AJ Lakeland

By Adam Roberts aroberts@theabingtonjournal.com

Lakeland High School rolled over Lackawanna Trail at Lion’s Pride Stadium Friday night, Sept. 4, with a 35-6 win thanks to three passing touchdowns. Though points came from the pass, the running game and defensive effort for the Chiefs solidified the victory.

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Above, Lackawanna Trail’s Sean Fricke blows by Lakeland’s Alex Filarsky

Abington Journal photo/ Alice stuffle

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Above Jeff Wasilchak made his first trip back to Lackawanna Trail since taking the job as head coach of Lakeland last year.

Abington Journal Photos/ Alice Stuffle

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Three-year signal-caller Ryan Kiehart tossed three touchdown passes to fellow senior Tony Peregrin. Strikes of 10, 17 and 37 yards gave Peregrin 64 yards in just three receptions.

Kiehart was 6 for 11 on the evening.

His first pass was the last play of their first possession for a 10 yard touchdown after halfback Brett Kuwik and fullback Al Tuzze drove the ball down 84 yards on the ground.

With 10:11 left in the first half Kiehart found Peregrin for the second time after the running game brought them into the redzone.

“The run gives us balance,” said Kiehart. “It opened up the passing game really well.”

That running game was lead by the 123 yards in 15 carries from Kuwik.

“I’ve been waiting for this my whole life,” said Kuwik who has been playing since age five.

Kuwik scored on a five yard run in the second half after Peregrin’s final visit to paydirt.

Kuwik’s biggest plays were a 46 yard sprint in the first half and a 37 yard catch in the second. His finishing power comes from preparation.

“In practice our coaches make us sprint 30 yards after the carry so it prepares us for the game,” said Kuwik

Despite preparations both teams had turnovers that turned into points for their opponents.

Lakeland lost two fumbles including one with under a minute left on the clock. Marvess Rosiak scooped up a loose ball and took it 39 yards for Lackawanna Trail’s only six points of the contest.

After a year recovering from surgery Lions’ quarterback Erich Aten returned to action and was not welcomed kindly by the Lakeland defense.

Aten was rushed into throwing four interceptions, two in each half.

“We were penetrating, their quarterback was rushed and it forced the interceptions,” said Alex Filarsky, a Chiefs defensive back.

Filarsky, a sophomore who played on the freshman team last year, snagged a pair of interceptions.

Filarsky returned his second pick down to the 20 yard line, setting up Kuwik’s touchdown.

Lackawanna Trail also turned the ball over on downs twice.

Backed into a corner, Lions coach Steve Jervis went for a 4th and 5 in the first and desperation 4th and 11 in the game’s final frame.

For Trail, the game will provide points to learn from while Lakeland will use the game to send a message to future opponents.

“It means Lakeland still has our tradition and we’re out to win,” said Kiehart.