It’s the second season for football teams as Week 11 is upon us.

It’s also the first time since 2009 (not including the COVID year) that Panther Valley (4-6) is back in the district playoffs.

The Panthers’ reward for making the postseason is a trip to play a tough opponent in North Schuylkill (7-3).

PV has nothing to lose. In fact, for a program that has struggled for years, it has suddenly gained attention – and rightfully so.

Despite dropping its regular-season finale to Minersville last week, there were plenty of positive signs.

Start with the team’s elusive quarterback Brody Breiner. Once he gets rolling behind a massive offensive line, Breiner is hard to bring down. He leads the team in rushing yards (915), and has scored nine touchdowns. On top of that, he’s coming off a 175-yard outing against the Miners.

The Panthers approach seems like they want to chew up yardage, run the clock and take time while executing.

“Our approach is balance, we want to throw the ball and run a 50-50 balance,” PV head coach Mark Lavine said. “You have to have balance with the (offense). It spreads things out, it allows you to keep the defenses off balance.”

It’s safe to say the Panthers have done exactly that.

Lavine’s club has rushed for 1,349 yards, and thrown for 1,306.

PV has more weapons that Breiner, especially his receivers comprised of three gifted wideouts in Gavin Yuricheck, Ben Baneravage and Chase McArdle. Yuricheck, a senior, and sophomore sensation McArdle each have 51 receptions, while Baneravage has the highest per catch average with 10.48.

“We’re going up against a great program, a well-coached team in Wally Hall, a team that gives you so many different looks, with all the shifting they do,” Lavine said. “They’re very big, to go along with that speed. We have to stay disciplined; don’t let your eyes deceive you.”

The Panthers’ downfall, at times, has been turnovers. At Minersville, they had four fumbles — two on kickoff returns — which can cripple any team.

“You can’t give them four extra possessions with that (Dante) Carr kid at quarterback, he kills you,” said Lavine. “But if you look at our last four possessions against (Minersville), we matched them in scoring.”

Panther Valley scored four touchdowns from late in the second quarter until the final horn, something the club can use going forward.

PV will have its hands full, having the tough task of trying to hold down the Spartans — especially Luke Miller.

North Schuylkill is a familiar face in the postseason. It seldom shoots itself in the foot, and has relied strongly on both Miller and quarterback Cody Mengle.

The Spartans have losses to three teams — Notre Dame (by a 21-20 score), Northwestern and Southern Lehigh — who have a combined 29-1 record. They also own a number of impressive wins.

“It’s supposed to rain (Thursday),” Lavine said. “We’ll see, it may be a running game (for each team).”

In that case, turnovers could be a major factor — and something Panther Valley drastically needs to avoid.