By Brian Carroll
As we approach the final weekend of the regular season, Strath Haven and other high school football fans will be wondering what this year’s playoff schedule may look like. With many impactful contests still to be played over the next three days, lots can change in terms of the game results. That being said, we’re taking our best guess as to where teams could land as the 5A District 1 playoffs begin on 11/6/26.
Please note that this is simply a prediction, and it could change drastically if there are unexpected results. It is not meant to disparage or downplay any of the efforts of any teams– it’s simply our quick estimation, based on the PIAA’s Power Ranking System, of where teams may (or may not) be playing in the postseason. Ultimately, this is just for fun. We’re not worried about being “right” or “wrong” in the predictions, as the teams will play it out on the field. “That’s why they play the games…” 😉
The explanation on rankings and how the points system works can be found here: https://www.piaad1.org/sports/fall-sports/football/power-ranking/
We saw a few impactful results last week, with Strath Haven falling to Ridley, and Great Valley outlasting Archbishop Wood to stay undefeated. A few games for this week that will likely have significant impact on the rankings include:
- West Chester Henderson at West Chester Rustin. The winner likely lands near a 10 seed, while the loser falls to #15.
- Radnor at Marple Newtown. It’s simple for Marple Newtown: Win, and you’re in. If Radnor grabs their first win of the season, Marple Newtown’s season ends.
- Owen J. Roberts at Phoenixville. Phoenixville needs a win to clinch a 5A playoff spot, but it will be tough against the current #12 seed in the 4A bracket.
- Ridley at Garnet Valley. The winner may have a chance to share the Central title with help from Strath Haven. GV is looking to grab a top-4 seed in 5A, and the Raiders are looking to do the same in 6A.
- Springfield at Strath Haven. Undefeated Springfield looks to clinch their second straight outright Central League title and the 2 seed in the 5A bracket. Haven can grab a share of the title, and possibly a 5 or 6 seed with a win.
- Academy of Palumbo at West Philadelphia. This Friday afternoon tilt may swing Interboro’s and Academy Park’s fortunes a bit. A win for Palumbo could get Interboro into the #7 seed and force Upper Perkiomen into the top half of the 5A bracket. Academy Park may then bump ahead of Unionville, who currently owns a tiebreaker over the Knights, for the 11 seed.
Playoff brackets will become official on Sunday morning, and we will post the results and Strath Haven’s next opponent thereafter. In the meantime, good luck to all teams battling for postseason position!
