Who’s in, who’s out, and where do Berks teams stand in the District 3 playoff races?
Exeter and Wyomissing have unofficially clinched District 3 playoff spots and four other Berks programs are in strong position to make the district tournament with two weeks remaining in the regular season.
Exeter is No. 2 in Class 5A and Wyomissing is No. 1 in Class 3A.
Also in playoff position: Wilson in 6A, Twin Valley in 4A and Schuylkill Valley and Hamburg in 3A.
Here’s a breakdown of the Berks teams and where they stand in the District 3 outlook.
Power ratings are based on won-loss percentage, opponent’s classification and strength of schedule. Ratings posted on the District 3 website are unofficial until approved by the D3 Committee.
The tournament opens with games in the smallest five classes Nov. 4-5; Class 6A opens Nov. 11-12.
Higher-seeded team hosts all games, including the championship.
Class 6A
Number of teams: 19
Number of qualifiers: 8
First-round byes: None
Championship date: Nov. 25-26
Berks outlook: Wilson (6-2) is sixth and needs wins over McCaskey (1-7) Friday and at Manheim Township (6-2) next week to hold that spot. Would likely qualify even with a Week 10 loss. Would have to win twice and hope No. 5 Harrisburg losses again (which is unlikely) to have a chance for a first-round home game.
Reading High (3-5) is out of district contention but still in range of an Eastern Conference Class 5/6 berth which would give it a Week 11 game and the chance for a championship trophy.
Class 5A
Number of teams: 26
Number of qualifiers: 12
First-round byes: 4
Championship date: Nov. 25-26
Berks outlook: Exeter (8-0) has clinched a spot in districts and is in position for a first-round bye, which it’ll earn by winning out against Conestoga Valley (4-4) and Manheim Central (8-0).
The defending champion Eagles are the favorite to repeat at this point, a fact stamped by last week’s convincing 44-22 win over Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 leader Hempfield. Only other unbeaten in the field is No. 1 Solanco, the Section 3 leader.
No. 17 Gov. Mifflin (3-5) will need a win over Manheim Central to keep alive its faint hopes of making the field; even with an upset of the Barons the Mustangs would need at least five teams directly ahead of them to lose.
Daniel Boone and Fleetwood (2-6) are out of district contention but on the periphery of the Eastern Conference 4A race.
Class 4A
Number of teams: 23
Number of qualifiers: 10
First-round byes: 6
Championship date: Nov. 25-26
Berks outlook: Twin Valley is No. 6 and in position to hold that spot and earn a first-round bye. The Raiders close against Daniel Boone (1-7) and Hatboro-Horsham (1-5) and would be favored in each of those games.
Twin Valley is bolstered by a strength-of-schedule rating (.602) that is second-highests among 4A contenders; its schedule includes unbeaten Solanco, once-beaten Elizabethtown and Schuylkill Valley (6-2).
Conrad Weiser (3-5), at No. 12, is within range of a playoff spot but faces a tough finish with Lampeter-Strasburg (7-1) this week and Cocalico (4-4) next week. If they miss districts, the Scouts are in strong position for an Eastern Conference 4A semifinal berth.
Class 3A
Number of teams: 14
Number of qualifiers: 6
First-round byes: 2
Championship date: Nov. 18-219
Berks outlook: Three-time defending champ Wyomissing (8-0) looks like a slam dunk for a fourth straight title. The Spartans are ranked No. 1 in the state and have played in consecutive PIAA championship games.
If they win out, against Octorara (1-7) and Lampeter-Strasburg (7-1), they’ll get a first-round bye and play a semifinal at home, possibly against Schuylkill Valley or Hamburg (6-2), which are currently Nos. 4 and 5, respectively. The Panthers and Hawks would meet in the quarterfinals if they hold those spots.
Schuylkill Valley, which closes with Annville-Cleona (5-3) and Lancaster Catholic (8-0), probably already has a district berth clinched; a win this week could clinch a home-opener.
Hamburg closes with Northern Lebanon (2-6) and Columbia (3-5); one win should clinch a berth. If it wins out and Schuylkill Valley loses a game the Hawks have a chance to move up to No. 4 and gain home-field advantage for the quarterfinals.
Berks Catholic (3-5), at No. 7, still has a chance to crack the six-team field but will need to beat Cocalico this week and Elco (4-4) next week and see No. 6 Upper Dauphin lose at least once. The Trojans close against Big Spring (3-5) and Line Mountain (4-4). Upper Dauphin is coming off a 20-13 win over Juniata, which had won four straight.
If the Saints fall short of a district berth they’ll head to the Eastern Conference playoffs, where they’re positioned to host the 3A championship game.
Class 2A
Number of teams: 7
Number of qualifiers: 4
First-round byes: 0
Championship date: Nov. 11-12
Berks outlook: No Berks teams in classification.
Class 1A
Number of teams: 3
Number of qualifiers: 2
First-round byes: 0
Championship date: Nov. 4-5
Berks outlook: No Berks teams in classification.