A look at District 3 playoff scenarios
Here's a class-by-class look at everything you need to know about the playoff scenarios for YAIAA football teams heading into Week 10. Before we start, I highly recommend you take the time to check out rodfrisco.com, which has taken to time to put together actual projections for the district playoff fields. Now, onto the local teams... CLASS AAAA It's pretty simple for Dallastown. The unbeaten Wildcats can wrap up the No. 1 seed with a win against Red Lion. Even with a loss, Dallastown will hover somewhere in the top three. The Lions, meanwhile, are pretty much assured a first-round home game, but could end up as high as No. 3 or as low as No. 8 depending on how they fare against Dallastown. One other Division I team is pretty much in, that being Spring Grove. The Rockets opponent Friday, South Western, is not. At 4-5, the Mustangs can still likely qualify for the field with a win. Finally, it's a good bet the winner of Central York-William Penn will get in, even though both are just 4-5 heading into their season finale. Bottom line: The quad-A field is not quite as deep as it has been in past years. It is rather top heavy, with teams like Harrisburg, Wilson, Cumberland Valley and Central Dauphin. CLASS AAA A West York win would wrap up a top four seed for the Bulldogs. That grants the potential for at least two home games for Ron Miller's squad, something they will surely be excited about. West York will be paying close attention to Saturday's Harrisburg-Bishop McDevitt game. A loss by McDevitt would likely allow the Bulldogs to move up to No. 3. A McDevitt win keeps West York at No. 4. Meanwhile, both Dover and Kennard-Dale are playing for their playoff lives. For Dover, it's simple. A win for the Eagles (5-4) against Susquehannock likely locks down a berth. Talk about a great turnaround from last fall's 0-10 debacle. Kennard-Dale (4-5), meanwhile, needs to beat Northeastern at home on Saturday and get a little bit of help. But Rod's district projection does have the Rams getting in. CLASS AA Littlestown, Delone Catholic and Bermudian Springs are all pretty much locked into the eight-team field. Barring a shake up in the OWP aspect of the district rankings, Littlestown will likely remain at No. 2 in the rankings behind Lancaster Catholic. That's big, as it means the Bolts will likely have to go through Trinity -- another high-scoring squad -- to get to the district final. Barring an upset at the hands of Hanover, Delone is most likely locked into the No. 4 spot. Bermudian, meanwhile, will almost certainly end up at No. 7 and play Littlestown for the second time in the three weeks in the first round of districts. The real race is for the No. 8 spot. Hanover (5-4) has the inside track, even it will be an underdog against rival Delone. The key game will be Schuylkill Valley at Hamburg. The Nighthawks can get in with a loss, provided Schuylkill Valley (5-4) also loses. Unless, of course, Biglerville (5-4) can spring an upset at Bermudian. A Canners win, coupled with Hanover and Schuylkill Valley losses, would allow Biglerville to sneak in.* Phew. CLASS A Not much drama here. York Catholic is safely into the five-team field, and a win against York Suburban would guarantee the Irish, at worst, a top three seed.