Who’s in and who’s out of the District 3 football playoffs

With one week to go in the regular season as many as 11 Berks teams still have a chance to crack the District 3 playoffs. That would be a record; Berks has never sent more than nine in a given season.

Nothing will be official until Sunday, after the weekend games are completed and the final power ratings are posted on the District 3 website.

Here’s a team-by-team breakdown to give you an idea of where your favorite team stands:

Class 6A

Top 8 qualify

Wilson: After four straight wins the Bulldogs (6-3) have finally climbed into playoff position, but they might need a win over Manheim Township (6-3) to stay there. A loss to the Blue Streaks, coupled with a win by Carlisle (6-3) over C.D. East (7-2), could leave Wilson on the outside looking in — for the second straight year.

C.D. East has emerged as a contender for the district title after wiping out Central Dauphin 31-14 last week. Question is, were the Panthers so geared up for that rivalry game that they’ll let their guard down this week? The Thundering Herd is capable; two of its losses have come by a field goal, to Central Dauphin and Cumberland Valley.

At best the Bulldogs could move past Township into the sixth spot with a win. That means they open on the road, possibly against C.D. East, a team that’s knocked them out in the past.

Class 5A

Top 14 qualify

Top 2 earn opening-round byes

Gov. Mifflin: The Mustangs (7-0) are No. 1 and can’t drop even with a loss at Berks Catholic (6-3). They’ll have home-field advantage throughout the district playoffs and, if they win their second straight championship, could open the PIAA Tournament at Mifflin Stadium, as well.

Exeter: The Eagles (6-3) are ranked No. 7, but without an opponent for this weekend after Daniel Boone suspended its program. They’re unlikely to move up; No. 6 Cedar Cliff (7-2) plays winless Mifflin County. It’s possible they could get passed, by No. 8 South Western (6-3) or No. 9 Warwick, or both. The top eight get home-openers.

Twin Valley: The Raiders (6-3) are pretty certain to earn their first district berth. They’re No. 10 and have a challenging finale on the road against No. 11 Gettysburg. Unlikely to move up much with a win. That means they’ll be opening districts on the road . . . maybe against Exeter? Lots of variables in a crowded field.

Daniel Boone: The Blazers (5-3) will be idle for a second straight week due to a COVID shutdown. As tough as that is to swallow, that won’t hurt their chances to qualify. Anything but. They’re No. 12 and could even move up a spot, past the Twin Valley/Gettysburg loser. Not the way they wanted it to play out, obviously, but that’s the reality.

Fleetwood: The Tigers (5-4) are on the outside looking in at this point after a loss to Upper Dauphin. They’re No. 16 and need at least two of the teams directly ahead of them to lose. No. 15 New Oxford (5-4) plays winless West York. No. 14 Lower Dauphin (5-3) hosts No. 19 Palmyra (5-4); that’s a pick ’em. No. 13 Mechanicsburg (5-4) plays an East Pennsboro (4-5) team that has lost three straight. Not looking good for the Tigers, who may have to settle for a season-ending win over Kutztown and a spot in the Eastern Conference 5A/6A championship.

Class 4A

Top 10 qualify

Top 6 get opening-round byes

Berks Catholic: The Saints (6-3) are the No. 1 seed — at least for the moment. To hold it they’ll need to beat Gov. Mifflin. No. 2 Bishop McDevitt (7-1) is certain to beat Hershey and No. 3 Lampeter-Strasburg will do the same against winless Lebanon. No. 4 Cocalico (6-3) could pass them as well, though they’ll have to get past Manheim Central (8-1). That means the Saints could slide all the way to No. 4. Still not a bad spot. They’ll get a first-round bye and a quarterfinal home game, possibly against Conrad Weiser.

Conrad Weiser: The Scouts (5-2) are No. 2 and unlikely to go higher — unless they pull off a big upset at Wyomissing. With a loss they could slip several spots, maybe to eight or nine. They could lose not only their chance at a bye but at a home game, too.

Class 3A

Top 8 qualify

Wyomissing: The Spartans (9-0) will be the No. 1 seed and are miles ahead of the rest of the field. They’ll have home-field advantage through the PIAA quarterfinals, should they continue to win.

Hamburg: Despite back-to-back losses the Hawks (5-3) remain No. 3; that tells you a little about how thin this field is. Even with a win over Schuylkill Valley they won’t move up; a loss could drop them to fourth, but no lower.

Schuylkill Valley: The Panthers are No. 10, but not out of it. They’ll need to beat Hamburg and see No. 9 Annville-Cleona (3-5) lose to Elco (3-5) — that’s a pick ’em — and see No. 8 Northern Lebanon (4-5) to lose to Octorara (7-2). So, the door is open. If they make it the Panthers will be rewarded with a rematch against Wyomissing. Failing that they’re in the running for an Eastern Conference berth; a win locks that up.