Are you ready for some football?
Welcome to the official forum on high school football for the 2026 season.
During the off-season let’s talk about players, recruiting news, teams, and everything about high school football.
During the season each week let’s talk about match-ups and how teams did. Let us know what player(s) stood out each week.
2,275 Responses
@ Kevin X
I’m thinking NP @ Pennridge?
In the running. Bonus points for that game and the games at CBW (Perk Valley) and CBS (C’Ville) for location and less travel. CBS might be an issue with their parking situation tho. Get there early is all I can say.
Don’t know the health status of North Penn, they’ve been banged dup the second half of the season, but if they are at or near 100% heathy for their key players, this could end up being an interesting game.
16 games spread across District One Friday night between 4A, 5A and 6A. Anyone want to help me find or suggest that instant classic, down to the wire thriller, going to overtime, legit upset special, or just simply a very entertaining game?? I already have 3 games inked in on the schedule for Saturday and Sunday, just need to finalize plans for a game for Friday night.
You have a lot better choices this week than I do in the WPIAL it’s next week and the following week where I will have several choices for great matchups. 6A doesn’t play this week and no compelling 5A games so going to see 8-2 Blackhawk against 7-3 McKeesport in 4A. Blackhawk has a high scoring offense but also gives up a ton so expect lots of points especially now that Kemon Spell is back I would put the over under at least 75 should be entertaining.
I’ll be at Garnet/East but a few others that could be interesting:
Rustin/Great Valley – Not the typical Rustin team but as well coached as anybody in the area. Wouldn’t be shocked at a 1 score game late. Beau Kosmalski is worth the price of admission if you haven’t seen him in person yet.
Strath Haven/Interboro – No love lost between these 2, should be nasty. Best band in the area. Friendly confines of South Ave.
OJR/PW – Could be my upset pick of the night.
I have not seen Kosmalski. Still on this season’s bucket list. Kicking myself for not heading down to their game a few weeks ago against Wood. Had that one circled on my schedule a few weeks prior to the game. Saw Rustin earlier in the season against PJPII and wasn’t overly impressed.
Pass on SH/I-boro. No interest in going down to SE Delco other than maybe for a home Ridley game. At a Haverford game last year, worse place/stadium/facility that I’ve been to for a football game District One.
Think D1 5A is going to be all chalk come semi final time. If I’m right, looking at a #3 Great Valley at #2 Springfield Delco game that weekend and a meet-up with the GV #21 beast going up against a defensive wall in SFD.
Agree with OJR/PW. My original thought for a game earlier in the week. Still may make the trek down there for that one. I started the season off at the Coateville/P-W game, one of the best 3 or 4 games that I saw so far this year. Upset possibilities written all over that one.
What exactly are the Eastern Conference playoffs all about? I’ve seen them happening for many years, but what is the exact reasoning behind this?
Its always been there. It was here before the state playoffs. It still means something to win a ec title. Now that the piaa is watered down with 6 classes it became harder to fill brackets because everyone makes districts. What it does do is give a team an extra game that they wouldn’t normally get and especially for younger teams it can be a confidence booster and springboard for the start of the following season.
I believe it is a holdover or resuscitated relic from the pre PIAA playoff era. Guess someone figured out a way to make a few bucks with it, only reason for its existence today.
@ Jeff H,
Yep, tough road for D3 in 5A, but don’t count out Twin Valley. They are one of only three undefeated teams in all of D3 and have many pcs back from their 14-1 state final team from ly. Last year, they took out an undefeated Susquehanna team in the D3 final, which some thought wouldn’t happen. Then they took out The Quips in the state semi’s which many out west thought wouldn’t happen. So we’ll see. Not sure if they are as good as ly, but not far off. Plus, they still have to get thru a very good Solanco team in D3. Solanco’s only loss was to TV, but they have formidable ground attack, with two very good RB’s. One has 1049 yds and 13 TD’s. The other one has 1449 and 23. Overall Solanco has rushed for 3800 yds and 52 TD’s. Pretty crazy stat.
@ EmanD3,
The reason I don’t think Twin Valley or whoever wins D3 will beat the WPIAL winner is because they will be playing a significantly better team than Aliquippa last year, this years PR team would beat that Quips team by 3-4 TDs, if not worse, so unless Twin Valley is a lot better than last year I don’t think they will win that game. Also keep in mind that the Quips were only a #7 seed in the WPIAL playoff bracket last year and it was a surprise they beat McKeesport in the final. If Twin Valley was still in 4A then yes I would think their game against the WPIAL winner this year would be a tossup, but 5A is a whole different story. I’ve been known to be wrong, 2 years ago I didn’t give Lampeter much of a chance against a very good TJ team, especially when they fell behind 16-3 at half, but they rallied to win 20-16, so we’ll see.
Tickets for playoff games this weekend in Districts 1, 2, 11 and PCL are all $10 day of game/at the gate. Small discount buying on-line in advance is some situations. As a bonus, you may get the chance to sit in the rain.
Two more weeks of Inter-Ac games. They are free.
