After missing most of last season because of an injury, Holden Edwards couldn’t wait to get on the field and start his senior year at Lackawanna Trail.
Then late in August, it came to a screeching halt again.
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The linebacker fractured his lower leg while making a tackle and would miss multiple weeks.
Both he and the Lions found found support in a familiar face: his younger brother Carter, who stepped into the role at fullback and linebacker.
Now, as Lackawanna Trail (11-1) heads into the PIAA first round against Line Mountain (11-0) on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Shamokin High School, it has two players who have contributed to the team’s success.
“It was unfortunate at the beginning, getting hurt, and I was upset,” Holden said. “Seeing my brother get in there and play well made me happy and also extremely proud. He did such a good job right off the bat. We are in the position that we are in thanks to the way he has played.”
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In 2024, Holden was projected to play a significant part for the Lions on both sides of the ball. He is also a consistent kicker. His inside running and aggressive intensity on defense helped Lackawanna Trail to a 4-1 start to the season. Then, he suffered an injury to his knee that ended his season.
Healthy again after a year’s worth of rehabilitation and strength training, Holden’s bad luck continued right in Week 1 against Tunkhannock. After breaking free for a 44-yard run and finishing with 42 yards on two carries, he left the game with a serious lower leg injury.
“That wasn’t fun,” Holden said. “I had to show up every day and be there for my teammates. This was important to me, and I wanted to work hard to get back as fast as I could.”
Lackawanna Trail coach Steve Jervis expected Carter to contribute valuable minutes, but he needed time, being only a sophomore and still learning the intricacies of the Wing-T offense.
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That process was accelerated after Holden’s injury.
“It was heartbreaking to see him go down like that,” Carter said. “Coach Jervis always stresses that it has to be the next man up. I had my name called, and I knew that I had to be the best player that I could be.”
As the season progressed and the game slowed around him, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Carter became more relaxed. Holden guided him.
In a win over Mid Valley, Carter had a season-high five tackles, and four stops in a loss to Berwick.
On offense, the physical runner had 70 yards on eight carries against Mid Valley and followed with 100 yards on 13 carries and his first career touchdown in a win over Old Forge. In Week 7, he had 95 yards rushing on 10 carries in a win over Carbondale Area.
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This season, as senior running back Isaac Ryon has piled up LIAA and school records, Carter has run for 425 yards and averages 7.0 yards per carry.
“You have to have faith in yourself,” Carter said. “I have had such great role models in the older guys, and my brother really helped me along with the rest of my teammates.
“I couldn’t be more thankful for all the support from them. I trust them, and I know that they trust me to always give it my best.”
Holden returned in a win over Holy Cross and had seven carries for 29 yards. He had three tackles in Lackawanna Trail’s win over Riverside that clinched the Lackawanna Football Conference Division III championship, and he had two stops against Nativity BVM in the subregional playoffs.
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“It was exciting,” Holden said. “I had faith in myself that I would be back. If I worked hard at my rehabilitation and put forth my best effort, I knew that I was going to be back. It was an experience. Football doesn’t change; you are on that field, and you are laser-focused.”
Having his brother and teammate back has also meant a lot to Carter.
“I have always looked up to him,” Carter said. “He has always worked hard. It is awesome to play with him now and see him be the player he is today.”
The Edwards brothers are a big part of what the Lions have been able to accomplish during this three-year run of success, including three District 2 Class 1A championships and three trips to the PIAA playoffs.
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“Both kids from the get-go are just a pleasure to coach,” Coach Jervis said. “They are tough kids who are hard workers and committed to the program. I am very excited for Holden and all that he has had to overcome to play. To have his younger brother there to fill in and support him is a really special situation, and we are happy to have had them here at Lackawanna Trail.”
