SCRANTON — Scranton Prep’s blueprint for sustained success starts up front and on defense.
Its decade of dominance includes three straight District 2 Class 3A championships and seven since 2015. This season’s Cavaliers are favored to defend their district crown and again make an impact on the state level after reaching the quarterfinals in 2023.
Three big reasons are the return of Ambrose Rossi and Byron Axtell to the offensive and defensive lines and linebacker Reese Tanner to the defense.
Scranton Prep’s standout leaders and teammates hit the field at Convery Field on Monday’s first two-a-day practice.
“The line is really important,” said Rossi, a 6-foot-6, 275-pound three-year starter. “We work hard on it every day in practice, making sure that our steps are correct and that we have the plays down. We talk and communicate; if we can do that, we know that we will be fine.
“Things are going well right now. After the last couple of months working together, we are stepping up and playing well.”
AROUND THE CAMPS: Riverside and Scranton Prep
Rossi and Axtell were part of a physical offensive line that paved the way for an explosive running game last season. Scranton Prep ran for 3,199 yards in 14 games.
“We have a lot of good backs, so we know that we have to be physical on the line,” Axtell, a 6-foot-4, 275-pound junior, said. “We are going over our steps every day in practice. Our line coach (Dan) McShaffery is a great line coach, and he makes sure that we are always ready. We have to play physically on every single play.”
Defensively, Scranton Prep overwhelmed opponents. The unit posted two shutouts and limited five opponents to one score or fewer. In the regular season, the Cavaliers outscored teams in the Lackawanna Football Conference, 225-23, in the first half.
This year’s schedule has new teams on it. Scranton Prep, while a favorite in LFC Division I, also has challenging games at Loyola Blakefield in Maryland, a home game against Canisius from Buffalo, New York, and a road game against Jersey Shore on Oct. 18 in Week 9.
“I am really excited about the defense,” Tanner said. “We have a lot of guys coming back this year and a lot of new guys coming in with a lot of talent who will be taking on new roles. It should be fun, and it will be exciting for us.”
Scranton Prep will scrimmage against East Stroudsburg South and Notre Dame-Green Pond on Saturday at 10 a.m. The Cavaliers play against Valley View on Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. at Dunmore Veterans Memorial Stadium in an LFC Division I game to kick off the first week of the regular season.
Big season expected at Riverside
TAYLOR — As Tavian Branch jogs onto the practice field behind Riverside High School, one can’t help but turn their attention to him.
He is a massive junior lineman, standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 285 pounds. His personality is as big and mature as his physical presence. Then, as he goes through drills, it is easy to see why he is the most sought-after player in the Lackawanna Football Conference by college recruiters.
At Monday’s morning workout on the first official practice that allows full contact in the state, Branch showed he is a leader for a Riverside team that is optimistic for the 2024 season. The Vikings have talent returning from a team that reached the District 2 Class 2A final last fall and begin the season ranked No. 8 in Pennlive.com‘s Pennsylvania High School Class 2A Football Poll.
Branch’s talent and potential will draw college recruiters to Riverside games this season.
As the offers pour in, his focus is on development.
“It feels good to be out here and mentor the young guys and be able to show the coaches and my teammates my leadership,” Branch said.
Graydon Dupree is a junior who put a lot of time into the weight room and gained 45 pounds. The 6-1, 240-pound junior will play center and at end on the defensive line.
“We are all working extremely hard and making great efforts to be as good, if not better, than last year,” Dupree said. “I am really excited to see what we are capable of doing this year.”
Riverside also boasts a college prospect at tight end and linebacker. Returning All-Region linebacker Richie Kostoff leads the defense and had 82 tackles, with 39 solo, 11 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. He received a scholarship offer from Bucknell University.
“Everything started in the offseason and getting all of the guys here to workout,” Kostoff said. “We all really got after it this offseason. The energy is high, and I think we are all ready for Week 1.”
Linebacker Quinn Pucilowski led Riverside’s defense in total tackles, tackles for loss, sacks and fumble recoveries last season. With Kostoff and Pucilowski, the Vikings should have one of the top defensive teams in LFC Division III.
“We have been lifting and getting ready for this moment,” Pucilowski said. “We are ready, and this was a good first day for us.”
Riverside will scrimmage at Canton on Saturday at noon, and opens the regular season at home Aug. 23 against Dunmore in a rematch of last season’s District 2 Class 2A championship game.
