Strong start positions Wyomissing for run at record fifth straight district crown
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Halfway through the regular season Wyomissing is well-positioned to make a run at its fifth straight District 3 Class 3A championship.
The Spartans are unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in the district power ratings, which determine seeds and home field advantage for the tournament.
The playoffs kick off Nov. 3. Championship games will be staggered over a four-week period, with the Class A title game the weekend of Nov. 3-4; the Class 2A game Nov. 10-11; the Class 3A game Nov. 17-18; and the Class 4A, 5A and 6A games Nov. 24-25.
Wyomissing is one of eight Berks teams currently in playoff position.
Wilson is No. 7 in Class 6A; Exeter is No. 5 and Gov. Mifflin No. 11 in Class 5A; Twin Valley is No. 2 in 4A; Schuylkill Valley is No. 4, Berks Catholic No. 5, and Hamburg No. 6 in Class 3A.
Of the remaining six Berks teams, Kutztown, currently No. 9 in Class 3A, has the best chance to make the six-team field.
If the Spartans hold that No. 1 spot they’ll get a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, including the championship game. Wyomissing has won the title on its home field each of the past two seasons and three times in the last four years.
At No. 2, Wyomissing would earn a quarterfinal bye and a home semifinal but not be guaranteed of a home game in the championship round; that goes to the highest-seeded team.
Twin Valley, which had never won a district playoff game before last year, is in strong position. If the Raiders hold onto the No. 2 spot they’ll earn a first-round bye – another first for the program – and hold home-field advantage through the semifinals.
Bishop McDevitt, the defending champ and top-ranked team in the state in Class 4A, is unlikely to lose again during the regular season and will likely go into districts as the No. 1 seed and with home-field advantage.
Exeter was the No. 2 seed last year when it made a return trip to the district championship. It played each of its three postseason games at Don Thomas Stadium after a first-round bye.
Unless they make up some ground on top-ranked Garden Spot and the other three teams ahead of them the Eagles will have a much tougher task getting to the title game for the third straight year. The top four teams receive opening-round byes and home-field advantage in the quarterfinals: That’s a big plus in the postseason.
There’s a lot of time left in the season and a lot of key match-ups remaining down the stretch so it’s certain the district picture will be shuffled several times before the playoffs open.
Wilson has moved into playoff position after three straight wins. To get a home opener the Bulldogs would likely need to finish with at least seven wins, perhaps eight. Getting to 8-2 would require a season-ending win over Manheim Township, the current No. 1 team in 6A.
Gov. Mifflin is in position to return to the playoffs after missing last year but will need at least three more wins to get there. The Mustangs face a stern test Friday at Wilson and play at Manheim Central in Week 9. They’ll likely need a win over either the Bulldogs or Conestoga Valley (4-1) in Week 7 to remain in the playoff race.
Three of last year’s district champs – Bishop McDevitt, Wyomissing and Steel-High – are currently a top seed. A pair of runners-up – Manheim Township and Annville-Cleona – also currently hold top seeds.
Wyomissing is the only Berks team to win four consecutive district championships.
Berks Catholic has the Berks record for consecutive championship-game appearances, with seven.