The STATE of PA Football: Mid season look at classes 3A and 4A
Tagged under: Gameday Hub, News
Billy Splain | October 2, 2026
It’s week six of the regular season and time to take a look at what’s happening in classes 3A and 4A.
3A
First let’s take a peak at the PFN Rankings. Yep, it’s a mess at the top. Propel (formerly Imani) beat Hopewell to get the top spot. (we don’t punish teams for out of state losses) and Hopewell beat Avonworth. That D7 class 3A battle continues to be a juggernaut with Elizabeth-Forward in the mix. the Warriors have a tough week 10 game with Belle-Vernon. Avonworth and Propel face off in week 10 too. Hopewell has the easiest out in D7.
NW Lehigh and Notre Dame Green Pond are just cruising along in district 11. They’ll likely meet in the playoffs but big game radar has NWL facing Southern Lehigh in week 10. Palmerton is 5-0 and making some noise. They’ll face NDGP next week, then 4-1 teams Northern Lehigh and Lehighton. Thats a tough stretch. Executive at 4-1 has some monster games coming against Chivhester, Chester and Interboro. Welcome to the Delaware Valley conference.
Over in district 4 Mt. Carmel Area has erupted after a close battle with Schuylkill Haven to start the season. The Red Tornadoes have two huge games, SCA tonight and the coal bucket game with 4A rival Shamokin. Scranton Prep looks to run the table in D2 3A but has tough battles looming with 4A North Pocono next week and Wallenpaupack the following week.
Out in District 10 Hickory and Grove City appear to be heading for a 3A clash but don’t count out 3-2 Sharon who plays GC in week 9. District 6 has Cambria Heights, Central and Phillipsburg-Osceola leading the way. The Highlanders have a couple tough games with 1A opponent Homer-Center in week 9 and 2A Conemaugh Twp week 8. Central just lost to BG and they meet the Highlanders for a key game on October 16.
District 3 shows Schuylkill Valley and Pequea Valley on top. They play tonight in what should be a great game in the Lancaster area. Keeping an eye on Wyomissing. They’re 2-2 but losses have come to 5A Twin Valley and Southern Columbia. Their next big test comes week 7 against Conrad Weiser.
In D12, Catholic League foes Archbishop Wood and Carroll look prime for a meet up and Public league foes Bartram and newcomer Audenried Charter appear headed for a big showdown in the playoffs.
Summary: another wide open battle. There doesn’t appear to be a clear cut favorite in 3A but man, we do have a lot of battles waiting to be won!
4A
Class 4A looks a lot different this year with perennial powers TJ, Lampeter-Strasburg, Southern Lehigh, Twin Valley in 5A and the Quips in 3A. This class appears top heavy right now with District 4 heavyweight Shamokin leading the way. The Indians are dispatching teams with ease. Their schedule doesn’t get easier with Williamsport, Blue Mountain and that coal bucket game to close the season. Shikellamy was taken down by the Indians but the Braves are enjoying a nice season and may be heading for a rematch. Over in District 2 North Pocono and Dallas appear to be on a collision course with Honesdale and Wallenpaupack looking to have something to say. Paupack and NP play in week 9 while the Trojans will face a stiff test with Scranton Prep next week.
Keeping it in the east, in District 3 it’s a major logjam with four undefeated teams and four sitting at 4-1. Big Spring, Hanover, West Perry and West York are blemish free. Weiser, Littlestown, Northern Lebanon and Susquehannock each have 1 loss. West York appears to be the best on our screen but Ron Millers Bulldogs have tough games in week 8 & 9 with Susquehannock and 5A Northeastern. Big Spring, Hanover and Littlestown have yet to play each other, but tonight the Bolts and Hanover get this three way battle rolling. West Perry has a schedule that appears easier but that Mid Penn Colonial conference is loaded with landmines like Township, Middletown and Trinity.
Then we have District 11. Becahi, Blue Mountain, Lehighton and ACC. Beca beat ACC in week 2 and doesn’t have a 4A opponent left on their schedule. All 6A. Nor does ACC. Oh that pesky EPC. Lehighton just got roasted by Solehi and has a tough road ahead with NWL, Palmerton and Northern Lehigh. Blue Mt. looks good on the field but a look at the schedule says “so-so”. They have that big game with Shamokin circled on the calendar I’m sure.
Down in District 1 we also have a logjam. Pottsgrove is 5-0 while Shanahan, Chichester, Lower Moreland and PJP all sit at 4-1. The Falcons have a tough test in Upper Perk in two weeks. PJP just got rocked by 6A OJR, face another tough 6A team in Spring-Ford week 9. Chi is a nice surprise this year. The Eagles, however, do not have a favorable schedule with Academy Park, Executive, Interboro and Chester looming. Shanahan also has two tough 6A foes in Downingtown East and West plus Coatesville.
In D12 we’re still waiting on Bonner to get rolling. They started at number one but have had a rocky season so far. O’Hara is a team to keep eyes on. They have some talent but that schedule, oh my. We’ll see how they do vs 2 6A powers SJP tonight and Roman next week before that big clash with Bonner.
Heading west we’ll skip over districts 6 and 9 who don’t appear to have a contender this year. In D10 Cathedral Prep has returned to the top. Right there with them is General McLane. The Lancers have become somewhat of a D10 powerhouse as of late. 4-1 Harbor Creek also hopes to have a say in the picture. Prep faces both teams in the future and 6A McDowell tonight. The Lancers and Huskies battle tonight as well in a huge 4A matchup. The next three weeks will tell us a lot about D10.
District 7. Wow. With the Quips and TJ moving on to different classes, D7 looks very different in 4A. South Fayette is the only team in the top 10 at #5 and they look to rebound after a beating by 5A Upper St. Clair. Blackhawk is an honorable mention with their 5-0 start. After those two teams its slim pickens, or parity, whichever you prefer. Montour and New Castle could be teams that make some noise here but right now its the cats lair with the Cougars and Lions.
Summary for 4A: Right now it looks like Shamokin’s year, but look out for O’Hara, North Pocono and West York. And NEVER count out Beca and ACC in the east. Out west Prep, McLane and South Fayette are looking good.
