The road to the postseason will look a little different depending on classification for the Times News area’s nine football teams in 2026.

Five area teams will compete in a crowded District 11 Class 3A field, while Marian, Northern Lehigh, Lehighton and Pleasant Valley will pursue playoff berths in four other classifications.

Here is a look at where each area team fits and how the District 11 postseason will work this fall.

2026 DISTRICT 11 FOOTBALL

PLAYOFF PRIMER

AREA TEAMS BY CLASS

CLASS 1A

Marian Catholic

CLASS 2A

Northern Lehigh

CLASS 3A

Jim Thorpe

Northwestern Lehigh

Palmerton

Panther Valley

Tamaqua

CLASS 4A

Lehighton

CLASS 5A

Pleasant Valley

Five of the Times News area’s nine teams will compete in Class 3A this season. There are no area teams in Class 6A.

HOW THEY QUALIFY

CLASS 1A

Four teams qualify for the District 2/11 subregional regardless of district, based on the District 11 Power Rating System. The semifinals are normally seeded 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3.

If exactly two District 11 teams and two District 2 teams qualify, teams from the same district will meet in the semifinals to determine their respective district champions. Those winners will then meet in the subregional final for a berth in the PIAA tournament.

CLASSES 2A & 5A

Four District 11 teams qualify in each classification. The semifinals will be seeded 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3.

CLASSES 3A, 4A & 6A

The top eight District 11 teams qualify in each classification. Quarterfinal matchups will be seeded 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6 and 4 vs. 5.

The District 11 Power Rating System will be used to seed teams in all classifications.

DISTRICT 11 PLAYOFF DATES

NOV. 5, 6 OR 7

Class 1A semifinals/District 2-11 subregional semifinals

Class 2A and 5A semifinals

Class 3A, 4A and 6A quarterfinals

NOV. 12, 13 OR 14

Class 1A championship/District 2-11 subregional final

Class 2A and 5A championship games

Class 3A, 4A and 6A semifinals

NOV. 19, 20 OR 21

Class 3A, 4A and 6A championship games

District 11 tournament brackets and game times are scheduled to be posted by noon on Sunday, Nov. 1.

GAME SITES

Quarterfinal and semifinal games will be played at the home field of the higher-seeded team.

District 11 championship games will be played at neutral sites determined by District 11.

For the Class 1A District 2/11 subregional championship, the higher-seeded team will host unless the matchup features two District 11 teams. An all-District 11 Class 1A final will be played at a neutral site.

The higher-seeded team will be designated as the home team throughout the District 11 tournament.

ROAD TO THE

PIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

PIAA first round: Nov. 20-21

PIAA quarterfinals: Nov. 27-28

PIAA semifinals: Dec. 4-5

PIAA championships: Dec. 10-12