Thoughts and my prognosis for the big school classes
6A – PCC will mercy rule their way to the WPIAL title and play a very good State College in the quarterfinals which will be their toughest opponent since they played PR in early September. Like PR I think SC will stay in the game in the first half and maybe longer but I can’t see them beating PCC, same thing the following week when PCC will beat the D3 winner. In the east hard to see anyone beating the PCL winner and seeing how RC and SJP on Saturday went down to the wire that game seems like a coin flip although as everyone knows it’s hard to beat a good team twice in the same season especially in the span of 3 weeks I went on record a while ago picking a PCC vs RC final so I’ll stick with my original pick.
5A – I would be very surprised if the D3 winner beats the WPIAL winner in the western finals. As for the WPIAL most people assume PR will win but the winner of the USC vs Penn Trafford game will give them a battle in the final. I lean towards PR but I think USC matches up very well with them and I would not be surprised if USC beats them like Peters did last year. In the east Imhotep is clearly the favorite but Southern Lehigh has the type of well coached, disciplined team who has beaten more talented Tep teams in the past like Penn Trafford in 2021 and PR in 2022 plus the experience returning from last year’s championship team if anyone in the east can beat Tep I think it’s So Lehigh.
In 4A I have seen all 4 of the top contenders in the WPIAL and I think Montour has the best team but they will likely have to beat McKeesport for the second time this year in the semifinals and then face the winner of the South Fayette and New Castle in the final. WPIAL winner gets the D10 winner in the quarterfinals presumably General McLane and I expect the WPIAL winner to advance McLane has played a weak schedule had they played any of the top 4 WPIAL schedules I am pretty certain they would have lost 2-3 games. In the other part of the bracket the D2 winner plays the D4 winner and based on how Shamokin has played the last 2 weeks I like the D2 winner especially if Shamokin’s QB is still out, I think D2 vs the WPIAL is a tossup. In the east D11 has 2 definite contenders in Blue Mountain and Beca and ACC is also very good I expect a really good game between the D11 winner and D12, presumably O’Hara in the quarterfinals and the winner of that game will beat the D3 winner the following week.
Tip of the cap to Eric Eppler with Penn Live, I think he’s the only pollster in the state who had Bishop Canevin ranked ahead of Seton LaSalle in 2A, and has had them higher all season, all the Western PA pollsters had Seton higher, and most pundits picked Seton to win on Friday including me. Canevin’s defense shut down Seton’s high scoring offense in a convincing 21-10 victory. They are seeded #1/#2 in the WPIAL playoffs and will almost certainly have a rematch at Acrisure in 4 weeks for the WPIAL title and right to play a very good Farrell team the following week in the western finals.
The lower right quadrant of the 5A bracket is an absolute disgrace and embarrassment.
Something has to be done about that. Imohtep already recruits the entire city of Philadelphia through a “lottery” system in which any non PLC athlete comes to them (no academic standards at Imohtep) and then gets 20 days off in between games during state playoffs while the true public schools have to play every week. Talk about an uneven playing field.
Yep bad enough to get 1 week off but 2 weeks is insane they basically get a bye straight to the quarterfinals there has got to be a way to make a more equitable bracket. Penn Trafford who is a state title contender has to beat TJ and USC who have 7 combined state titles and are a combined 17-2 this year just to get to the WPIAL title game while Tep is sitting at home absolutely ridiculous.
Ohhh so many suggestions, none of which will almost certainly ever see the light of day.
In what way, that D3 gets 4 weeks to determine a champ? The WPIAL portion of the bracket is loaded with 3 legit state title contenders in PR, USC and Penn Trafford, and some other very solid teams behind them like TJ, Woodland Hills and North Hills to round out the field, there are very few 5A schools in the western half of the state outside of the WPIAL. I’ll let the D3 guys chime in on their district, I know Twin Valley is a big favorite to win D3 but I would be very surprised if they beat the WPIAL winner, looks to me like we’re headed for the WPIAL winner vs Imhotep in 5A.
I’m confused. Can someone please explain. Williams Valley plays District 4 Lackawanna Trail. Marian plays Tri Valley. So, how is the District 11, 1A champion determined?
It’s a subregional game. Lackawanna Trail is out of Distict 2
Dist 11 picks for first round
A: Williams valley over Trail 42-7 (Williams Valley could be an A contender in state)
Tri Valley over Marian 28-14
AA: Northern over Shenendoah 27-15 (northern played a much tougher schedule than Shenendoah)
Haven over Catty 35-13
AAA: Northwestern Lehigh over Panther Valley 48-6
NDGP over Salisbury 49-13
Jim Thorpe over Tamaqua 14-7 (JT has been playing well)
Palmerton over Executive 14-13 (could be one of better games this weekend)
AAAA: BM over Bangor 42-14 (BM could be a state contender)
Beca over NS 28-7
ACC over Saucon 35-14
Lehighton over Pottsville 10-7
AAAAA: Southern over ESS 37-7 (Southern could make a state run again although tougher in 5A).
