District 1 5A Playoff Preview First Round

Tagged under: District 1, News, pfn, Playoffs

Willie McGonigle | November 5, 2026

The Regular season has come and gone, and now it’s time for the playoffs. In District 1 5A, 16 teams make the playoff field. Last season it was the Springfield Cougars who took home their first District title in school history, defeating the Chester Clippers 34-12. This year the Clippers and Cougars are the top two seeds in the tournament but make no mistake this year’s field is ultra-competitive, with several teams ready to challenge the Clippers and Cougars. Let’s take a look at the first round.

1 Chester Clippers

The Chester Clippers once again conquered the Del Val League, winning it for the fifth consecutive season, and are perfect 10-0. Offensively, the Clippers have scored 227 points, which gives them an average of 34.3 points per game in the eight games that they have played. Freshman Sa’Mhad Williams has busted onto the scene this season, rushing for 1004 yards and 16 touchdowns to lead the Clippers. Kenjai Gatling has passed for 944 yards and 11 touchdowns. Sekai Brown Murray leads the team with 18 catches for 341 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, the Clippers have only giving up a mere 95 points this season. Demir Hatchett leads the Clippers in tackles with 65. Solomon Dodson leads the team in sacks with 4, while Hatchett leads the team with 7 interceptions.

16 Marple Newtown Tigers

The Tigers are getting hot at the right time, having won four in a row to bring their record to 4-5 and grab the last playoff spot. This season, the Tigers have used a two-QB system with Tommy Diblasi and Nick Link splitting snaps at the position. On the ground, the Tigers will look to Jack Dreger, who last week broke the school’s single-game rushing record with 331 yards against Radnor. Defensively, the Tigers are led by Soph Cole Ryan, who anchors the D-line. Phillip Fingo, Jacob Maida and Ryan Miller have all continued to make plays throughout the season while Dreger leads the team in tackles from the secondary.

8 Interboro Bucs

The Bucs’ resurgence under head coach Pat Fisher continued this season, going 9-1 and qualifying for the playoffs for the second season in a row. Offensively, the Bucs are led by dual-threat QB Momodu Rogers. This season Rogers has throwing for 294 yards and five touchdowns to go along with 780 yards rushing and 14 rushing touchdowns. Mason Marshall-Speights has gone over the 1000 rushing yard mark this season and scored 9 touchdowns. Roman McCrary is the team’s leading receiver with 10 catches for 242 yards and 10 touchdowns. Defensively, Aj Gonzalez leads the team with 40 tackles, followed closely by McCrary at 37 and Aidan Doyle at 36.

9 Strath Haven Panthers

The Panthers come into the postseason with 6-3 record but are looking to snap a two-game losing streak. Offensively, the Panthers’ Wing T-style attack is led by Landon Barlow, who has rushed for 1110 yards and 12 touchdowns thus far this season. Jake Punkett has completed 47 percent of his passes for 471 yards and 5 touchdowns. Jalen Starr (17 catches, 343 yards, and 3 touchdowns) and John Reily (4 catches, 61 yards) are the team’s leading receivers. Defensively Patrick Burke and Tyler Slaughter lead team in tackles with 66 and 57 respectfully. .Barlow leads the team with 7.5 tackles for loss.

4 Garnet Valley Jaguars

The Jaguars continue to be a constant participant in the District 1 playoffs, having been in every year since 2021. This year, the Jaguars ‘ triple-option attack is spearheaded by Luke Bernard, Sebastian Cantu, and Roy Pomarcio. Coltan Turner has proven to be a dual threat at the QB position, rushing for 354 yards while also throwing for 945 yards and 13 touchdowns through the air. Defensively, the Jaguars have improved as the season has progressed and appear to be playing their best ball at the right time.

13 West Chester East Vikings

The Vikings enter the playoffs for the second consecutive year under head coach Dean Owens. The Vikings possess a potent passing attack led by Towson Comitt QB Logan Cummings. Matt Kendro and Chase Golden are Cummings top targets and are a dangerous duo out wide. Soph RB Cooper Verbos has busted onto the scene and has proven to be a dangerous playmaker out of the backfield for the Vikings

5 Upper Moreland Golden Bears

The Golden Bears enter with a 9-1 record and have won their last five games since dropping a 33-6 decision to West Chester Henderson earlier in the season. David Adamski has thrown for over 1100 yards this season. Kyle Moore has 460 yards receiving and 16 total touchdowns for the Golden Bears this season. On the defensive side of the ball, Connor Lennox has been a terror for opposing QBs sacking them 14 times. Bige Chambers Jr has 3 interceptions on the year.

