In some districts, the suspense still exists. In others, the playoff picture has already been determined prior to the last week of the high school football season.
But the final games could shape the atmosphere of the playoff picture in Districts 2, 4 and 6.
Starting off in District 2, two classifications are set – although seedings are still to be determined. In Single-A, undefeated Old Forge will be the top seed, while Northwest Area is No. 2. Wilkes-Barre Meyers and Riverside have also qualified, but haven't locked into their positions. Riverside has a battle with undefeated Dunmore this week, while Meyers takes on crosstown rival GAR.
In Triple A, three teams (Abington Heights, Dallas and North Pocono) are sitting at 8-1 and are still jockeying for the top three spots, while usual power Berwick will be the fourth seed. Abington seems to have the easiest test this week with winless Honesdale, while North Pocono hosts a dangerous 3-6 West Scranton team. Dallas has a rival game with 4-5 Lake-Lehman.
Speaking of Dunmore, the undefeated and state-ranked Bucks are the only team to clinch a berth in the Double-A bracket. Currently, five teams are battling for three playoffs spots. GAR is 7-2 with 880 points, while Lakeland and Mid-Valley were only 80 points behind. Susquehanna is sitting at 6-3 with 690 points, but could really move up the standings with an upset of undefeated Old Forge on Friday night. Carbondale Area also has an outside shot, but would need some help.
District 2 combines with Districts 4 and 11 in the Quad-A subregional, where eight teams go to the postseason.
Five teams automatically qualify from District 11 and three have already clinched berths: Easton (8-1), East Stroudsburg South (8-1) and Parkland (7-2). Two squads qualify from Districts 2 and 4, but four teams are battling for those two automatic berths: Wyoming Valley West, Williamsport, Hazleton Area and Wallenpaupack. The latter mention, Paupack, can pick up a lot of points this week, taking on 5-4 Delaware Valley. Hazleton and WVW have tough tests with Berwick and Coughlin, respectively, while Williamsport appears to be in the driver's seat, matching up with 2-7 Tunkhannock. The eighth and final spot is called a wild-card spot and goes to the next-best team points-wise after the seven automatic berths.
The postseason begins in District 6 this week as the Single-A bracket has already been drawn out.
Three teams, all undefeated, Bishop McCort, Portage and Bellwood-Antis, receive a first-round bye. McCort will take on the winner of Moshannon Valley (7-2) and Mount Union (6-3), Portage squares off with the winner of Marion Center (7-2) and Juniata Valley (5-4) and Bellwood faces either Blacklick Valley (7-2) or Glendale (6-3). The other four teams in the bracket include United (8-1), Penns Manor (8-1), Homer Center (5-4) and Bishop Guilfoyle (3-6).
The Triple-A bracket in the district is also completed because of the process of elimination. Only two squads will have a .500 record, Hollidaysburg and Greater Johnstown, and those two will meet up for the title the weekend of Nov. 20-21. The winner of that game will most likely tangle with Selinsgrove in the state bracket.
In Double-A, eight teams qualify for the postseason. While the bracket hasn't been drawn out, three are battling for the top spot. Forest Hills is undefeated, while Tyrone and Central Martinsburg are 8-1. Those two teams meet up in the final week of the regular season on Friday.
Other teams in the driver's seat for the postseason include Richland (7-2), Huntingdon (6-3), Penn Cambria (6-3), Ligonier Valley (6-3) and Central Cambria (5-4).
Similar to Districts 2 and 4, District 6 also combines a subregional with Districts 8, 9 and 10. Three teams – State College, Erie McDowell and Central Mountain – will be heading to the postseason. The question is, will anyone else join them? DuBois and Altoona are both under .500 on the year, and both have said they will use their performance in Week 10 to judge if they enter. The lone District 8 team, Taylor Allderdice, is 1-8 and will opt out of the postseason.
Switching to District 4, Selinsgrove has locked up the top seed in the Triple-A bracket, while Shikellamy, East Juniata and Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech are jockeying for seeds Nos. 2 through No. 4. Mifflinburg, Cowanesque Valley and Jersey Shore have been eliminated from the postseason.
Eight teams qualify for the Double-A bracket, and there seems to be a battle for the final playoff spot. Currently, Troy is sitting there with 83 points, but close behind are Wyalusing and Mount Carmel Area. Undefeated Towanda seems to be a lock for the No. 1 seed, while others heading to the postseason include Hughesville (8-1), Danville (7-2), Lewisburg (8-1), Montoursville (7-2), Athens (6-3) and Loyalsock (6-3).
In Single-A, four teams are dancing. Line Mountain, sitting at 6-2, appears to be heading toward a top spot. Lourdes Regional, a member of the All-American Football Conference, is currently second, but the Red Raiders have opted out of districts and will accept a berth in the Eastern Conference playoffs. That slides state power Southern Columbia into the second slot, and Bloomsburg goes into third. Fourth appears to be a battle between Muncy and Montgomery as the two schools are two points away from each other. Muncy plays Hughesville this week, while Montgomery hosts 1-8 South Williamsport.
Most playoffs begin next week and continue for the next six weeks.
Tom Fox is sports editor at The Lock Haven (Pa.) Express and covers Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania for MaxPreps. He can be reached at tfox@lockhaven.com.
