North Pocono vs Abington Heights Football Rivalry

On Sept. 1, 2016, the Times-Tribune’s game of the week was North Pocono at Abington Heights. The paper wrote that North Pocono had won the last two meetings and that Abington Heights still led the series, 32-14-1.

That story put the first meeting in 1966 and the series at 47 games, with Abington Heights at 32 wins. In the eight meetings since 2009, Abington Heights had won five, and North Pocono had won the last two. The meeting before that Saturday was North Pocono 20-7 in 2015. North Pocono was No. 1 after a 35-12 win over Riverside. Abington Heights was No. 3 after a 21-14 win over Scranton Prep. Kickoff was Saturday at 1 p.m. at Comets Stadium in Clarks Summit. North Pocono won that game, 20-0.

A later capsule, on Sept. 30, 2021, printed a different snapshot: Abington Heights led 32-18-1 and had lost the last six, and the last meeting was North Pocono 27-0 in 2019. That line is quoted as of that date.

On Sept. 25, 2026, before that Friday’s game, the Times-Tribune printed another snapshot: Abington Heights led 34-21-1, and North Pocono had won nine of the last 11. The last meeting on that line was North Pocono 24-10 in 2025. North Pocono won that night, 21-0.

The schools have kept meeting in the Lackawanna Football Conference. The 2025 game was 24-10 at Abington Heights, and the 2026 game was 21-0 at Trojan Stadium. Those scores stay on the meeting list.

The Oct. 9, 2009, meeting was a 29-21 North Pocono win that ended a 14-game losing streak to Abington Heights. An Oct. 19, 2019, lookback, in the items from 10 years earlier, has Matt Smith running for two touchdowns and throwing another.

The Oct. 9, 2009, Times-Tribune game story is the 29-21 upset of No. 1 Abington Heights. Sixth-ranked North Pocono had lost the previous 14 meetings. Matt Smith had 171 total yards, two rushing touchdowns, and an 18-yard touchdown pass to Nick Bell. The clinching score was his 25-yard run on fourth-and-12. North Pocono rushed for 206 yards on 51 carries.

An Oct. 6, 2012, Times-Tribune lookback, in the items from 30 years earlier, has North Pocono winning 20-6 over Abington Heights in October 1982. Mike Palys scored on a fumble recovery and an interception return.

An Oct. 3, 2009, Times-Tribune lookback, in the items from 30 years earlier, has Abington Heights shutting out North Pocono 42-0 in October 1979. Matt Kennedy went 90 yards on the second play from scrimmage. The paper called it Abington Heights’ fifth shutout in six games.

The Sept. 30, 2000, Times Leader has Friday night’s game at Moscow at 35-14 for Abington Heights. Andrew Smith returned the opening kickoff and rushed for 132 yards and a score. Abington Heights scored 35 points in the first half. North Pocono was 1-4 and 0-2 in Northeastern Pennsylvania Football Conference Division 2 North. That game is on the 2000 season page.

A Sept. 26, 2009, Times-Tribune lookback, in the items from 10 years earlier, has Abington Heights quarterback Chris Kelly throwing for 184 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-21 win over previously unbeaten North Pocono in September 1999.

A Sept. 9, 2023, lookback, in the items from 20 years earlier, has Devin Hewlett rushing for 115 yards and a touchdown in Abington Heights’ 13-3 win in September 2003.

An Oct. 11, 2026, Times-Tribune lookback, in the items from 30 years earlier, has Jeremy Rozina rushing for 172 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries, and running in a two-point conversion, as Abington Heights won 36-27 in October 1996.