North Schuylkill's Sander Stokes sacks Lehighton's Jayse Lawrence during their game Oct. 18. (Photo by Justin Reed / Skook News)

It’s safe to say there will be a lot of scoreboard watching by local high school football players, coaches and fans tonight and Saturday.

Week 10 brings with it a lot of uncertainty.

Which teams are in the District 11 playoffs?

Which teams are out? Whose bubble will burst?

What are the matchups for next weekend?

Every game on tonight’s schedule has some impact on the postseason, plus a long list of games that include other teams in the Schuylkill/Colonial Football Cooperative and stretches back to Week 1 non-league opponents. It’s almost a given we won’t have all the answers until Sunday morning, when the Saturday games are processed and the computers do their magic.

Let’s break down the four District 11 playoff races involving area teams, then give a quick preview of tonight’s games.

Tonight’s games include Pottsville at North Schuylkill, Blue Mountain at Tamaqua, Marian at Nativity, Shenandoah Valley at Mahanoy Area, Schuylkill Haven at Tri-Valley, Williams Valley at Pine Grove, Minersville at Pine Grove and Jim Thorpe at Lehighton.

You can hear the Pottsville-North Schuylkill game on WPPA 1360 AM and 105.9 FM, while Marian at Nativity is the T-102 Game of the Week (pre-game 6:30 p.m., kickoff 7 p.m.)

For a preview of Pottsville’s game against North Schuylkill, visit https://www.t102sportsnow.com/2024/10/25/lots-on-the-line-when-pottsville-visits-north-schuylkill/

For a complete list of area statistical leaders, including defensive leaders in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks, visit https://www.t102sportsnow.com/2024/10/25/area-hs-football-statistical-leader-through-week-9/

CLASS A

Clinched: Lackawanna Trail

Good shot to make it: Tri-Valley, Nativity

On the bubble: Marian, Old Forge

Analysis: Lackawanna Trail (8-1) is the only team locked into the District 2/11 Class A subregional playoffs and will be the No. 1 seed. The Lions close the regular season tonight against unbeaten Riverside in the District 2 Game of the Week.

Tri-Valley (6-3, .497287 rating) and Nativity (6-3, .497025) follow in second and third and should make the field regardless of their outcomes tonight. The Dawgs host Schuylkill Haven (8-1), while the Green Wave entertain Marian at Saint Clair Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Marian (5-4, .437757) needs a victory to solidify its spot in the field. Otherwise, Old Forge (4-5, .434357) could leapfrog the Colts if the Vikings win at Carbondale (5-4), a Class 3A school. If both teams win or both teams lose, Marian will most likely get the fourth spot, but it will be extremely close.

Nativity could move up to second if the Green Wave beat Marian and the Dawgs lose to Schuylkill Haven. Nativity could also drop to No. 4 if it loses tonight. There does exist some scenarios where Tri-Valley or Nativity could fall out of the field if they lose tonight, Marian wins, Old Forge wins and they both get help.

Needless to say, this bracket is up in the air.

Next week: This bracket will play Friday night, Nov. 1.

If the Colts make it, thus giving District 11 three teams, the playoff bracket would follow a standard four-team format with No. 4 facing No. 1 Lackawanna Trail and No. 3 visiting No. 2.

If Old Forge gets in, thus giving each district a pair of teams, Lackawanna Trail would face Old Forge for the District 2 championship and the two District 11 teams would play each other for the District 11 crown at a neutral site.

The team that doesn’t make this field will host the Eastern Conference Class A/AA title game next weekend against Wyalusing Valley. For a complete list of the latest Eastern Conference ratings, visit https://easternfootballconference.com/wp/

CLASS AA

Clinched: Williams Valley, Schuylkill Haven, Northern Lehigh, Minersville, Executive Education, Pen Argyl

Good shot to get in: Mahanoy Area

On the bubble: Catasauqua, Palisades

Analysis: The Golden Bears (3-6, .358812) should get in as they are heavily favored to beat winless Shenandoah Valley (0-9) tonight. Catasauqua (3-6, .354931) visits Palmerton (2-7), while Palisades (2-7, .318439) treks to Salisbury (4-5).

If Catty wins, it is in. If it loses, Palisades could sneak in at No. 8 with a win.

The biggest question here is which team — Williams Valley (8-1, .680527) or Schuylkill Haven (8-1, .677984) — ends up as the No. 1 seed. The Vikings visit Pine Grove (1-8), while the Hurricanes travel to Tri-Valley (6-3).

Both teams have the same nine Schuylkill/Colonial Blue Division games on their schedule, with Haven going 8-0 in those games and Williams Valley going 7-1, with the loss to Haven. So OWP (Opponents’ Weight Winning Percentage) will most likely be the determining factor.

Haven’s loss came in a non-league contest to Blue Mountain (6-3), while the Vikings beat Upper Dauphin (5-4) in their non-league game. Two games could impact this race: Blue Mountain vs. Tamaqua, Upper Dauphin at Juniata. A win by the Eagles helps Haven. A victory by Upper Dauphin, which has won four straight, would help Williams Valley.

What will be interesting to see is which team, Williams Valley or Schuylkill Haven, ends up on the same side of the bracket as red-hot Minersville (6-3). The Miners’ games with both the Vikings and Hurricanes were thrillers, and a semifinal meeting should be the same.

Northern Lehigh, Minersville, Executive Education and Pen Argyl appear locked into the 3-4-5-6 spots regardless of their outcomes tonight.

Next week: Quarterfinal games are set for next Saturday at the sites of the higher-seeded teams, with 8 at 1, 7 at 2, 6 at 3 and 5 at 4. Games will be played in the evenings, with a 6 p.m. start, due to SAT testing earlier in the day.

