Predicting the Class AAAA playoff qualifiers

The playoff race is coming down the home stretch. With two weeks remaining in the regular season for PIAA District 1 football teams, it's time to take a look at the Class AAAA postseason picture.

Here's how we see it shaking out, with current records and power-points average, and our prediction of each team's final record and power-points average at the end of the regular season. That will be followed by our projected first-round pairings.

The 16 teams with the highest points average will qualify.

Top eight: No. 1 Abington (8-0, 135; 10-0, 147), No. 2 Downingtown East (7-1, 115; 9-1, 131), No. 3 Unionville (7-1, 118.5; 9-1, 130), No. 4 Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-1, 120; 8-1, 128.8), No. 5 Garnet Valley (7-1, 113.75; 9-1, 127), No. 6 West Chester Rustin (7-1, 117.5; 9-1, 125), No. 7 Spring-Ford (7-1, 108.75; 9-1, 122), and No. 8 Council Rock South (7-1, 118.75; 8-2, 115).

Second eight: No. 9 Coatesville (6-2, 97.5; 8-2, 113), No. 10 North Penn (6-2, 93.75; 8-2, 111), No. 11 Pennsbury (6-2, 98.75; 8-2, 108), No. 12 Ridley (6-2, 95; 8-2, 107), No. 13 West Chester Henderson (6-2, 101.5; 7-3, 100); No. 14 Central Bucks South (5-3, 86.25; 7-3, 99), No. 15 Upper Dublin (6-2, 80; 7-3; 93.3), and No. 16 Downingtown West (6-2, 92.5; 7-3 91).

On the outside looking in: Souderton (4-4, 70.0; 6-4, 85), Conestoga (5-3, 68.75; 7-3, 85), Wissahickon (6-2, 78.75; 7-3, 82), Neshaminy (5-3, 75; 6-4, 76), and Norristown (5-3, 68.75; 6-4, 74).

Top half of the bracket: No. 16 Downingtown West at No. 1 Abington; No. 9 Coatesville at No. 8 C.R. South; No. 12 Ridley at No. 5 Garnet Valley; No. 13 Henderson at No. 4 Plymouth Whitemarsh.

Bottom half of the bracket: No. 15 Upper Dublin at No. 2 Downingtown East; No. 10 North Penn at No. 7 Spring-Ford; No. 14 C.B. South at No. 3 Unionville; No. 11 Pennsbury at No. 6 Rustin.

If that's how it plays out, Ridley would get a chance to avenge a 21-19 loss to Central League rival Ridley; North Penn would hit the road to begin defense of its district crown; and Henderson would get a second crack at beating Plymouth Whitemarsh.

Of course, there are several games over the next two weekends that could impact the projected first-round pairings dramatically.

On Friday, Council Rock South, currently tied for the No. 3 seed with Unionville in the rankings, will visit No. 1 Abington in a Suburban One League National Conference showdown.

Also Friday, in a Ches-Mont League National Conference duel, No. 14 Downingtown West will play at No. 11 Coatesville. And No. 17 Wissahickon will travel to No. 16 Upper Dublin for an SOL American meeting.

We have Abington beating C.R. South; Coatesville turning back Downingtown West; and Upper Dublin holding off resurgent Wissahickon, which is 6-2 after going 1-9 last season.

In Week 10, there will be a pair of biggies: Neshaminy, currently ranked No. 18, at No. 10 Pennsbury; and No. 6 Downingtown East at No. 9 Henderson.

Look for Pennsbury to fight past Neshaminy, which has been a fixture in the district playoffs, and Downingtown East, fueled by the pass-catch duo of Kyle Lauletta and Jay Harris, to rally past Henderson.

It should be an exciting playoff push.

Quotable. Cardinal O'Hara coach Danny Algeo on his 75-year-old father, Jim, stepping down as Lansdale Catholic's boss after 44 seasons: "It's going to be weird seeing someone else coach LC."

Extra points. Conestoga quarterback Joe Viviano, a first-year starter, has completed 107 of 204 passes for 1,485 yards and 14 touchdowns. His main targets are Andrew Destefano (36 catches for 560 yards, seven scores) and Davonte Carter (33 for 559, three). . . . Clay Ewell, the all-time leading rusher at Springfield (Montco), has carried 125 times for 1,058 yards and 12 TDs. . . . Harriton tight end Ryan Kelly has 22 catches for 323 yards and six scores. . . . Abington's Ray Schreiner has rushed 122 times for 842 yards and 14 TDs. . . . For Pottsgrove, tailback Mark Dukes (120 carries for 993 yards, nine TDs) and QB Tory Hudgins (108 for 771, 15) have combined for 1,764 rushing yards. Hudgins has thrown seven TD passes.