HS FOOTBALL NOTES: The Bell Game highlights Week 8 action in LFC

Scranton and West Scranton may not be enjoying the success they hoped for in 2026, but one will claim a coveted trophy this week that will make all the hard work worth it.

The Bell is up for grabs again in the annual city championship game Friday at 5 p.m. at Scranton Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Scranton (0-7) seeks its eighth straight win.

“This is what you look forward to,” Scranton two-way lineman Jake Condrad said. “Everybody has circled this game on the calendar since June. We have to execute and play a physical brand of football.

“This game is what you live for at Scranton High. It is a tradition. You get thousands of people at the game, and being able to play in it is a gift.”

West Scranton (2-5) looks to snap a five-game losing streak this season after starting 2-0 with wins over Hazleton Area and Carbondale Area.

“It’s time for The Bell to come back to West Scranton,” West Scranton senior linebacker Jake DeLuca said. “We are fired up. Our losses the last few weeks have taken a toll on us, but this is a big game for everybody. We are pumped.

“We have to stay together. We have to have that bond and stay true to ourselves. That will help us come out on top.”

Regardless of how their season ends, players at both programs point to this game all year. The winner claims The Bell Trophy to display in their school until next year’s game.

Erie Railroad donated the Bell Trophy in 1953, awarded to the city championship winner. The city championship started with the first game between Scranton Central and Scranton Technical in 1909. West Scranton joined the battle for the Bell in 1944.

After Scranton Central and Scranton Tech closed, Scranton High School and West Scranton started this era’s series in 1991. Scranton leads, 22-14.

“We represent the school and the city,” Condrad said. “We have to play with pride. Our coach always tells us to have pride and respect and execute to make the right choices to bring home a win on Friday night.”

The Bell Game has featured legendary players, most recently, West Scranton quarterback Matt McGloin, who played for Penn State and the Oakland Raiders in the National Football League, and Scranton’s Jake McCarthy, a starting outfielder with the Colorado Rockies in Major League Baseball.

According to game historian Matthew Nycz, McGloin owns The Bell Game record for passing yards in a game with 340 in 2007. West Scranton’s Tom Hughes ran for a record 256 yards in 1998. West Scranton’s Asa Lucas had 205 yards receiving in 2005.

McCarthy set The Bell Game record with 32 points (five touchdowns and a 2-point conversion) in the 2014 game, which included a game-record 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

The game’s history is what makes it special for players each season.

“This game means a lot,” DeLuca said. “I was on the sideline as a kid for The Bell Game. I saw West run to The Bell after a win. I can’t wait to be a part of it again. We are itching to ring that bell on Monday morning in the school.”

Delaware Valley coach Keith Olsommer needs one win to join an exclusive club in the Lackawanna Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Last week, Delaware Valley defeated Scranton for Olsommer’s 199th career win. The late Jack Henzes (Wyoming Area, Dunmore) leads the area with 444 career wins. Frank Pazzaglia (Valley View, Mid Valley) is second with 344; the late John “Papa Bear” Henzes (Blakely) is third with 251; Allen “Butch” Keller (Honesdale, Western Wayne, Bishop O’Hara, Holy Cross) is fourth with 220 and the late Elio Ghigiarelli (Old Forge) is fifth with 202.

Delaware Valley’s football program had a 5-67 record in its first seven seasons from 1992 to 1998. Olsommer took over in 1999. The Warriors won their first LFC Division I championship in 2004 and their first District 2 Class 4A title in 2012.

During Olsommer’s career, Delaware Valley won 11 District 2 championships, nine LFC Division I titles and an Eastern Conference 4A title in 2013.

Old Forge coach Michael Schuback guided his team to a victory over Montrose last week and earned his 196th career win.

Schuback is in his 24th season and ranks seventh in career wins among LIAA coaches.

Lackawanna Trail’s Steve Jervis (161) is third among active LIAA coaches and is ranked 11th overall. Abington Heights coach Joe Repshis (137) is fourth and 16th overall, Honesdale’s George Howanitz (126) is fifth and 18th overall and Scranton Prep’s Terry Gallagher (109) is sixth and 24th overall. Gallagher needs one win to tie former Montrose coach Tom Lucenti for 23rd.

Honesdale senior running back Gabe Duda and Abington Heights senior running back Jayden Anglin each surpassed 1,000 yards rushing last week. Both lead their respective divisions in rushing after seven weeks.

Division I: Anglin leads the division with 1,029 yards rushing on 115 carries. Wallenpaupack’s Edward Kiesendahl has 13 rushing touchdowns and 14 touchdowns overall for 84 points. West Scranton freshman quarterback Austin Sostre, who suffered an injury last week, leads the division with 844 yards passing. He is tied with Valley View’s Colin Dempsey with seven touchdown passes. West Scranton’s Kaz Colbert leads with 31 receptions for 483 yards, and West Scranton’s Jonyae Sostre has four receiving touchdowns. North Pocono’s Shane Youngblood leads with four field goals and 39 kicking points. Scranton Prep’s Tyler Bianchi leads with 29 extra points.

Division II: Duda leads the conference with 1,104 yards rushing and 21 rushing touchdowns. He has 22 touchdowns overall and two 2-point conversions for 136 points. Dunmore’s Brady McCormick has 732 yards passing and 12 touchdowns, with a conference-best passer rating of 242. Lakeland’s Chase Rosenkrans still leads with 29 receptions, but moved to quarterback. Lakeland’s Luke McFarland has 337 yards receiving and is tied with Mid Valley’s Nick Hricenak with five receiving touchdowns. Dunmore’s Russell Toole has 36 extra points.

Division III: Carbondale Area senior Caedon Voglino leads with 659 yards rushing, eight rushing touchdowns and 13 total touchdowns for 80 points. Holy Cross’ Chase Rutkoski leads with 877 yards passing, nine passing touchdowns and a 135.7 passer rating. Holy Cross’ Luca Berardi leads with 33 receptions for 549 yards and is tied with Old Forge’s Ayden Aversa with five receiving touchdowns. Lackawanna Trail’s Joey Thomas has three field goals and 22 kicking points and Montrose’s Gabriel De Llano Duran has 20 extra points.

1991: West Scranton, 14-0

1992: West Scranton, 19-0

1993: West Scranton, 34-6

1993: West Scranton, 21-6

1994: West Scranton, 32-0

1996: West Scranton, 14-12

1998: West Scranton, 28-7

1999: West Scranton, 39-28

2001: West Scranton, 23-0

2005: West Scranton, 41-27

2007: West Scranton, 43-32

2010: West Scranton, 34-8

2016: West Scranton, 28-21