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Judge dismisses objections against Luzerne County voting district changes

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Their view: Worries that Democrats will go too far in primaries appear unfounded

<p>Week 8 of the high school football season just became more competitive and intriguing as Wyoming Area and Southern Columbia agreed Tuesday to forego their scheduled opponents and play each other.</p><p>The game will be played at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at Wyoming Area. Wyoming Area (4-0) is ranked fourth in the state in Class 3A by pennlive.com. Southern Columbia (4-0) is the top-ranked team in Class 2A and has won a record nine PIAA championships. The Tigers are recognized nationally as one of the top programs in the country and recently defeated a state champion from South Carolina on ESPN2.</p><p>It will be the first-ever matchup between the two schools.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a great opportunity for our kids to play one of the top programs in the state and actually nationally,&#8221; said Wyoming Area coach Randy Spencer, who added his players were excited when they heard the news.</p><p>The arrangement took less than 24 hours to complete.</p><p>Southern Columbia coach Jim Roth, who is also the school&#8217;s athletic director, contacted Wyoming Area athletic director Joe Pizano about playing Week 8. Both teams had games scheduled that weren&#8217;t expected to be very competitive. Wyoming Area was set to play winless Holy Redeemer, while Southern Columbia was to host winless Shikellamy.</p><p>The Warriors defeated Redeemer 43-7 last year and led 30-0 after nine minutes when Spencer pulled his starters. Southern Columbia trounced Shikellamy 69-7 in 2018.</p><p>Redeemer and Shikellamy agreed to play each other Oct. 11, allowing the Wyoming Area vs. Southern Columbia matchup. A site for the Redeemer vs. Shikellamy game hasn&#8217;t been decided.</p><p>Southern Columbia, which is located just outside of Bloomsburg, features some of the top recruits in the nation. Wide receiver Julian Fleming has committed to Ohio State. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder is ranked as the top receiver and third overall recruit in the nation by 247sports.com. He had offers from nearly every major Division I program including Alabama and Clemson.</p><p>Running back Gaige Garcia has committed to Michigan where he will also wrestle. Linebacker Cal Haladay has committed to Michigan State.</p><p>Southern Columbia defeated Shamokin 62-0 last Friday for its 76th consecutive regular-season victory, breaking a 15-year-old record held by Strath Haven. The Tigers have outscored their opponents 222-0 this season.</p><p>Under the old PIAA state points system, Wyoming Area and Southern Columbia would have benefitted by keeping their scheduled Week 8 opponents. But the recently introduced Power Rating System factors in the strength of the opponent and makes matchups like this possible because the loser could actually end up with a higher power rating than a week earlier.</p><p>&#8220;Just based on the numbers, if you lose to a team with a better record you may end up the same or better,&#8221; Spencer said.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_wyoming_area-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_wyoming_area-1.jpg</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_WA-Mid-Valley-HS-ftbl-TL-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Area&#8217;s smothering defense will be put to the test in three weeks when the Warriors host two-time defending PIAA Class 2A champion Southern Columbia. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_WA-Mid-Valley-HS-ftbl-TL-3.jpg</photo1><caption1>Wyoming Area&#8217;s smothering defense will be put to the test in three weeks when the Warriors host two-time defending PIAA Class 2A champion Southern Columbia. </caption1><photoCredit1>Tony Callaio file photo | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Reworked schedule allows state-ranked teams to play Week 8</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By John Erzar</p><p>jerzar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

H.S. Football: Wyoming Area to host national power Southern Columbia in Week 8