Published: November 02, 2009 12:00 am      

District football playoffs on tap

The Class A football playoffs open this week for districts 5 and 6.

The District 6 Class A football bracket has 13 teams, including four from the area.

Bishop McCort secured the top seed with Bellwood-Antis at No. 2 and Portage in the third spot. All three teams have first-round byes this week.

United wrapped up its first Heritage Conference title on Friday night with a win at Marion Center. The Lions, who finished with an 8-1 mark after losing the season opener against Laurel Valley, secure the fourth seed and will host No. 13 Bishop Guilfoyle on Friday. The Marauders, who fell to Bishop Carroll last week, ended the regular-season with a 3-6 mark.

United’s last appearance in the playoffs came in 2005, a

22-14 loss at Portage. Bishop Guilfoyle dropped a 37-7 decision to Bellwood-Antis last year in first-round action.

The other area squad that will begin the District 6 playoffs this week is Blacklick Valley (7-2), which has the seventh seed and will host its first-ever playoff game at 1 p.m. Saturday against No. 10 Glendale (6-3).

Penns Manor thrashed Homer-Center 35-0 on Friday and secured the fifth seed. The Comets’ reward is a rematch with the No. 12 Wildcats in Clymer.

The other Friday game has Juniata Valley, the 11th seed, at No. 6 Marion Center.

On Saturday, No. 8 Moshannon Valley will play host to

No. 9 Mount Union.

In District 5, Conemaugh Township (8-1) and defending champion Windber (7-2) hold the top two spots and have first-round byes in the Class A bracket.

Everett, which opened the season 0-2, secured the third seed and will host Berlin Brothersvalley in quarterfinal action on Friday. Tussey Mountain finished fifth and will travel to Meyersdale for a Saturday contest.

There is still another week remaining in the regular season for District 6 Class AA. Tyrone, Central and Forest Hills are all battling for the top spot while Richland, Huntingdon, Penn Cambria, Ligonier Valley and Central Cambria fill out the rest of the eight-team field.

In District 6 Class AAA, Johnstown and Hollidaysburg also have a week remaining in the regular season. They are the only two teams entering the playoffs, and will meet in the championship at Mansion Park on either Nov. 13 or 14, a rematch of last year’s title game.

The District 5 Class AA championship is also set.

Because of its victory over Philipsburg-Osceola on Friday and Bedford’s loss to Bishop McCort, Chestnut Ridge has secured the top seed.

The Lions and Bisons will meet on Friday in the regular-season finale and again on Nov. 12 for the district championship, which will be played at Northern Bedford High School.