12 West Chester Henderson Warriors

The Warriors enter the playoffs at 6-4 and on a high, knocking off cross-town rivals West Chester Rustin for the first time in a while last week. Jaxon Cherup is the leader of the Warriors’ offense, passing for over 1700 yards this season. Ryan Turse has gone over the 1000 receiving yard mark.

2 Springfield Cougars

The defending District champions are back to defend their crown and are just as good if not better then last years squad.  You have to start off any talk about the Cougars with their defense who hasn’t yielded a single point since week two of the regular season when Marple Newtown scored a field goal on them. The Cougars defense hasn’t allowed an opponent to find the endzone since Perkiomen Valley did so in week 1.  Sebastian Simone leads the team with 51 tackles followed by Mike DePetris. Chase Christy leads the team with 3 sacks followed by Tommy Griffin with 2.5. TJ Valetti has gotten it done on both sides of the ball for the Cougars leading with 4 interceptions on the defensive side of the ball, while also being the teams leading rusher with 731 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns. John Hopkins has thrown for 11 touchdowns and 637 yards. Finn Delaney and Mike Neville are top targets  out wide for the Cougars.

15 Kennett Blue Demons

The Blue Demons come into the post limping at 5-5 having been bitten hard by the injury bug. The Blue Demons have been without their starting QB Garrett McCracken but Hunter Taylor has done a great job filling the void. Matt Reidenberg is the teams leading rusher.

7 Upper Perkiomen Indians

The Indians make a return trip to the postseason after going 8-2 in the regular season and reaching the PAC title game for the second year in a row and now gets to host their first home playoff game in two decades Offensively Grayson Sabo has thrown for 1540 yards and 15 touchdowns to go along with 13 rushing touchdowns. Zach Adam has rushed for over 1100 yards and 14 touchdowns. Aaron Maiden (30 catches, 639 yards, 7 touchdowns) and Liam Weiss (23-297-1) are the team’s leading receivers. Defensively, Corbin Engle and Parker Munio are tied for team lead in tackles with 95. Braeden O’Donnell leads the team with 3.5 sacks.  Benjamin Sands leads the team with 4 interceptions

10 Academy Park Knights

The Knights enter the postseason with a 6-4 record. Offensively, Marquise Spross has thrown for nearly 800 yards and 10 touchdowns, with 5 rushing touchdowns. Zane Guillory (93 carries, 721 yards 6 touchdowns) and Myles Boone (88-394-3) are a 1-2 punch out of the backfield. Dvonte Ross (12 catches, 217 yards, 1 touchdown) and Kayden Chambers (10-174-4) are the top targets out wide for the Knights.  Defensively, Guillory leads the team in tackles with 79, followed closely by Desmond Bangura with 75. Jakye Smith-Drinks leads the team with 5 sacks. Ross, Guillory, Boone, Khari Rochester, and Lashawn Morrison are all tied for the teams lead with 1 interception.

3 Great Valley Patriots

The Patriots enter the postseason coming off their first-ever undefeated regular season. Offensively, RB Beau Kosmalski has been a terror for opposing defenses all season long, rushing for 2250 yards on 271 carries and 32 touchdowns. Andrew Stanley is closing in on 1000 yards passing this season and has thrown 13 touchdown passes.  Cooper Callahan (24 catches, 516 yards and 9 touchdowns) and Sonny Baldino (28-405-4) are the team’s leading receivers.  Defensively its another Kosmalski Beau’s younger brother Dean that leads the team in tackles with 109 followed by Sean Eisenhardt with 93. Richard Bodden leads the team with 5 sacks.  Beau Kosmalski is the team’s leader with 2 interceptions.

14 West Chester Rustin Golden Knights 

The Golden Knights find themselves in unfamiliar territory entering the postseason with a 5-4 record and being one of the lower seeds. The wing-t Golden Knight attack is led by Chase Smith and Zac Impriano.

6 Wissahickon Trojans

The Trojans come in with an 8-2 record. Offensively, the Trojans can score points, with the best of them having gone over the 40-point mark four times this season. Quasir Simpson leads the Trojan rushing attack with 1333 yards and 19 total touchdowns. Defensively, the Trojans are allowing 9.7 points per game and have four shutouts this season. Andrew Rowan leads the team with 21.5 tackles for a loss. Avery Goody has 3 interceptions this year.

11 Unionville Longhorns

The Longhorns are 7-3 and are currently on a two-game winning streak. All three of the Longhorns’ defeats this season have come at the hands of teams in the District 1 playoffs. Offensively, the Longhorns are led by the backfield duo of Darren Hovington and Alex Gonzalez. Chase Johnson is a dual-threat QB.