Warren's Ethan Senz rumbles for some tough yards. Photo by Cody Elms.

Playoff Spots, Seeding Up for Grabs in D10 Week 10 Football

October 28, 2022

Before District 10 releases its playoff brackets this weekend, there is one final week of games for teams to either tune up for the playoffs, make their case for the postseason, or simply close the season on a high note.

Reynolds (Region 1), Eisenhower (Region 2), Farrell (Region 3), Meadville (Region 4), General McLane (Region 5), and Cathedral Prep (Region 6) are your region champions, but they aren’t the only teams with high aspirations as we hit the final weekend of October.

All games will be played on Friday, with several teams opting to take a bye week before the postseason. A maximum of eight teams can qualify in Class 1A and 3A and six in 2A. Meadville and Corry are the only 4A teams, as are McDowell and Erie in Class 6A. Cathedral Prep, meanwhile, will enter a Class 5A subregional.

Here. We. Go.

Eisenhower (9-0) at Girard (2-6)

With an eye toward the Class 1A playoffs, Eisenhower first has its sights set on completing an unbeaten regular season. The Knights have put together a dominant season on both sides of the ball, led offensively by running back Benji Bauer, who has rushed for a single-season program record 1,613 yards to go along with 20 touchdowns behind a dominant offensive line. Shawn Pascuzzi has thrown for 915 yards and seven touchdowns, with Kris Bunk and Wyatt Lookenhouse the top pass-catchers.

Girard, meanwhile, battled Class 3A General McLane in a 35-20 loss last week.

If both Eisenhower and Reynolds (at North East) win Friday, the selection committee will have to decide which team gets the top seed in Class 1A. A loss by either team will likely secure the top spot for the other.

Warren (5-4) at General McLane (8-1)

The Lancers have won eight straight and are bound for the Class 3A playoffs, while Warren sits squarely on the 3A playoff bubble. GM hasn’t given up more than 20 points in any of its eight wins. Dylan Sheeder has thrown for 751 yards and 10 touchdowns and also rushed for 722 yards and 10 scores. Eight different GM players have a rushing touchdown this season.

This is a rematch of a Class 4A semifinal game a year ago, with the Lancers rallying to beat the Dragons. For Warren, which is coming off a loss to Meadville, Tommy Nyquist has 872 rushing yards, 500 receiving yards, and 10 total touchdowns, while Eric Dippold has thrown for 1,321 yards and 13 TDs and Cayden Wright has 529 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

The final spot in the Class 3A playoffs will come down to either Warren or Hickory (4-5). The Hornets are off this week, which could sting them if the Dragons are able to upset the Lancers. As it stands after Week 9, the D10 selection committee will have to weigh whether Hickory’s schedule is enough to balance a sub-.500 record.

The Hornets’ best win is over Grove City, which could end up as the top seed in 3A. They also played Sharon closer in a loss, 28-14, than Warren did (42-0 in a game called at halftime due to a power outage). The Dragons don’t have a win over a 3A team with a winning record (Titusville is 3-6, Girard 2-6, Conneaut 1-8, and Franklin 0-9), but do hold a road win at 2A Mercyhurst Prep (likely the 3-seed in that classification).

Close losses to Slippery Rock (23-20) and Sharpsville (28-21) for Hickory, and lopsided losses to Oil City (58-24), Fairview (34-14), and Meadville (76-7) have many believing the Hornets hold the edge right now for the final spot over the Dragons.

All that could change with a Warren win at General McLane Friday.

The full District 10, Week 10 football preview can be seen here.

         

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