PMEast over PV 21-14
AAAAAA: Nazareth over Emmaus 42-0
Whitehall over Stroudsburg 21-7
Parkland over Northampton 28-7
Easton over Freedom 21-14
Something different for me yesterday. Took a drive down to Bryn Athyn (probably the closest I’ll get to a game in Philly Jeff :)) for single A match-up between Belmont Charter and the Academy of the New Church. What different experiences these Saturday afternoon games are compared to Friday night games (not better or worse, just a completely different animal). This would make the 5th Saturday afternoon game in a row for me this year, with thanks to the weatherman for that opportunity (and some other factors). Anyways, I was curious about Belmont and here was my chance to see them. Short of it, I have no idea what to take from that game. ANC had a rough year, and it was a dominate performance for BC (running clock in the 3rd qtr.). Typical D12 team, lots at athleticism, speed, but absolutely no discipline and unlimited brain farts. ANC did themselves no favors either (similar stuff). For a week 10 game, the total amount of penalties was ridiculous. I have no idea of what to make of BC going forward in the “A” bracket, guess their first test will be in 3 weeks I’ll assume against Williams Valley. Will be fun to see a 2-7 team entering the playoffs as a team that can make a legit deep run (or get bounced in the round of 16).
Some controversy with the WPIAL seeding committee in several classes. In 3A Avonworth got the #1 seed after their 19-14 victory over Propel last night while Propel was rewarded with the #2 seed and Hopewell #3 after their 42-10 beat down of Aliquippa. The Hopewell coach was interviewed on the selection show on KDKA radio and to say he was upset would be an understatement he said a selection committee member told him their week 1 34-14 victory over Avonworth didn’t matter which is insane if true. He does have a point but hard to argue with making 2 time defending champ Avonworth the #1 seed as the committee was going to put Propel on the opposite side of the bracket it does set up a fantastic semifinal with Propel and Hopewell either of those teams are capable of winning a state title.
In 1A the committee penalized Clairton for their forfeit in week 2 vs Steel Valley and dropped them to the 3 seed behind #1 Wash High who they beat at Wash earlier in the season and 10-0 Shenango at #2 when most people expected Clairton to be the top seed. I nominated Shenango as undefeated pretender a few weeks ago and I think Clairton ends their season in the semi-finals if they get that far.
In 5A Woody High was penalized for their 2 forfeits for using an ineligible player in games they won and seeded #6 with North Hills #4 and West Allegheny #5. I have seen all the top 5A teams in person and would have Woody #4 with NH #5 and West A #6. They also seeded Penn Trafford #2 and USC #3 and I would have reversed them now Woody is seeded to play USC in the quarterfinals and not NH which will be a significantly more difficult game I see USC getting to the final and giving PR all they can handle if not winning.
As expected, the Liberty Division-(Large Schools) went 6-0 against the Frontier Division-(Small Schools) in the crossover games, most games were blowouts which included the Championship game Spring Ford against Upper Perk. SF led 35-0 at halftime. The PJP/Pottsgrove game did go down to the last minute with PJP winning 28-21 in a thriller. I originally thought that Pottsgrove wasn’t good enough to win District 1 4A, I was wrong, they are big upfront and have athletes, their QB-Lucci is lightning quick, he actually played his 1st 2 years at PJP. I don’t see the PAC playoff teams doing much in the Districts. Spring Ford could win maybe 2 games, Perkiomen Valley, one and done, Upper Perk, despite a good seeding probably wont win a 1st round matchup. PJP is limping into the districts, whoever wins D1 4A, I don’t see Shanahan, PJP or Pottsgrove winning a State playoff game.
PJP had several injuries Friday night so limping into the playoffs is correct for sure. Agree on the Pottsgrove QB if he gets to the 2nd level of the defense he is dangerous,really quick. Being as the 4a district one champ always seems to draw the top 4a catholic league team in the first round of states it’s always a tall order. Don’t see any overwhelming favorite in 6 A in District one
At the Avonworth vs Propel game about 10 minutes before kickoff I think Avonworth sends a message to the WPIAL and rest of. the state about defending their 3A title winner of this game will almost certainly be the #1 seed in the playoffs.
This week’s picks.
Sorry for the lack of interactions. Have kinda just not followed a lot this month.
To answer Jeff’s question. Both Dallas & North Pocono can at least win a round in states. I don’t know if they can beat Shamokin, but on Dallas’ side, any time you got a Rich Mannello led team, you can’t count them out. I think North Pocono is just as good, if not better than last, but I don’t see the dominant gene in them.
Picks
– Dallas vs. Berwick: With WVC 2 on the line, it’s going to be a good game to watch, as both have looked solid in division play. I’d say Dallas has the hand here, but don’t be shocked if the Berwick defense holds.
