What you need to know about your team’s chances to make the District 3 playoffs
2023 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
Late-season losses by Wyomissing and Twin Valley haven’t done much to hurt their playoff positioning as the District 3 Tournament draws near.
The Spartans are No. 1 in Class 3A and the Raiders No. 2 in Class 4A with two games remaining. They are among seven Berks teams within range of the playoffs, though both Gov. Mifflin and Berks Catholic remain in tenuous position.
The tournament kicks 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
The higher-seeded teams have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, including the championship game. Seedings are based on power ratings.
Wyomissing, the only Berks team to win four consecutive district championships, remain favored to win a fifth. The Spartans (7-1) lost in Week 7 to Cocalico but hold a slight lead over unbeaten No. 2 West Perry because of its superior strength of schedule.
Only No. 5 Berks Catholic (.626) has a higher strength-of-schedule rating among 3A teams than Wyomissing (.509). West Perry (.372), which lost to Wyomissing in last year’s title game, has one of the lowest power ratings among 3A teams.
If the Spartans win their final two games they’ll hold the No. 1 spot, earn a first-round bye, and maintain home-field advantage throughout the tournament. However, they face a tough challenge in Week 10 at Lampeter-Strasburg (7-1), which is No. 4 in Class 4A.
Twin Valley (7-1), which saw its perfect season end last week at Ephrata, has essentially clinched a second straight opening-round bye and quarterfinal home opener in Class 4A, where the top six teams earn first-round byes. If the Raiders close with wins over Daniel Boone (1-7) and Hatboro-Horsham (4-4), both at home, they’ll hold onto one of the tops seeds. It’s possible No. 3 Manheim Central (7-1) could move into No. 2 should it beat Gov. Mifflin this week and Exeter next week.
Exeter (8-0) is No. 4 in Class 5A despite being one of just two unbeatens in the 26-team field. Its strength-of-schedule rating (.378) is by far the lowest among 5A teams. Its three non-league opponents – Daniel Boone, Boyertown and West York – are a combined 3-21. None of their eight opponents to date has a winning record.
The Eagles’ biggest challenges lie ahead, Friday at Conestoga Valley (6-2) and next week against Manheim Central (7-1). If they finish among the top four seeds they’ll get a first-round bye and quarterfinal home opener.
If Wilson (6-2), currently No. 5 in Class 6A, can beat McCaskey Friday and pull off a Week 10 upset against Manheim Township it should move up and get a first-round home game. Otherwise it’ll open on the road in the eight-team tournament.
Gov. Mifflin (4-4) is sitting in 12th position in 5A, where the top 12 advance. However, the Mustangs face a rough closing stretch: They play at Manheim Central Friday and against a Warwick (2-6) team that is much better than its record.
The six-team 3A field could include as many as three Berks teams.
Schuylkill Valley (7-1) has moved up to No. 3 after seven straight wins. It will likely need to win out, at Annville-Cleona (6-2) and at Lancaster Catholic (7-1), to hold that spot. The Crusaders will likely move up to No. 3 if the Panthers lose their final two games.
The top two finishers in 3A get a first-round bye.
No. 5 Berks Catholic (4-4) has a demanding closing stretch and two teams on its heels, No. 6 Littlestown (6-2) and No. 7 Bermudian Springs (5-3). The Saints play at Cocalico (7-1) Friday and finish at home against Elco (5-3).
If the Saints lose their final two games they could miss districts, though Bermudian will have a tough Week 10 game against Littlestown. Berks Catholic could conceivably make districts at 4-6 (and earn a rematch against Wyomissing, the likely No. 1 seed).
Mifflin, Fleetwood (3-5), Conrad Weiser (2-6), Berks Catholic and Hamburg (4-4) remain in position to earn Eastern Conference postseason berths should they fail to qualify for districts.
Three of last year’s district champs – Bishop McDevitt, Wyomissing and Steel-High – are currently a top seed. A pair of district runners-up – Manheim Township, in Class 6A and Annville-Cleona, in Class 2A – currently hold top seeds.