CLASS 3A

Clinched: Northwestern Lehigh (9-0), Notre Dame-Green Pond (8-1)

On the bubble: North Schuylkill, Tamaqua, Saucon Valley

Analysis: The battle for the four spots in this bracket has been closely followed all season and experienced several changes along the way.

North Schuylkill (6-3, .643789) sits in third heading into tonight’s clash against Pottsville (5-4) at Ghosh Orthodontics Field at Spartan Stadium. Tamaqua (6-3, .603705) follows in fourth, just ahead of Saucon Valley (7-2, .599886). The Blue Raiders entertain Blue Mountain (6-3), while the Panthers travel to Northern Lehigh (7-2).

Obviously, wins by the Spartans and Blue Raiders would greatly help their cause. Also helping is the fact they play in the Schuylkill/Colonial Red Division, as their OWP is much higher than Saucon Valley’s since the Panthers play in the very weak White Division.

A Tamaqua loss and Saucon Valley win drops the Blue Raiders out of districts and into the Eastern Conference playoffs. There does exist a scenario where a loss by North Schuylkill, wins by Tamaqua and Saucon Valley, and some victories by opponents knocks out the Spartans.

The team that doesn’t make this field will most likely host Berks Catholic in the Eastern Conference Class 3A final.

Stay tuned.

Next week: The Class 3A semifinals are set for Friday night, with No. 4 at Northwestern Lehigh and No. 3 at Notre Dame-Green Pond.

CLASS 4A

Clinched: Southern Lehigh, Blue Mountain, Bethlehem Catholic, Allentown Central Catholic, Pottsville, East Stroudsburg North, Lehighton, Jim Thorpe

On the bubble: None

Analysis: This eight-team bracket is filled; the only thing left to determine is final seeding.

Southern Lehigh (8-1, .741125) looks locked into the No. 1 seed, regardless of the Spartans’ outcome vs. unbeaten Northwestern Lehigh (9-0) tonight.

Blue Mountain (6-3, .608282) is second and could drop if the Eagles lose to Tamaqua and No. 3 Bethlehem Catholic (4-5, .605802) beats Northampton (4-5) and/or No. 4 Allentown Central Catholic (4-5, .591933) downs Whitehall (3-6).

Blue Mountain will get a home quarterfinal game regardless of the results of tonight’s games.

Pottsville (5-4, .556000) appears locked into the No. 5 spot. However, I’m told by the Tide coaches who excel at crunching these numbers that there exists a scenario where the Tide get to No. 3 or No. 4 if they beat North Schuylkill (6-3) and Bethlehem Catholic and/or ACC lose. A win by Shamokin over Mount Carmel helps the Pottsville OWP cause in this regard.

East Stroudsburg North will be No. 6, with Lehighton and Jim Thorpe taking the last two spots. Their final destination is greatly impacted by their Route 209 Trophy clash tonight.

Next week: The Class 4A quarterfinals will be held Thursday night at the sites of the higher seeds: 8 at 1, 7 at 2, 6 at 3, 5 at 4.

Rivalry Week

The final week of the regular season has traditionally been Rivalry Week, although the recent changes to the Schuylkill/Colonial Football Cooperative have placed clashes like Blue Mountain-Schuylkill Haven, Williams Valley-Tri-Valley and Minersville-Nativity earlier in the season.

There are still several great rivalry games on tap for tonight. Here’s a sneak peek at a couple of them:

Shenandoah Valley at Mahanoy Area

The Blue Devils and Golden Bears have played 115 times in a series that dates back to 1899. They have played continuously since 1921, a streak of 103 years.

This rivalry game is for the Damato-Szematowicz Trophy, named after a pair of World War II military heroes.

Cpl. Anthony P. Damato was a member of the 2^nd Battalion, 22^nd Marine Division, 5^th Amphibious Corps. The Shenandoah native was killed on the night of Feb. 19-20, 1944, in the Marshall Islands when he threw himself on a grenade in a foxhole to save two other Marines. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously. The American Legion Post No. 702 in Shenandoah is named in his honor.

Army Air Corps Pvt. Jerome Szematowicz was a chief mechanic with the Material Squadron. He was killed at Hicam Field in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, when the Japanese staged their attack Dec. 7, 1941. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his service to our country.

For a great historical look back at this series, see this week’s Matta’s Data column here https://www.t102sportsnow.com/2024/10/24/mahanoy-area-shenandoah-valley-rivalry-stands-test-of-time/

Shenandoah Valley leads this all-time series 60-49-6, but Mahanoy Area has won the last 11 games. The Golden Bears are heavy favorites to win for the 12^th straight time.

Shamokin Area at Mount Carmel

The Indians and Red Tornadoes have played 115 times in a series dating back to 1908, with Mount Carmel holding an 80-25-10 all-time advantage.

The teams have played for the storied Coal Bucket since 1951, with Mount Carmel holding a 55-15-2 series lead.

Mount Carmel has won the last 27 times these programs have squared off — they did not play in 2020. The last time Shamokin beat Mount Carmel was 15-0 in 1995.

Shamokin enters 9-0, with big wins over Pottsville, Jersey Shore, Selinsgrove and Lewisburg. Mount Carmel is 7-2, with its only losses coming to North Schuylkill (37-30) and Danville (22-19).

QB Gavin Marshalek has thrown for 1,588 yards and 14 TDs for Mount Carmel, with WR Jaylen Delaney establishing a new single-season receptions record with 57 catches for 705 yards and six TDs.

Shamokin, meanwhile, features a 1,000-yard passer in Logan Steele (67-of-111, 1,115, 17 TDs) and a 1,000-yard rusher in Jayce Ginck (118-1,043, 28 TDs). Chase Pensyl (26-547, 8 TDs) and Ben Delbaugh (20-269, 5 TDs) are Steele’s top targets.

Is this the year?