These District 3 football games will help set the brackets
The final week of the high school football regular season provides an opportunity for several teams to muscle their way into the District 3 tournament or improve their position in the playoffs.
Here's a look at a few key games from across District 3 that will help clarify what the playoff brackets look like. Power rankings were updated through Tuesday evening.
Win and in
Milton Hershey at Palmyra: The Spartans are No. 5 in Class 4A and will likely qualify for the postseason, but they still hopes of hosting a playoff game. The Cougars, meanwhile, are No. 8 in a crowded 5A field holding down the final playoff spot.
Cedar Cliff at Susquehanna Township: Cedar Cliff sits at No. 7 in Class 5A and will need a win to ensure their spot in the field. In Class 4A, Susquehanna Township also holds the No. 7 seed and will likely need a win to qualify.
READ MORE: Which YAIAA football teams could qualify for districts?
Home field advantage?
Dallastown at Red Lion: The Lions are in, but they sit at No. 4 in Class 6A despite a 9-0 record. The Lions are in, but they need a win to ensure hosting a quarterfinal. The Wildcats are No. 6 in Class 6A and need a win to ensure a postseason bid.
Shippensburg at Big Spring: The Greyhounds are No. 3 in the Class 4A race and should be in the tournament, but the seed is up for debate. Shippensburg could move up to No. 2 with a win and some help. A loss, however, and they risk getting passed by Lampeter-Strasburg or Milton Hershey, which means they'd start the playoffs on the road. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, are at No. 11 in 4A and still have a chance to make it if they get some help.
York Suburban at Eastern York: The Trojans locked up a share of the YAIAA Division II title and now will look to clinch the outright title and a 4A playoff berth. York Suburban enters the game No. 6 in the rankings and still has an outside shot to host a quarterfinal game: the Trojans trail Lampeter-Strasburg and Milton Hershey, who both face tough opponents in Week 10.
Bubble watch
Fairfield at Littlestown: After a 4-0 start, the Green Knights looked headed to the 1A title game. But fast forward five weeks and they are hanging onto the No. 2 spot, mere fractions of a percentage point ahead of Steel-High. The Green Knights must win this game or hope for a Steel-High loss to undefeated Middletown, at which point the computers will decide. The Thunderbolts, meanwhile, could sneak into a home semifinal with a win coupled with a Wyomissing loss to Berks Catholic and some computer help.
West Perry at Northern York: The Polar Bears hold the No. 9 spot in Class 4A, with the top eight getting in. They could make the field with a win against West Perry coupled with some help. The current No. 8 seed, Conrad Weiser faces Class 5A's top seed, Governor Mifflin, in Week 10.
Mifflin County at Waynesboro: The Indians come into the final week of the season 10th in Class 5A, where the top eight advance. Waynesboro is still within striking distance, but the Indians must take care of business with a victory over the Huskies and then hope for help.
Manheim Central at Garden Spot: The Barons are No. 2 in Class 5A and are in the playoffs. The Spartans, meanwhile, are No. 9 in 5A, with the top eight qualifying. Garden Spot needs a win.
Bishop McDevitt at Central Dauphin East: With the No. 2 ranking, the Crusaders are in the Class 4A field. The Panthers, on the other hand, are No. 7 in Class 6A and will need a win or some help. A CD East loss would open the door for No. 9 Manheim Township (which faces Penn Manor in Week 10), as well as for No. 8 Central York, which meets William Penn.