PECKVILLE-With the start of the 2025 regular season just over five weeks away, graduated seniors from the northern end of District 2 tied one last bow around the 2024 season with the playing of the 91st Annual Scranton Lions Club Dream Game at John Henzes Veterans Memorial Stadium in Peckville on Wednesday night. In a matchup that featured the City schools against their County opponents under ideal weather conditions, it was the County that used a couple of fourth-down stops in the early going to build an early lead, and cruise to a 41-17 victory. The game was played in front of a large crowd, which was announced at over 7,000.
“Yeah, it was a great experience,” Old Forge and County coach Mike Schuback said. “All these guys, there was zero animosity, all of them came together quickly. We had dinner every night, the Marino family put us up in a restaurant last night, what a great event. Everybody pitched in, and everybody took this as serious as they possibly could, but I’m just really proud of the kids. Games like this handcuff you a little bit with the rules and stuff. I think we had a lot of penalties, but that’s some aggressiveness, and it is what it is.”
Although there were no postgame awards given, Riverside quarterback Chase Taddonio certainly could have made his case for Most Valuable Player. Taddonio was 11-of-13 passing for 156 yards with two touchdowns and one interception to lead the County team. Both of his scoring strikes went to Shane Brower of Abington Heights, who finished with six catches and 132 yards. Taddonio’s Riverside teammate, J.J. Rogers, intercepted two passes, including one that he brought back 33 yards for a pick-six. Scranton Prep wide receiver Brady Holmes had a great night of his own for the City team, as he caught three passes for 107 yards and two long touchdowns.
“The practices were great,” Rogers said. “Coming together with this team was amazing, the chemistry was there. Playing in this game with them felt amazing. Playing with some of my Riverside teammates, it was an honor to be able to finish it out with them.”
On the opening possession of the game, the City team rolled the dice in their own territory and came up short on a 4th-and-3 play. The County team quickly took advantage, as Taddonio connected with Brower on an 18-yard touchdown pass with just over four minutes elapsed off of the first-quarter clock. After forcing a punt on the next series, the County put together an impressive 11-play drive that was capped off with a 1-yard quarterback sneak from Valley View’s Zach Cwalinski. Trailing 14-0 in the early part of the second quarter, the City decided to gamble again, and a 4th-and-1 run was stuffed for negative yardage. The County needed just three plays to extend the lead. Honesdale’s Aiden Collins hit Shawn Theodore of Abington Heights on a 44-yard completion, and two plays later, Delaware Valley’s Pasquale Venitucci rumbled across the goal line from three yards out at the 8:24 mark of the second quarter.
“I was surprised on the first one,” Schuback said. “Actually, I thought they would have punted, but again, it’s an All-Star Game. We got a little aggressive with some of the calls. The kids, we put some special plays to roll with the guys, but hey, in a game like this with some of them, that’s their last game. So it’s fun, and some of the other kids, they’re going to go on and be in camps in a couple of weeks. It’s a great way to walk off the field for the last time as high school players.”
With just over five minutes left before halftime, the City team got on the scoreboard. West Scranton’s Caiden Berardi found Holmes, who made an excellent catch despite really good coverage, for a 30-yard touchdown down the right sideline. Trailing 20-7 starting the second half, the City chewed up almost eight minutes on a drive that ended with a 32-yard field goal from Sam Magnotta of North Pocono. The County answered to once again build a comfortable margin. Josh Vinton of Western Wayne scored on a 3-yard run early in the fourth quarter to finish an 87-yard downfield march that saw Taddonio hit on all three pass attempts totaling 61 yards.
“I mean, Chase is a phenomenal quarterback,” Rogers said. “It’s been an honor to play with him, and he’s one of the best quarterbacks I’ve seen come out of this program and one of the best quarterbacks I’ve seen in general.”
Just 63 seconds after Vinton scored, Rogers effectively put the game away for good when he corralled a deflected pass and took off down the right sideline to put his team up 34-10. In total, the County secondary intercepted five passes, including three in the fourth quarter. Despite being on the field for consecutive series multiple times thanks to rules that allow the team that is trailing by nine points or more to get the ball back, the County defense played solid from start to finish.
“Being able to play defense in this game is great,” Rogers said. “Even though it’s just man, we have the dogs on the outside. We have the best corners in the area, best safeties in the area. No matter who’s on us, it’s a mismatch, and I mean, they’re not better than us.”
Drew Kiesendahl of Wallenpaupack hooked up with Holmes on a 71-yard pass on what was the longest play of the night with 8:53 left in the game. However, the ensuing City possession ended with Rogers intercepting a pass. In the waning seconds, the County would score one more time. The County offense overcame one of its 14 penalties, and closed out Schuback’s third appearance coaching the game in style when Taddonio found Brower on a 15-yard touchdown pass with 53 seconds left.
“You have a nine-year or ten-year gap to do the game, so whenever you get to work with all these good athletes, some other schools that you play against, you coach against, it’s nice to have them all on your side,” Schuback said.”