SCRANTON — Caiden Berardi had to make a difficult decision when his high school football career reached a crossroads.
A four-year starter at various positions — including quarterback, which was his preferred position, tight end and defensive end — the 6-foot-3, 235-pounder made one final choice to focus on defense. He became a force at linebacker for the West Scranton Invaders. So much so, he was recruited and will play at Bloomsburg University.
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Before he heads to preseason camp, Berardi wants to help the City all-star team to a victory in the 91st Scranton Lions Club Dream Game on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at John Henzes/Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“I think I really matured,” Berardi said. “Starting as a freshman and going up through each grade level, I could see myself maturing. I focused on what the team needed and what the team was looking for out of me.
“Then, here I am playing linebacker.”
It didn’t come without adversity.
In his sophomore season, Jake Manetti, who will coach Berardi and the City team in the Dream Game, was named Invaders head coach. Berardi became the starter at quarterback. He used his strong build to run for 160 yards and four touchdowns and threw for 875 yards and seven touchdowns.
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In his junior season, Berardi split time at quarterback and threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 90 yards and five scores.
West Scranton lost a heartbreaking game in Week 1 to Old Forge. Berardi had 37 yards rushing and threw for 56. He struggled in a lopsided loss to Abington Heights, threw for 102 yards in a tough game against Hazleton Area, but threw for only 10 yards in the Bell Game loss to Scranton, 21-0.
Berardi started to lose playing time at quarterback understood he started to make a mark on defense.
“Starting out the season, I was playing quarterback, and after we lost four games, the coaches said they were looking to go in a different direction,” Berardi said. “I thought instead of looking at it and staying on the sidelines, I decided to jump in and really go after it at linebacker.
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“As I kept making plays, I fell in love with playing linebacker.”
Berardi played so well and had such an impact that he earned first-team all-star honors on the Lackawanna Football Conference Division II Coaches’ team.
When his coach and teammates called upon him to return at quarterback, he had more confidence and had 69 yards rushing and a touchdown and 48 yards passing and a touchdown against Lakeland, and had 79 yards rushing and a touchdown and 199 yards passing and a score against Honesdale in Week 10.
After the season, Berardi received the Harry Price outstanding defensive player most valuable player award.
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College coaches were impressed with his tenacity and instincts on defense. He chose to play at Bloomsburg University.
“When I started getting recruited, at first it was at quarterback, but around mid-season, coaches were looking at me as a linebacker,” Berardi, 18, said. “The switch was quick, and looking back on it, playing linebacker was the best decision of my life.
“Going to Bloomsburg is crazy. It is PSAC football. From Day 1, it was my main school. Once I got the phone call from coach (Frank) Sheptock, and that was unbelievable. When I got down there, I committed, and it was like a dream.”
His goal now is to close out his final high school game wearing the West Scranton helmet and logo with a win.
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“The Dream Game is all about representing your community,” Berardi said. “Watching the games growing up, you just felt it was an honor to play for the City.
“This will be amazing. I am a kid who loves football. Hopefully, I can make the City fans proud, and it is a great game.”
