YORK, Pa. — We're down to the last seven Central Pennsylvania high school football teams left standing as the postseason continues in the District 3 and PIAA playoffs.
Central Pa.'s Magnificent Seven will all be in action this weekend. The District 3 Class 6A, 5A and 4A titles will be decided, while the state playoffs begin in Class 3A.
Here's a look at what's in store:
CLASS 6A
Two teams who are very familiar with the championship stage will square off Saturday for the District 3 title as defending champion Harrisburg faces Wilson at 1 p.m. at Exeter Township High School.
Harrisburg (10-2) is chasing its fourth straight 6A title after dispatching Manheim Township 35-14 in last week's semifinals. The Cougars have won five district titles overall, including four since the district expanded to six classes in 2016.
Wilson (11-1) is back in the title game for the first time since 2021 when they fell 14-10 to Harrisburg. The Bulldogs captured the first-ever Class 6A title in 2016, and have won seven championships overall. They booked their trip to this year's final with a 28-20 victory over Central York last week.
CLASS 5A
Perennial title contender Bishop McDevitt returns to the championship stage as a Class 5A team and will face red-hot Exeter Township in the title game Friday at 7 p.m. at Elco High School in Myerstown.
Bishop McDevitt (11-2) is playing in 5A for the first time, but the results so far have been the same. The Crusaders are playing for a district title for the fourth straight season after dusting previously unbeaten Mechanicsburg 26-14 in last week's semifinal. McDevitt, which won three straight Class 4A titles before moving up this season, is seeking its 18th overall championship.
Exeter (12-1) avenged its only loss of the season with a 48-14 victory over Conestoga Valley last Friday. The Eagles are in the title game for the third time in program history; they are seeking their first championship since 2021 when they defeated Governor Mifflin 31-28 in the 5A title game.
CLASS 4A
Friday night's championship game will be a rematch between two Lancaster-Lebanon League section rivals as Lampeter-Strasburg takes on Wyomissing at 7 p.m. at Warwick High School in Lititz.
The Pioneers (12-0) maintained their perfect record with a 31-13 victory over Twin Valley in the semifinals. L-S is seeking its first district title since 2020 and its fourth overall. The Pioneers fell 7-0 to Bishop McDevitt in the championship game a year later; that's the last time they've made it this far.
Wyomissing (10-2) is playing in Class 4A for the first time after winning five straight District 3 Class 3A titles. The Spartans will be trying to avenge a 20-7 regular-season loss to L-S on Oct. 26. Their other loss was a 20-3 setback against Haverford School on August 30.
CLASS 3A
Newly crowned District 3 champion Bermudian Springs returns to the state playoffs for the fourth time in program history. Up next for the Eagles is District 4 champ Danville in the state quarterfinals. The Ironmen (12-0) defeated Lewisburg 28-24 in the District 4 title game.
Bermudian Springs (11-1) has won 11 straight since falling 28-13 to New Oxford in its season opener.
