North Pocono vs Pittston Area Football Rivalry

On Aug. 29, 2025, before that night’s game at Charley Trippi Stadium, the Citizens’ Voice printed the series North Pocono, 3-0. The last meeting on that line was North Pocono 23-13 in 2024. North Pocono was 1-0 after a 56-0 win over Nanticoke. The Times-Tribune roundup of that Nanticoke game had the defense at 27 yards and two first downs. Pittston Area was 1-0. Paul Russick, who played at Pittston Area, had been hired from Honesdale. Kickoff was 7. North Pocono won that night, 34-21.

The Times-Tribune recap has the game at Yatesville. North Pocono led 14-7 at halftime. Brody Spindler’s 3-yard run at the end of the first half made it 14-7. Cole West carried twice for 8 yards in the first half and did not make a catch. Joe Briskie was out with a shoulder injury, and Greg Dolhon said the second-half plan was to get West the ball. On the second play of the third quarter West caught a quick hitch, spun out of a tackle, and scored on a 71-yard touchdown. The paper says that pushed the lead back to two scores. Steven Barnic’s 26-yard catch from Paulie Ferentino made it 21-14. West then scored from 49 yards on a direct snap, taking the ball over the right side, after a Pittston score had cut the lead to one. A 20-yard run set North Pocono up just outside the red zone, and two plays later he scored from 28 yards off the left side. Spindler’s second touchdown, from a yard out in the fourth quarter, made it 27-21. The final was 34-21.

West’s second half was five carries, 102 yards, and two touchdowns, plus the 71-yard catch and an interception. Three carries bridging the third and fourth quarters accounted for 97 of the 102 rushing yards. Chase Zimmerman had nine carries for 45 yards and two touchdowns. Jayden Taylor had 20 carries for 107 yards. The paper calls West a junior, 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds. Russick said they could not stop him. Dolhon said the job was to put the ball in the hands of the best players.

The logs show three North Pocono wins before that Friday: 48-15 in a 2017 playoff, 37-0 in 2021, and 23-13 in 2024. North Pocono then won 34-21.

On Nov. 3, 2017, fourth-seeded North Pocono beat fifth-seeded Pittston Area 48-15 in the District 2 Class 4A quarterfinals at Trojans Stadium. J.C. Gaughan ran 21 times for 186 yards and four touchdowns. Joe Ianni scored from 4 yards and on a 52-yard catch from Donny Blaine. North Pocono rushed for 327 yards. The Times-Tribune had North Pocono at 7-4.