Berks Catholic makes big move in District 3 playoff ratings
| Class | Qualifiers | Byes |
| 6A | 8 | |
| 5A | 14 | 2 |
| 4A | 10 | 6 |
| 3A | 8 | |
| 2A | 4 | |
| 1A | 2 |
The demanding schedule Berks Catholic plays has helped lift the Saints to the top position in the District 3 Class 4A power ratings.
The Saints (4-1) jumped three spots to No. 1, leapfrogging three teams that also won last week: Big Spring, Northern and Lampeter-Strasburg.
Berks Catholic was the only one of those four to see its opponents’ winning percentage — a key component of the power rating formula — rise. The Saints benefited because each of its first four opponents — Executive Education, Central Dauphin, Chichester and Pope John Paul II — also won last week.
That’s rare, and shows how important strength of schedule is in the ranking formula.
The Saints lost to Malvern Prep (3-1) in Week 5 but that game doesn’t count in the ratings because the Friars are not a PIAA member.
The Saints’ significant jump gives Berks three No. 1’s among the six classifications: Gov. Mifflin (5-0), in Class 5A, and Wyomissing (6-0), in 3A, remain No. 1.
Berks has never had three No. 1 seeds in the tournament’s 39-year history. The Saints were a top seed in 2017, 2016 and 2014.
Just past the midpoint of the season eight Berks teams are in position to qualify for the tournament: Exeter (4-2) and Twin Valley (4-2) would join Mifflin in 5A; Conrad Weiser (4-2) would qualify in 4A; and Hamburg (5-1) and Schuylkill Valley (2-4) would join Wyomissing in 3A.
For a full look at the District 3 power ratings, click here:
The playoffs start in Week 11, or Nov. 5.
Mifflin and Berks Catholic would earn first-round byes if they hold their current positions. The top two teams in 5A and top six in 4A get a pass into the quarterfinals.
The higher-seeded teams have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, including the championship game.
Wilson moved up one spot in 6A, to No. 12, but still has work to do. It will have to win at least three of its four remaining games to qualify, and might need to win out.
It has not been a good start for teams in Section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League, where only Hempfield (4-2), at No. 6, and Manheim Township (4-2), at No. 7, are currently above the cut line. Penn Manor (4-2) is at No. 11 after losing to Wilson. The top eight qualify.
The Bulldogs went 6-1 last season and missed the four-team playoff field for the first time in 14 seasons.
Exeter, at No. 7 in 5A, has a chance to move up this week as it hosts Gov. Mifflin.
Twin Valley dropped three spots, to No. 9, after its loss at Fleetwood. The Raiders remain in position to make their first district tournament but it won’t be easy as they play nothing but playoff contenders the rest of the way. They have league games remaining against Wyomissing, Schuylkill Valley and Hamburg and a season-ending non-leaguer against Gettysburg.
After a COVID-impacted season which saw District 3 slash its playoff fields by half or more, it is planning a return to normal, in terms of playoff participants: Eight will qualify in Class 6A, 14 in 5A, 10 in 4A, eight in 3A, four in 2A and two in 1A. The Class 3A field has been bumped up from six to eight since 2019.