign in which their “A” Team won the Northern Area Junior Football League Super Bowl, and its “B” Team was runner up in the Super Bowl.
Lion team president Carmelo Berrios said on Thursday that the organization is looking forward to another year of exciting football.
“All three teams look great so far,” Berrios said.
He said the teams got started on July 18 with practices in preparation for the regular season opener on Saturday, Aug. 18.
The Lions bolster a roster of 15 on the A Team, 24 players on the B Team and 26 players on the C Team.
Coaching for the Lions are Ed Laytos (C Team), John Rolka (B Team) and Bob Buck (A Team).
“Right now we’re doing mostly conditioning work,” Berrios said. “Getting them used to running and hitting.”
Although Berrios said the players are a little on the leaner side, he believes the organizations Wing-T offense, which focuses on misdirection and less on direct drives, will help them be successful.
“We have a bunch of returning players,” Berrios said. “And right now our B Team is looking great.”
For Tunkhannock, team president Brian Burd said the Tigers have been practicing since July 16, and are off to a good start.
“It’s been very hot, so we’ve been taking it a bit easy,” Burd said. “Making sure the kids get enough water and breaks.”
He said the team is gearing up for a scrimmage against Taylor on Saturday, followed by a game at home against West Side on Aug. 12.
“The exhibitions are great because they get the kids used to playing against other teams before the regular season starts,” Burd said. “It helps because they’re used to playing against each other in practice, but once you get to the games it’s a whole different story.”
Tunkhannock is bolstering a roster of about 85 players split between the four teams, with about 90-95 cheerleaders signed up.
“We’re excited about the season,” Burd said. “And excited to give the kids a good outlet to play football.”
For the older groups, Burd said he is hoping to win a lot of regular season games and make a run at the Super Bowl.
However, for the young groups, he said it’s all about helping the kids learn a love for the game.
“We’re just teaching them to love the game at the younger levels,” Burd said. “So hopefully they will continue playing and carry the love over to the varsity program.”
The full season schedule is below.
Pre-Season
Sunday, Aug. 5 – Trail at West Side Jets; Tunkhannock at Taylor.
Saturday, Aug. 11 – Taylor at Trail.
Sunday, Aug. 12 – West Side Jets at Tunkhannock.
Regular Season
Saturday, Aug. 18 – West Side at Trail, 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 19 – Valley View at Tunkhannock, 12 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 26 – Trail at North Scranton, 12 p.m.; Tunkhannock at Wilkes-Barre, 12 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 2 – Trail at Monroe, 12 p.m.; Abington South at Tunkhannock, 12 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 8 – Tunkhannock at Abington North, 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept 9 – Trail at Blue Ridge, 1 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 15 – Tunkhannock at Western Wayne, 5:30 p.m.; Trail at Carbondale, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 22 – Tunkhannock at Trail, 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 30 – Carbondale at Tunkhannock, 12 p.m.; Abington North at Trail, 12 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 6 – Blue Ridge at Tunkhannock, 5:30 p.m.; Western Wayne at Trail, 5:30 p.m.
Source:
http://wcexaminer.com/index.php/archives/sports/30579
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