TimesLeader.com

August 27
A new era begins at Trail

By Don McGlynn dmcglynn@theabingtonjournal.com

FACTORYVILLE - Sometimes you can go home again. When Jeff Wasilchak announced earlier this year that he would be stepping down after 11 successful seasons as the Lions head coach he left some big shoes to fill.

Assistant coach Christopher Acculto

Head coach Rob Deremer

Assistant coach Chad Gibbs

Assistant coach Mark Petrewski

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In their time of need, the Lions turned to North Pocono’s freshman football head coach and Lackawanna Trail alumnus, Rob Deremer, to take over the team.

“I always had a little something inside me for Trail,” said Deremer. “The community, the school, they’re all helping me out a lot and giving me a lot of support and I’m really happy to be here.”

Deremer, who graduated from Trail in 1982, was eager to take the reins of the returning District 2 Class A Champions. This was one of seven titles the Lions won under coach Wasilchak, along with nine division championships.

Despite this past success, Deremer is ready to make his own mark on the team and wants fans to expect a few changes this season.

“The defense is 100 percent different. Everyone understands defense, you want to stop the ball,” said Deremer. “We have all kinds of things going on, we have five fronts, four fronts…and it’s not hard to switch, so we have a defense where someone thinks we’re running one thing, and we can run something totally different.”

“Offensively, people who know me know I love the option, that’s something this team hasn’t run in a while. But I run a full option offense, and that’s a whole different mindset and they’re picking up on it pretty well.”

Understanding that a new coach with a new style of play would be an adjustment, the Lions went the extra mile, and began working a little earlier this season to help make the transition that much easier.

“The new offense and defense were hard to pick up at first, but we started coming around in July, and I think we picked up pretty quickly,” said returning starter Kyle Locker.

“It’s different this season with the new coaches and the changes, but I think if we come together as a team and keep working, we’ll do fine and probably repeat as District Champions,” he added.

The team is about to see if all the hard work is going pay off, when they take on the Lakeland Chiefs and their former coach during the season opener. It’s a game to which both the players and the coaches are looking forward.

“The former coach (Jeff Wasilchak) is at Lakeland and I think it will be fun to play against them without them coaching us,” said Booth.

“All the games are important, but Lakeland is definitely the one I’m looking forward to, that’s going to tell us how we are. And, if we match up with Lakeland and do well, I think we’ll have a good year,” said Deremer.

The Lackawanna Trail Lions will take on the Lakeland Chiefs at Lakeland, Friday, August 29 at 7 p.m.