Who’s in and who’s out of the Berks postseason football picture
2024 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
Eight weeks into the 10-week regular season and 12 of Berks’ 14 football teams still have a chance to be playing in Week 11.
They all can’t make it – Reading High, Muhlenberg, and Fleetwood are all vying for the same spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs – but most of them will.
The District 3 Tournament starts Nov. 1. The top 12 teams, by power rating, qualify in Class 5A; the top 10 make it in 6A and 4A; the top six qualify in 3A.
For those that miss the district cut there are the Eastern Conference playoffs. (Think of it as the NIT Tournament of high school football.) There are four classifications – 5A/6A, 4A, 3A and 1A/2A – and teams qualify by power rating.
(Power ratings factor a team’s won-loss record and its strength of schedule.)
There’s only a championship round in the Eastern Conference playoffs, Nov. 1-2.
Here’s a look at each Berks team’s chance for the postseason. Only Daniel Boone (1-7) and Kutztown (0-8) are out of the picture.
Class 6A
Wilson (7-1)
The Bulldogs are No. 2 in District 3 and have clinched a playoff spot. If they beat McCaskey Friday they’ll clinch an opening-round bye and a quarterfinal home game.
If they beat No. 1 Manheim Township in the season finale they’ll earn the top seed and home-field advantage through the semifinals.
If they lose to Township they’ll likely slip to No. 3 in the power rankings, which means they’ll open at home against No. 6, which could be C.D. East (an old playoff nemesis).
Gov. Mifflin (4-4)
The Mustangs haven’t beaten a team with a winning record and yet they’re in strong position to qualify. They’re currently No. 9 in the power ratings; 10 make the field.
A home win Friday over Elizabethtown (2-6) should put them over the top. They finish at Ephrata (4-4).
If they don’t win out they could get caught by No. 11 Waynesboro (4-4), should it win at Lower Dauphin (4-4) and against Hershey (6-2), or by No. 12 Chambersburg (3-5), which plays at Cumberland Valley (4-4) and against Central Dauphin (2-6). It’s unlikely either of those teams will win out.
This is Mifflin’s first year in 6A. If it was playing in 5A again this year it would be outside the bubble right now.
Reading High (2-6)
Yes it’s been a struggle for the Red Knights and they’ll be underdogs in their final two games, both on the road, against Oxford (5-3) and Hempfield (3-5).
But . . . there’s a chance.
If the playoffs opened today the Red Knights would be the second qualifier in the Eastern Conference 5A/6A field, behind Dieruff (4-4). If they win one more game they’ll be in strong position to claim a spot.
Reading has a slim lead over Muhlenberg and Fleetwood for the second EC spot. If the Muhls and Tigers each lose their final two games the Red Knights should make it even without a win.
William Allen (2-6, with six straight losses) is also in the picture but would need to beat either Emmaus (6-2) or Dieruff (4-4 with four straight losses).
Class 5A
Conrad Weiser (8-0)
Despite their perfect record the Scouts are just No. 6 in the District 3 power ratings. It’s a tough field this season: There are six unbeaten teams plus once-beaten and state-ranked Bishop McDevitt, which won the 4A title last year.
The Scouts are in the tournament – no problem there – but would need to win out to have a crack at a first-round bye (and quarterfinal home game).
That won’t be easy. They will be missing several key players for Friday’s game against a hard-charging Cocalico team, which has won five straight.
Week 10, against Unionville (5-3), won’t be a picnic either with some of their top two running backs and top receiver on the sidelines with injuries.
A 9-1 finish would probably see the Scouts end up as the No. 8 seed. They would open at home but play at No. 1 in the quarterfinals should they advance.
Exeter (8-0)
The Eagles are in a same position as Conrad Weiser. They’re No. 7 in the power ratings and have played the last six quarters without their starting quarterback, Riley Martinez, who was out due to an ankle injury.
If he’s not back Friday they’re in danger against Conestoga Valley, which is also unbeaten.
Even if they win out – which includes a Week 10 game at Elizabethtown (2-6) – the Eagles might not end up higher than fourth or fifth. They’ll get a home game either way but finishing No. 4 means a first-round bye.
The Eagles’ weak non-league schedule is costing them. (Daniel Boone, Boyertown, Pleasant Valley, and Hempfield are a combined 4-28.)
Their strength of schedule rating is the lowest among 27 Class 5A teams.
Muhlenberg (3-5) and Fleetwood (3-5)
The Muhls have a slightly higher power rating than the Tigers but they’re both in the same boat when it comes to the Eastern Conference playoffs.
They need Reading High to lose both its remaining games — against Oxford (5-3) and Hempfield (3-5). And they need to win at least one of their two remaining games.
The Muhls have lost four straight. They play at Academy Park (4-4) Saturday and at Conestoga Valley (8-0) in Week 10.
The Tigers play at Solanco (3-5) Friday and against Cocalico (6-2) in Week 10. Their 28-26 loss last week to Manheim Central – their third one-possession loss of the season – could haunt them.
Class 4A
Wyomissing (7-1)
The Spartans are No. 2 after a win over Twin Valley and could end up No. 1 if they win their final two games, including next week against top-ranked Lampeter-Strasburg.
As the No. 1 or 2 seed they’ll get a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the semifinals.
A loss to Lampeter could drop them to third.
With Twin Valley and Lampeter-Strasburg playing this week any number of scenarios are possible. No matter how things shake out the Class 4A winner might need to beat two state-ranked teams to walk away with the trophy.
Twin Valley (7-1)
The Raiders need a win at Lampeter-Strasburg Friday to assure themselves of opening districts at home for the third straight year.
They’re currently No. 4 and could hold that spot if No. 5 West York loses its third straight after a 6-0 start; the Bulldogs play Susquehannock (4-4).
If the Raiders win out – they close at Daniel Boone (1-7) – and Lampeter loses at Wyomissing they could finish as high as No. 2. That would require a loss by No. 2 Susquehanna Township (7-1), which plays state-ranked Trinity (7-1) this week.
As we just mentioned: No matter how things shake out the Class 4A winner might need to beat two state-ranked teams to walk away with the trophy.
Hamburg (5-3)
The Hawks are No. 13 in the district rankings; to move up to No. 10 they need to win at Berks Catholic (4-4) Friday and against Columbia (0-10) and see at least three teams directly ahead of them lose at least once.
Failing that, the Hawks are in prime position to earn an Eastern Conference bid. With a pair of wins they could even overtake Honesdale to earn the top seed and a home game.
Class 3A
Schuylkill Valley (6-2)
The Panthers have moved up to No. 3 by winning five straight. A win over Annville-Cleona will clinch a first-round home game.
(PhilMarPhoto)
Even by beating Lancaster Catholic in Week 10 its unlikely the Panthers can move up high enough to get an opening-round bye.
Berks Catholic (4-4)
The Saints have endured some tough losses but they’re in position to qualify for districts.
Wins over Hamburg Friday and at Annville-Cleona in Week 10 should be enough to get in, though they have a slim lead over No. 7 Big Spring (3-5).
If the Saints hold onto that No. 6 spot they could open districts at Schuylkill Valley – and wouldn’t that be special?
Berks Catholic’s toughest loss of the season came against the Panthers, who won it in the final minute on Logan Nawrocki’s touchdown bomb to Kowen Gerner.