– Old Forge vs. Carbondale (LFC): If C’Dale wants to win a division title for the first time since the Knicks last title (before this year), they have to beat Old Forge. This is a very sneaky game to watch in the valley. A win & a Trail loss to Montrose would put them in the 1A conversation. It looks like whoever is first out in 1A, even Holy Cross, takes on Mahanoy Area. To quote Mike Breen, as he did with the Knicks. “Carbondale fans: This is not a dream”
– Wyoming Area vs Pittston (WVC): Oh, this is a quality game. Both teams got their crown. It’s now time to settle the score in a classic rivalry. Pittston needs a win & DV loss to take the 1-seed, but it’s not too bad.
– Delaware Valley vs. Abington Heights (Big Boys): It’s a different look playoff for D2. No DV. But if the Comets are to lose the 1-seed, they have to make sure DV doesn’t play spoiler. DV also has to win to ensure a spot in the EC. I’ll say Abington Heights takes it, but this is a trap.
– Lakeland vs. Dunmore (Small School): If it wasn’t for injuries, this could’ve been the game for all the marbles. Dunmore’s been dominant. I think they’ll take the 10-0 train to the playoffs.
– Greater Nanticoke vs. Hanover Area (Rivalry). I always like to feature “The Struggle” here. This is a game that has a lot riding for it. Crestwood loses, the winner takes the spot against Dallas or North Pocono. I think the spot goes to the Hawkeyes.
– Wallenpaupack vs. Valley View (Playoffs): A home game is on the line for the Buckhorns & Cougars. Both teams have had up & down years. The Buckhorns with a win can get a signature win to end the season. Or a loss channels their inner Jeff Fisher Rams & to 5-5. VV with a win gets a home seed. A loss? They’re on the road. I’ll say VV gets it.
– Wilkes-Barre vs. Williamsport (Crossover): A loss for Wilkes-Barre forces them to lose a chance to defend their crown. This is a big one here. Unfortunately, I don’t see that being the case here.
– Hollidaysburg vs. DuBois (5A/6A): First of a back to back here. Both teams have safely clinched the D6/9 half of subregional playoff. The winner I believe gets home field. I’ll say Hollidaysburg welcomes the Beavers to their home turf next week.
– Tri-Valley vs. Williams Valley: I don’t see a game here that has implications, but this is a rivalry that’s usually fun to watch. Both teams are going to go in as home seeds. But don’t rule out an upset by Old Forge & a loss to Schuylkill Haven for Marian. This might affect the seeding. But anyway, I think WV takes it
Scores
– Dallas 31, Berwick 17
– C’dale 32, OF 14
– Wyoming Area 24, Pittston 21
– AH 24, DV 17
– Dunmore 45, Lakeland 14
– Hanover Area 23, GNA 19
– VV 26, Paupack 13
– Billtown 36, WBA 14
– H’burg 24, DuBois 20
– WV 31, T-V 19
D2 Season Farewell
– North Pocono 49, West Scranton 9
– Scranton Prep 49, Scranton 0
– Honesdale 30, Riverside 14
– Mid Valley 27, WW 14
– Trail 42, Montrose 6
– Holy Cross 23, Susquehanna 14
– Crestwood 31, WVW 24
– L-L 30, Tunk 14
– Pottsville 25, Hazleton 19
– HR 31, Midd-West 13
– Bloomsburg 50, Northwest 0
– St. John’s Grey 35, Wyo Sem 0
EC Watch
– Shen Valley 32, Mahanoy Area 21
– Minersville 36, Nativity 6
– Hamburg 34, Kutztown 7
– Pequea Valley 32, Columbia 19
– Weiser 44, Boone 24
– Solanco 55, Fleetwood 0
– Trinity (D3) 25, West Perry 21
– N Leb 31, ELCO 15
– Allen 34, Dieruff 24
– PME 25, PMW 16
– E’Town 38, Muhlenberg 7
Thanks for the insights on Dallas/North Pocono, I saw Shamokin’s QB got hurt against Blue Mountain, not sure of the nature of his injury and certainly hope he’s ok and returns soon but if he’s out for the playoffs I can see the D2 winner beating them. In handicapping the playoffs I think 4A is the weakest class in the WPIAL this year and the class least likely to get to the state final, I think the WPIAL winner in all the other classes has a pretty good chance to at least get to the final, some obviously more so than others.
As we are about to close out the regular season, I want to give my predictions for D11 champs and whether or not they have a state playoff run in their future. I think D11 should be really interesting across most classifications but only thinking 3 classes have a shot at making some noise.
1A – Williams Valley – This one is tough as WV and Tri-Valley play tonight and potentially again in 2 weeks if Tri-Valley can get past Marian next week. The top 3 in the D11/2 sub region are D11. I know Marians record (4-5) and Tri-Valley (6-3) are not flashy, but they have played decent schedules, as has WV against a handful of 3A and 2A schools. I do not believe that WV will make a run as they will see Belmont Charter after the sub region. BC has played a brutal schedule, and I don’t know how healthy they are after it but if they are, I do not believe the game will be very close.
