HS FOOTBALL: Lakeland secures game against Wellsboro for Week 1

Lakeland has a season opener in Week 1 after all.

Due to long hours of work on logistics, Lakeland athletic director Brian Wagner and head coach Dave Piwowarczyk secured a home game against Wellsboro on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Lakeland High School Stadium.

The Chiefs received a forfeit from Holy Cross on Monday night due to a low number of players on the roster and increased injuries.

Wellsboro, a District 4 Class 3A program that competes in the Northern Tier League, did not have an opponent for Week 1 after Northwest Area opted out of an agreement and scheduled a game against Holy Redeemer. The Green Hornets scrimmaged Milton on Aug. 22.

“After we learned of the forfeit, Dave and I explored every option to get a game,” Wagner said. “Dave reached out and found that Wellsboro had an opening; I contacted (District 2 football chairman) Mike Ognosky, and we talked, finding out the process to schedule it either as a scrimmage or a game with Wellsboro.

“We made it a 5:30 p.m. start because we are working with having two soccer games on Saturday. Plus, it is a three-hour drive for Wellsboro, and they would be getting home too late with a 7 p.m. start. It was all night and all morning working to finalize the details, which included getting game officials and game-day workers at the facility for the game.”

On Tuesday morning, Ognosky outlined the impact the schedule change has on this season’s power ratings.

The Lakeland-Wellsboro game is a two-year commitment by the schools, Wagner said. Next year, the Week 1 game will be at Wellsboro.

Lakeland will no longer receive the forfeit from Holy Cross on its overall season record or District 2 power rating.

Holy Cross, however, will still be assessed a loss on its District 2 ledger. Because this is the first year of a two-year schedule, Holy Cross will receive a bye in Week 1 in 2027. The program will not be penalized a forfeit next season, and school administrators at Holy Cross can find an opponent to fill the Week 1 vacancy, Ognosky explained.

Lakeland, last season’s District 2 Class 2A champion, scrimmaged Schuylkill Haven on Aug. 22.

Last season, Wellsboro finished 6-5 while competing as a Class 2A program in District 4.

The Green Hornets, coached by Matt Hildebrand, are considered a strong team for this season, with a veteran group of starters returning from 2025.

Quarterback Griffin Morral, a 6-foot-0, 170-pound junior, is entering his third year as a starter. He has had two straight seasons with more than 1,000 yards passing.

Kody Enck had a breakout season with six interceptions and two returned for touchdowns. Enck also had 22 receptions for 420 yards and five touchdowns.

“Obviously, after hearing from Holy Cross on Monday, we went to work to find a game,” Piwowarczyk said. “We explored our options and were fortunate to find Wellsboro. Coach Hildebrand was very accommodating in coming here to play. We both want the same thing for our programs. We feel that it is important to play in Week 1, get the players experience, and do it safely for both teams.”

Lakeland starts the season as an honorable mention team in Class 2A, according to PennLive’s preseason poll.

The Chiefs return seven starters on offense and six on defense.

Senior wide receiver Chase Rosenkrans is a returning All-Region player with 126 career receptions.

Junior wide receiver Jackson Pochas was an All-Region selection in the secondary and was an LFC Division II Coaches’ all-star wide receiver.

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →