YORK, Pa. — The District 3 Class 3A playoffs continue with a pair of semifinal clashes this weekend.
In one semifinal matchup, top-seeded Wyomissing, the defending district champ, hosts Schuylkill Valley Saturday afternoon.
In the other, West Perry travels to Lancaster to face second-seeded Lancaster Catholic Friday night.
Here's a look at both matchups.
No. 4 Schuylkill Valley (9-2) at No. 1 Wyomissing (9-1)
Saturday, 1 p.m.
ABOUT SCHUYLKILL VALLEY: The Panthers punched their ticket to the semifinals with a 45-21 triumph over Littlestown last week. RB Dominic Giuffrie scored three touchdowns, including an 87-yarder in the first quarter, and racked up 228 rushing yards to lead the way for Schuylkill Valley, while QB Logan Nawrocki threw for 246 yards and a pair of scores. The Panthers put up a total of 606 yards against the overwhelmed Thunderbolts.
Schuylkill Valley improved to 9-2 with the victory. The Panthers dropped a 44-13 decision to Class 4A playoff qualifier Twin Valley in their season opener, reeled off eight straight wins, then fell 35-14 to No. 2 seed Lancaster Catholic in Week 10.
Nawrocki has completed 125 of 228 passes for 1,987 yards and 21 scores this season for Schuylkill Valley, which averages 331 yards of offense per game. Giuffrie is the Panthers' top rusher, with 773 yards and nine scores on 102 attempts. His backfield mate, Cooper Hohenadel, has carried the ball 102 times for 413 yards and five scores. Kowen Gerner is Nawrocki's top target, with 44 catches for 943 yards and 11 TDs.
Schuylkill Valley is pursuing its first-ever district title. The Panthers are coached by Bruce Harbach, who led Lancaster Catholic to multiple district titles and won two state championships with the Crusaders in 2009 and 2011.
ABOUT WYOMISSING: The Spartans finished second to Cocalico in the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 4 race after dropping their head-to-head matchup with the Eagles, 34-14 on Oct. 6. That loss snapped Wyomissing's 41-game regular-season winning streak. The Spartans won their final three regular-season games to earn the No. 1 seed and a bye through the first round. They are chasing their fourth straight district title.
Coached by Bob Wolfrum, Wyomissing has gotten it done with a punishing ground game and a stingy defense this season. The Spartans average 296 yards per game on the ground, while their defense allows just 183 yards per game.
There are seven players who have at least 20 carries for Wyomissing this season, led by Chase Eisenhower (104-789, 10 TDs) and Justice Hardy (46-410, 6 TDs). QB Logan Hyde has thrown just 63 passes all season, completing 34 for 568 yards and seven TDs.
Wyomissing has won 11 district titles in program history, including the last four in Class 4A. They hammered West Perry 63-7 in last year's final. The Spartans won a state title and 2012 and finished as the runner-up in 2020 and 2021.
No. 3 West Perry (10-1) at No. 2 Lancaster Catholic (9-1)
Friday, 7 p.m.
ABOUT WEST PERRY: The Mustangs moved into the semifinals with a 42-21 triumph over Bermudian Springs in their playoff opener last week. West Perry spotted their foes an early 7-0 lead and led just 14-13 after one quarter, but took control of the game with three consecutive touchdowns -- including an 88-yard TD return on a pick-six by Jenson Hockenbery-Folk in the second quarter -- to take control of the game.
QB Marcus Quaker rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries for West Perry, while Brad Hockenberry had 119 yards and a TD on 10 carries as the Mustangs rebounded for their Week 10 loss to Steelton-Highspire -- a defeat that cost them the Mid-Penn Capital title.
Quaker has completed 102 of 147 passes for 1,573 yards and 13 touchdowns this season, and is also West Perry's leading rusher with 1,061 yards and 16 scores on 122 carries. Hockenberry is closing in on the 1,000-yard rushing mark, with 979 yards and eight scores on 134 attempts. Ian Goodling is West Perry's top receiver, with 798 yards and seven TDs on 45 catches.
West Perry has never won a district title, but the Mustangs have made two appearances in the championship game. They lost 63-7 to Wyomissing in last season's Class 3A final.
ABOUT LANCASTER CATHOLIC: The Crusaders earned a bye last week after finishing in a three-way tie with Schuylkill Valley and Annville-Cleona in the L-L League Section 5 race in the regular season. Catholic won its head-to-head with Schuylkill Valley, but lost 35-21 to Annville-Cleona three weeks earlier.
Coached by Chris Maiorino, Catholic put up an average of 402 yards per game this season. The Crusaders' main playmaker is RB Elijah Cunningham, the league's second-leading rusher with 1,636 yards and 27 touchdowns on 175 carries. Backfield mate Brandon Way has logged 69 carries for 687 yards and eight scores, while QB David Stefanow has completed 75 of 124 passes for 1,226 yards and 12 touchdowns. His top target is Josh Acker, who has 30 catches for 657 yards and five TDs.
Catholic has won six district 3 championships and two state titles in its history. The last time the Crusaders took a crown was 2011, when they defeated Wyomissing in the title game on their way to claiming their second state title.