2A – Schuylkill Haven – They were the preseason favorites, but had a tough schedule vs larger schools to start the year and may have fallen off the radar but I think that will have its benefits come playoffs. Many thought Northern Lehigh could push Haven but against any type of talent, I just have not seen enough from them. If NL were to play a great game they can beat Haven but I don’t think they tackle Reber enough times. I don’t see Haven (or NL) making a run as they will see Dunmore next.
3A – Northwestern Lehigh – Lost their first regular season game since 2022 against 5A reigning state champs Southern Lehigh, 17-14, Notre Dame fell to the same opponent a week earlier 48-27 but was in the game earlier. 8 team make to the district playoffs here but the only real 2 contenders are NW and ND. I think NW is more physical and fundamentally sound, the staff has proven when they have the talent, they can get it done. ND is very capable of winning this game though with their big play potential. I think either team gets past Mount Carmel in the next round and then has a battle with Scranton Prep to make the state finals.
4A – Blue Mountain – This classification was probably the toughest. I think Blue Mountain, Bethlehem Cath and Allentown CC all have the potential to win this. It will likely be BM vs Beca in the finals and what should be an absolutely amazing game like the 3A final, lots of athletes and talent on the field. I think either team has a chance to get by the D12 team and make a state final.
5A – Southern Lehigh – The easiest of D11 choices, not much to say as they have minimal competition in 5A D11. If they were in 4A still, they would probably be the favorites but just enough kids moved them to a small 5A so here they are. I see them winning their first game in states but then falling to Imhotep.
6A – Nazareth – This one is interesting, I think Nazareth, Whitehall and Parkland all have the ability to win this but Nazareth has been the most consistent since getting blown out in week 1. Whitehall is coming off a huge win over Parkland last week to give them some momentum into the playoffs but play ACC which they shouldn’t overlook this week. Unfortunately for Parkland, losing TJ Lawrence is just too much to overcome, they are still a solid team and can win D11, it will just take a lot more. As per many previous years, none of these teams are good enough to get past the D12 champion and their season will end there.
Agree with your picks. Northwestern Lehigh I like by two scores over NDGP. I think they get to the state championship again
In AA, Northern I thought would be tougher with the multi year skill talent they had returning. They do play a tough schedule but I thought they would be more competitive with this late season tough schedule. I think of they play a complete game ( they haven’t against a good team all year), they could beat Haven but I agree with Haven looking like the champ in AA. And either gets smoked by Dunmore. I think parkland could knock if Nazareth but I would go Nazareth right now. As for potential state champs, I would says Northwestern and Southern have the best chance in dist 11. Maybe Blue Mountain??
6A in the WPIAL is an absolute train wreck and has been ever since Pine Richland dropped to 5A for the 2020 cycle. Watching PCC on TV tonight not play that well and still lead a decent Hempfield team 45-0 halfway through the fourth quarter. Hempfield was second in the league at 4-1 and falls to 4-2 and if North Allegheny beats a very depleted Norwin team tomorrow Hempfield will likely drop to fourth and play PCC again in 2 weeks. I know this has been discussed in the past on this board but from a WPIAL perspective the PIAA screwed up when they went from 4 to 6 classes when 5 would have been better we would have 5 great playoffs in the WPIAL instead of 5 very good and one a joke.
One other thought that came to me after re-reading this………”we would have 5 great playoffs in the WPIAL instead of 5 very good and one a joke.” Take a look later this weekend when all the brackets come out across the state. You will have multiple jokes across the state. I think every district would kill just to have one joke of a bracket. Hell, they would be doing backflips with half of their brackets being “very good.” And yes, I know, everyone who has a problem with this will instinctively blame 6 classes (especially the peeps from D10 who basically blame everything under the sun on 6 classes, including I’m guessing, having to set our clocks back an hour tonight) but it squarely falls on the districts. They wanted this, they got, but I really don’t think they are the ones complaining.
Is this really a 6 classes issue or a PCC issue??
It’s a 6 class issue for the WPIAL, PCC is exceptional this year, but in most years the very good public schools like PR, NA, Peters, etc. can compete with and beat PCC as they have done in the past, particularly in the 4 class era, and NA did in 2022-23. There are only 7 schools in WPIAL 6A, most of them mediocre or average programs like Canon Mac, Norwin, Hempfield, Seneca Valley, all the other traditional powers are in 5A, when we first went to 6 classes in 2016 there were 14 schools in 6A, and now due to declining enrollments it has dwindled to 7 for the last several years. There has been a lot of talk around here of combining 5A/6A for the WPIAL playoffs, but if you do that how do you determine which school represents the WPIAL in the state playoffs for the class that doesn’t win, there’s also the issue of 6A entering the state playoffs in the quarterfinals and 5A in the semi-finals.
Third option. Issue being the WPIAL. This is the 11th year of 6 classifications and they refuse to make changes on things that they can change. Nothing says they can’t.
I agree with that but with the 6A winner entering the state playoffs a week before 5A that makes it very difficult to have a combined playoff if both classes entered the same week there would be a bigger incentive and push to do it.
Anyone have a District One game suggestion for me to check out tomorrow night?? Two requirements are expected competitive game and playoff implications, either on the bubble to make the D1 playoffs or season over, or home game/road playoff game situations for a team(s).
