Nativity's offense lines up before running a play during the District 2/11 Class A subregional football playoff game at Lions Pride stadium. Lackawanna Trail defeated the Green Wave 47-20 (Photo by Eli Doyle).

FACTORYVILLE — Lackawanna Trail’s ground game was too much for Nativity.

Sam Walborn led the Green Wave with 121 rushing yards a touchdown as Nativity fell to Lackawanna Trail 47-20 in District 2/11 Class A subregional semifinal football game Friday at Lion Pride Stadium.

I love these guys to death,” Nativity coach Pat Mason said. “I’m a super fortunate guy to have this group of seniors. I’m super fortunate to be able to coach my kids. And I just really, really love this group of kids. Its going to be tough to see them go, they battled for me for four years. It just seems like we could never get a break, but you know, that doesn’t mean anything in the end.  They’re all going to be successful human beings and, like I said, I love them to death.”

The Green Wave (6-5) came out swinging after winning the toss and deferring to the second half as Andrew Verchick secured a tackle for a loss that forced the Lions (10-1) to punt on their opening drive. Unfortunately, Nativity couldn’t put point of the scoreboard early on.

Lackawanna Trail utilized a run-heavy scheme as the Lions pounded the rock for two touchdowns in the first quarter. Demitrius Douglas scored from two yards out before Issac Ryon collected his first TD of the game on a 40-yard run.

The Green Wave battled through key injuries from the start as they were without guard/defensive end George Shimko and returned runningback/linebacker Sam Spolski, who was wearing a protective cast around one of his forearms.

Early in the first half Nativity also lost wide receiver/defensive back Noah Dolbin and tackle-defensive end Barry Jenkins to injuries.

“I have never in my life seen, it felt like one guy went down, two guys go down, three guys go down,” Mason said. “And then, you have guys that step and you have guys who have to fill in.

“It’s super frustrating because I think I know what type of team we have when everyone is healthy, and everyone is clicking. And not be able to solidify that and get that moving every week is tough.”

Lackawanna Trail’s Max Kimmel returned an interception for a touchdown and Ryon added his second rushing TD before half, but the Green Wave got on the board as quarterback Ben Kreitzer found receiver Mike Stank streaking down the middle of the field for a 60-yard touchdown.

Trailing 27-6 at half, Nativity’s luck didn’t get any better as Stank sustained an injury after a catch and run of 16 yards in the third quarter.

Douglas ripped off a 74-yard touchdown run before Ryon added another from 75, and the Lions were firmly in control 40-6 by the end of the third.

Nick Wagner secured a 24-yard TD pass from Kreitzer and Walborn ripped off a 72-yard for the resilient Green Wave. But it was too little, too late as Tim Richmond added a fourth quarter score on a rush from two yards out.

Lackawanna Trail’s ground-and-pound was too much for a battered Nativity squad to overcome and the Lions took home the semifinal win 47-20.

Game Summary
Lackawanna Trail 47, Nativity 20

Nat (6-5)      0      6      0       14        20
LT (10-1)      14    13     13       7        47

LT — Douglas 2 run (Edwards kick)
LT — Ryon 40 run (Edwards kick)
LT — Kimmel 51 interception return (Edwards kick)
Nat — Stank 60 pass from Kreitzer (kick failed)
LT — Ryon 18 run (kick failed)
LT — Douglas 74 run (Edwards kick)
LT — Ryon 75 run (kick failed)
Nat — Wagner 24 pass from Kreitzer (conversion failed)
LT — Reed 2 run (Edwards kick)
Nat — Walborn 72 run (Kreitzer pass from Frie)

Team Statistics
                                           Nat                        LT
First Downs:                      10                             13
Rushes-Yards                 16-148                    32-375
Passes                                7-18-2                   0-1-0
Passing Yards                     148                           0
Total Yards                          296                        375
Fumbles/Lost                    0-0                          0-0
Penalties                              4-25                       3-11

Individual Statistics
RUSHING: Nativity — Walborn 10-121, Spolski 6-22, Stank 4-21, Mason 2-6, Kreitzer 4-(-22). Lackawanna Trail — Ryon 11-176, Douglas 6-108, Reed 4-45, Jervis 4-21, Edwards 2-10, Dwyer 2-(-1).
PASSING: Nativity — Kreitzer 7-18-2, 148. Lackawanna Trail — Jervis 0-1-0, 0.
RECEIEVING: Nativity — Stank 3-82, Wagner 2-42, Walborn 2-24. Lackawanna Trail — None.
INTERCEPTION: Lackawanna Trail — Kimmel 2.