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D-11 grid scenarios laid out

District 11 officials Bob Hartman (Whitehall Athletic Director) and Jason Zimmerman (Northwestern Athletic Director) held a conference call Monday afternoon to discuss potential football playoff scenarios, as the regular season approaches the finish line with two weeks to go. In classes AAA, AA and A, the scenarios for the four team playoffs appear to be mostly set, but in AAAA there is plenty to figure out before week 10.

Easton and Stroudsburg, both 8-0, have clinched two of the eight berths in AAAA, with all signs pointing to Easton maintaining home field advantage throughout the subregional playoffs, barring any hiccups in the schedule for the Rovers.Freedom falls in line at third overall currently at 7-1, and even with the Pates taking on Easton this week, followed by a regular season finale against Liberty, Freedom has essentially sealed a berth for the postseason even if they finish at 7-3 overall.Delaware Valley (7-1), Whitehall (6-2) and Parkland (6-2) fall in line over the next three spots, as both District 11 schools should take care of business over the next two weeks and clinch postseason berths.Del Val, who plays a talented Scranton Prep team this weekend, would clinch a playoff berth with a win this week as well.Coming in the seventh and eighth spots are Scranton (6-2) and Wyoming Valley West (6-2) respectively. Both teams play each other this week in a contest that appears to be a playoff game in most scenarios, as the winner will most likely clinch a subregional berth, whereas the loser, will be eliminated from the subregional tournament since District II can only qualify two teams into the bracket.Since Del Val already has one foot in the door, the game between Scranton and Wyoming Valley West becomes huge for both schools.That leaves the door open for Pleasant Valley (5-3), Emmaus (5-3) and Liberty (4-4), who are the next three teams in order.All three of those schools can sneak into the eighth seed with victories in their final two games. If all three win out, it will be close between Pleasant Valley and Emmaus. Liberty would more than likely need both of those teams to lose a game.The Bears take on Pocono Mountain East this weekend, but finish with undefeated Stroudsburg. Emmaus faces a tough task with Whitehall this week and close out the season with Parkland. Liberty, on the other hand, take on a two-win Central Catholic squad this weekend and could be playing for a subregional berth in their regular season finale against arch-rival Freedom.In AAA, Bethlehem Catholic has already clinched a playoff spot and holds a comfortable lead at the top. Southern Lehigh (7-1) comes in second, followed by Saucon Valley (7-1), as both schools should remain in those spots when things are all said and done.The fourth and final spot is currently occupied by Jim Thorpe (7-1), who has a tough matchup with Blue Mountain (6-2) this week and Lehighton (6-2) next week.Depending on how things play out over the next two weeks, the final spot in AAA will go to either Jim Thorpe, Blue Mountain or Lehighton. East Stroudsburg North would need a lot to happen for them to sneak by all three.The AA scene has North Schuylkill comfortably at the top of the table with an unblemished 8-0 mark and already clinched, followed by Northwestern (7-1), Palisades (6-2) and Northern Lehigh (5-3).The Tigers will clinch a berth with a win over Northern Lehigh this Friday.Northern Lehigh controls its own destiny in the fourth and final spot. The Bulldogs (5-3) play Northwestern this week and Palmerton (5-3) in week 10. The Blue Bombers are currently in the fifth position and take on Salisbury this week. A win, coupled with a Northern Lehigh loss to Northwestern could push Palmerton into the fourth spot, which would then make their week 10 matchup with the Bulldogs a playoff game. If Palisades loses to Saucon Valley, the Bombers or Bulldogs win both, there is a slight possibility that either could move in to the No. 3 spot.In A action, Pius X (6-2) leads the group with Marian Catholic (5-3), Williams Valley (5-3) and Tri-Valley (4-4) rounding out the top four. Pius can clinch the No. 1 spot with a win this weekend. If all teams win out, they'll stay in the same spots. Mahanoy Area (3-5) and Schuylkill Haven (4-4) each have outside chances of qualifying as well.