I have several possibilities, just no must see game on my current list.
Are you going to the RC vs. SJP game tomorrow afternoon or waiting for the rematch in a few weeks?
Neither. I don’t do the city for a high school football game (or much of anything else anymore, ironically tho I do have have an event in the city next weekend). Closest I’ll come to attending a high school football game in the city limits would possibly be a game at the Northeast Supersite, which I have only been to once about 10 years ago. I’ll watch the replay of the live steam of the RC/SJP game some evening next week.
I do have two other live options for a game this afternoon, if I get motivated. Both are new location options for me, so I will report back if I do indeed make one of the treks.
Delco for Springfield-Strath Haven. Best band in the area
I am in agreement with two of your points. Yes, no doubt, SH easily the best band in the Philly area (at least the ones that I have seen). Always like to see them live at least once every year. I have not yet this year, and did not last night. Not sure if. play-off game will be in the cards. Potential for lots of competitive good match-up over the next 4 weeks in District One. Point two: Delco. I did make it down to the far suburban end of Delco last night. But not the SH/SF game. Predicted that on pretty good, thought it be like 20-0 (14-0 final). We ended up agreeing without much argument on the Ridley @ Garnet Valley game.
So many games to choose from regionally last night. In hindsight, obviously very easy to do, should have stayed closer to home for the Pennridge @ Central Bucks South game. Still a good choice still last night, I haven’t been down to GV in many years.
@Jeff H
West York probably won’t win the D3 title. We’ll see what they’re made of this week. But, my opinion is they probably lose to Susqy or Lampeter Strasburg in the post season. Their league isn’t the strongest. They usually have a decent D, but as the season progresses and better teams, out of there league, put up some pts, they have a hard time keeping up.
@EmanD3 – thanks for that feedback, I suspected West York played in a weaker league. Looks like Lampeter has flown under the radar a bit this year with 2 losses in their first 3 games but seem to be rounding into form now, curious how they fare this week against Wyomissing.
D3 Guys – what’s the scoop with West York, the new top ranked team in 4A in some polls, I am not very familiar with their program, looks like their best win this year is over Susquehanna Township, do you think they are a legit contender to win 4A, or at least get to the final? Do they have a realistic chance against the D11/PCL winner who they will play in the eastern finals assuming they win D3.
D2 Fan and other D2 guys – same question about North Pocono, at least Dallas has some recent history with upsetting defending champ McDevitt in 2023 before falling to Aliquippa in the final, and also making the final in 2019 when they lost to TJ, which of those teams do you like to win the district, and are either a legit contender? D2 is in the western bracket and the winner will likely play Shamokin in the quarterfinals.
There was a Kemon Spell sighting last week for McKeesport, he had 6 carries for 98 yards and 3 TDs, he could be the x factor in the playoffs if he’s fully healthy
Seems to me 4A is the most wide open class in the state this year and I have no idea who is going to make the final, let alone win, if both Twin Valley and So Lehigh were still in 4A we would probably be headed for a rematch, but this year who knows
Albie Crosby. Anyone want to fill me, and everyone else in, on what is going on, or should I ask, what went on, with coach Crosby over the past year?? I’m taking it was an unceremonious departure from Neumann-Goretti at the end of last season, then hired to coach at Simon Gratz, but not coaching the team at the beginning of this season (no idea why), then I see he got dismissed from Gratz a few weeks ago (again, no idea what happened). Don’t know if he ever stepped on the field to coach a Gratz game at all this year. Is there a fall from grace story here??
For a Coach who took 3 different programs to a State Championship game and won 2 Championships, he sure does disappear under mysterious circumstances every where he’s been. At Tep, when he moved from West Catholic, where he was an assistant, he quickly poached Div 1 running back David Williams, next thing you know, all of these great players throughout the city started showing up at Tep. It was learned that TEP players were using social media to recruit other top players to their program, of course the PIAA did nothing as usual. He leaves TEP, citing health problems. Then at NG, he quickly turns around that program and leaves after a few years. Who knows what happened at his last coaching venture. I know the Principal at Gratz, Eric Zipay, was also a Very good HS coach and would not put up with anything that wasn’t Koscher. FWIW, I heard that Albie is a very good salesman!
I want to know how you can consistently rack up 70 yds in penalties week in, week out. That is just poor discipline, poor coaching if you want my honest opinion.
@ PR
Yes it is unusual that Hburg is ranked #5 in 6A, when they are only ranked 4th in D3.
Current D3, 6A rankings
1) Manheim Twp, 8-1, lost to Wilson WL
2) Central York, 7-2, lost to Manheim Twp, and State College
3) McDevitt, 8-1, lost to State College
4) Hburg, 8-1, lost to McD
5) Wilson WL, lost to CB West and CY….
So as you can see this bracket is wide open come playoff time.
@ Jeff H,
Last night the top of D3 6A ranks had some big moves due to Hburg losing to State College, and Township hanging on for a one pt. W over their arch rival Hempfield(3), who is 5-5. 12 teams make the post, with top 4 getting a bye, and a home opener in the Q’s. But now, CY jumped over MT for the #1 seed and Wilson jumped Hburg for the #4 seed. So the top of the bracket now has CY, WWL & HB and bottom has Township & McD. If Hburg wins(and they should, easily) in the 1st round, they get WWL in the Q’s at Wilson. The only way WWL would have a rematch with CY is if they both get to the semi’s. But this time it would be at CY. Say what you want about Hburg, but the top of the bracket with them, WWL and CY is much harder than the bottom. Unless any major upsets, Township and McD should easily meet in the semi’s. Here are the new rankings….CY & WWL’s opponents had the top two best winning %’s, so I’m guessing that’s why they each jumped a spot. 1,4,5 in top of bracket. 2 & 3 in bottom….let the games begin!
1 CY
2 MT
3 McD
4 WWL
5 HB
Why is CY ranked ahead of McDevitt when they have 1 more loss, both lost to the same opponent by a TD, and have a comparable strength of schedule? Looks to me like McDevitt is the team to beat in D3 no matter where they are seeded come playoff time.
Also, I saw four of McDevitt’s wins came against teams that are 5-33, combined. Not too good….but I would agree with you they are the probably the fav in D3 6A
I hear you, but the D3 formula, also has opponents strength of schedule as factor as well. Plus playing against any 5A teams, doesn’t help either.
@ EmanD3 – I like strength of schedule being a factor in playoff seeding points as I think it’s a very good indicator and differentiator, not a fan of penalizing teams for playing 5A opponents vs. 6A, there are 5-6 teams in WPIAL 5A this year that are better than all the 6A teams with the notable exception of PCC, just because you play a 5A opponent doesn’t necessarily make it an easier game than if you played a 6A school.
How does EasternPaFootball have Harrisburg at #5 after the beatdown they were just given.
Can someone kindly attempt to explain the Philadelphia Public League to me?? Just give me a heads up before you do so I can start drinking to numb my brain.
What got me to ask this, this time around, was there was a Pub League championship game this past weekend, Imhotep beat Lincoln. Where and how did that come from and about?? Then on the Pub League website there is a TBA football invitational tournament 10/29-11/13 listed. Huh?? Then the District 12 championship games sometime in November. Guess it all makes sense to someone.
According to PA Football News (https://pafootballnews.com/district-12-preview/), the Pub changed its championship this year to be just the top 2 teams in the top division. Last year they had an 8-team championship bracket but I guess it was deemed a waste of time and resources since the competitive imbalance is so significant right now. As for the berths into the state tournament, the best-performing team within the league in each class will earn a bye to the D12 championship game. I’m not sure if that’s purely divisions-based or if it’s a combination of division and wins. But, I would probably expect the following teams to represent the Pub in the D12 championship games:
6A: Abraham Lincoln
5A: Imhotep
4A: Simon Gratz
3A: Bartram
2A: Overbrook
1A: Belmont Charter* no D12 championship game, immediate berth to state tournament
The invitational tournament is a mystery. Might be an opt-in thing for programs who want to play more games.
Thank you Sir!!! I do appreciate, to a point, each district being able to do their own thing as far as football playoffs go. But I suppose the Pub League will Pub League. Maybe if someone asked me before the season about a championship game, I’d suggest the 2 best teams playing. Seems reasonable enough. Imhotep v. Simon Gratz should have been a game played somewhere along the line this year in the Pub League. I’m guessing like you the “Invitational” is the Pub League’s version of college basketball’s NIT tournament.
I would be very careful if I were a PIAA football playing school that scheduled a Pub league team, they might not show up like Frankford did against Wyomissing, or call it quits after 7 or 8 games into the season. The Pub isn’t what it once was, mostly all the good players go to TEP or the Catholic League. I don’t know what happened to once great programs like Central -( a great academic school) and Northeast-( which is an enormous school population wise). The neighborhoods around Frankford have deteriorated, Frankford once had several thousand kids in the school and had many great players come out of that program, they were the PUBS flagship program, they are now a 4A school and the school continues to bleed students. Having several charter schools diluted the football talent even further.
People have been trying to do that for yrs to no avail lol. Ted Silary legendary high sports writer for the Philadelphia Daily News covered the Philly Public and Catholic leagues long before they ever joined the Piaa, his stories about some crazy things that happened in the public were always entertaining. On a different note I’m not a fan of the Pac 10s crossover games in the regular season final week,it’s one of the reasons I was hoping the rumored merger of the pac and chesmont leagues for football would take place. Other then maybe the title game it doesn’t make much sense. Case in point Pjp, Owen J,and PV finished in a three-way tie for second . I’m not going to pretend to know the Pac 10 tiebreaker rules but PJP came out on top for 2nd and will now play Pottsgrove next week, both teams could end up playing each again in just two weeks in the district title game , of course they would both have to win their semi games. I’m not a fan of rematches especially two weeks apart in football..an argument could made that next week’s winner could be at a disadvantage at least from an.emotional stand point if they play again in two weeks . PJP has dominated the series in recent yrs but it figures to be very competitive this yr.
Of course PJP conveniently won the tiebreaker to give them the hardest matchup for a potential loss…how do you win a tiebreaker when you lost to one of the others by 4 TDs???…They would of smoked anyone else left and why not give OJR and PV layups to still have a shot at postseason. Sorry I still think and you will never convince me that league has it on for PJP. JMO
Its a good fit for PJP because all the schools are close PJP is competitive in pretty much every sport and has had a good deal of success in the Pac. Playing in a league that your schools teams can compete in is the main goal.Im well aware of some of the stuff they have to put up but their teams are still competing very well. Not sure what other league you would want them to go to. If its the Catholic league that would be an absolute horrible mistake. The playing field in the catholic league is NOT even. Having the schools teams travel to Philly on an every day basis to play against teams they really have no history with is crazy. PJP has a nice rivalry with Shanahan which is the closest to PJP as far as being in a public school league the only team in the Catholic league that they have some sort of regional rivalry with is LC. I bet if you ask most people who are associated with LC if they would like to return to the Pac they would jump at it. Since joining the Catholic league their basketball program has been at the bottom of the league pretty much every yr. They are competing against teams that reload with division one college talent every yr,their football program that was always strong for yrs before joining the catholic league has had only sporadic success since. PJPs basketball team won the Pac two yrs ago and the district last yr they would been hard pressed to be somewhere in the middle of the Catholic league. I agree that some of the non sense they put up with from the Pac stinks but the best answer to that is to take out any frustration on the playing field it certainly is not joining the Catholic league.
Im sure the Pac will never do PJP any favors thats a given , but its a good league for PJP to be in for alot of reasons. They will just have to use some of the bs as motivation especially being in with the schools that are much larger enrollment wise then they are. They got a good bounce back win Friday night. Handled PV up front from the 2nd qtr on.. Sounds like the tie breaker was District rank which doesnt make much sense since PJP is in 4A and the teams they are tied with are both 6A. The cross over games other then maybe the title game every yr are kind of bland. The PJP vs Pottsgrove game should be a good matchup but again with the possability they could meet again in just two weeks makes its not ideal . Really the only thing on the line this week is home field for a possible rematch in the District one final. That means something but doesnt outweigh the downside in my opinion for both teams
No the tiebreaker was that neither Robert’s or PV wanted to go up against Pottsgrove…process of elimination
I’m with you Mike D on PJP. However, PV beat Owen J, PJP beat PV, Owen J beat PJP. I believe the tiebreaker goes to PJP due to them having more power points in the District 1 playoff system than Owen J and PV. What’s really scary is the point system for the 4A schools in D1, namely PJP and Shanahan could get shafted due to he schedule they play. Yes, you get allotted more points for beating 5A and 6a teams which isn’t easy for a 4A school, but at team gets the same amount of bonus points-10 per win for beating either a 6A school or an 1A school. Case in point, if Jenkintown did not forfeit their season and won a few games, Lower Moreland could have conceivably bumped Shanahan out of the D1 4Aplayoffs. One team plays the Downingtowns and Coatesville, the other plays mostly A and AA teams, some of them were the worst teams in the State. Shanahan would mercy ruled Lower Moreland if they played each other. Pottsgrove got what they wanted, PJP out of the small School Pac, they will be a top of the D1 rankings in 4A every year thanks to who they play which is no one. I think PJP and Shanahan will beat them the next few weeks. The large school division in the PAC got even stronger with PJP replacing Norristown which is not fair to PJP. Norristown football is a joke! The wont win a game this year, switching divisions didn’t help them and hurt PJP. Norristown football is District 1’s equivalent of Reading HS or McCaskey HS in D3, they will never be any good despite their size.
Tiebreaker:
PJP2 7-2
OJR. 5-4
PV. 3-6
Easy…….
Exactly…I said it before ……they moved PJP up due to success yet Pottsgrove was never touched or thought of moving up when they ruled that division for years…..Let Upper Perk win the division a few more years and see if they get asked to move up due to SUCCESS…..Will never happen…..the PAC powers to be won’t be happy until non boundary PJP are bottom dwellers….and make me understand that league is a good fit for PJP???? Lol
@ Foleman , what has happened to Norristown football and their overall athletic program is crazy with different factors playing into it. The school is large numbers wise but the demographics have changed. Unlike Reading which has always been a basketball school Norristown had mostly a proud football history although it probably leaned to being more of a basketball school overall. They had many great yrs under Roger Grove. They gave some of Mike Pettines great CB West teams fits. They almost always had a Division one type tailback . Those teams would have handled the Spring Fords and PVs with ease, but times have definitely changed and in a drastic way. Even though long term playing in the Liberty division could be tough on a yr in yr out basis for PJP, as a fan
I’ve kind of enjoyed seeing them play the bigger schools..They showed some character bouncing back from a less then great performance against SF with a convincing win over PV