District 11 Football: Final Top 10 Rankings Set the Stage for the 2026 Playoffs
By: Tony Sibilla | SportzWire | November 5, 2026 | Photo courtesy Justin Focus / Kyle Boe
The 2026 high school football regular season is officially in the books, and District 11 delivered plenty of drama before turning the page to postseason play.
From Southern Lehigh’s unbeaten run and Whitehall’s division championship to Easton’s rivalry upset of Nazareth, the final weekend brought movement throughout SportzWire’s Big School Top 10.
On the small-school side, Northwestern Lehigh responded to its first regular-season loss in years, Notre Dame Green Pond continued its offensive dominance, and Williams Valley secured the top seed in the Class 1A subregional.
With the playoff brackets taking shape, here’s how the district’s top programs finished the regular season.
BIG SCHOOL TOP 10
1. Southern Lehigh (10-0)
A perfect 10.
The Spartans put the finishing touches on an undefeated regular season with a 55-7 victory over Salisbury, extending their overall winning streak to 16 games.
Southern Lehigh’s season included one of District 11’s signature victories, a 17-14 win over previously unbeaten Northwestern Lehigh that snapped the Tigers’ 40-game regular-season winning streak.
The Spartans finish atop the rankings and enter November as one of the district’s most formidable teams.
2. Whitehall (9-1)
Division champions and moving up.
Whitehall secured the EPC Lehigh Division championship with a 35-21 victory over Allentown Central Catholic.
Quarterback Tanner Dogmanits connected with CJ Lowe for a touchdown, while Jeziah Gregory delivered a late score to put the game away.
The Zephyrs finish 9-1 after a remarkable closing stretch that also included a comeback victory over Parkland, overcoming a 21-point deficit.
3. Parkland (8-2)
Parkland closed the regular season with a convincing 38-10 road victory over rival Emmaus.
Henry Weikel and David Scherb found the end zone in the opening quarter as the Trojans established control early.
Despite two losses, Parkland remains a serious postseason contender with the talent and experience to challenge for a district championship.
4. Nazareth (8-2)
An eight-game winning streak came to an abrupt end on Senior Night at Easton.
The Blue Eagles fell 37-29 despite a three-yard touchdown run from Lance Zuercher and a 22-yard scoring run from Will Bacolo, who also converted a two-point attempt.
Nazareth still finishes with eight victories and enters the Class 6A postseason with one of the district’s most productive offenses, led by quarterback Cooper Madson.
5. Bethlehem Catholic (8-2)
The Golden Hawks finished strong with a 39-17 road victory over Northampton.
Quarterback Axel Burkart connected with Carter Vassa for three touchdowns covering 43, 45 and 53 yards, while Thom added a defensive touchdown on an interception return.
Bethlehem Catholic’s explosive passing attack will be one to watch as postseason competition intensifies.
6. Blue Mountain (9-1)
The Eagles took care of business early against Lansdale Catholic, building a 42-0 halftime lead before finishing with a 42-14 victory.
Quarterback Cohen Kirby threw for 165 yards and three touchdowns, while Chase Guers contributed 72 receiving yards and two scores.
Blue Mountain finishes 9-1 and earns the No. 1 seed in the District 11 Class 4A playoffs.
7. Freedom (7-3)
Freedom recovered from an early 68-yard Liberty touchdown and answered with 35 consecutive points on its way to a 56-20 victory.
The Patriots capitalized on multiple Liberty interceptions to take control and finish the regular season 7-3.
After an up-and-down stretch in the middle of the schedule, Freedom enters the playoffs with renewed momentum.
8. Easton (5-5)
Records don’t tell the entire story.
Easton delivered one of the biggest results of the final weekend, knocking off Nazareth 37-29 on Senior Night.
Akhir Brown was nearly unstoppable, rushing for 220 yards and four touchdowns as the Red Rovers piled up 473 yards of total offense.
The victory snapped Nazareth’s eight-game winning streak and gave Easton a major rivalry win to close the regular season.
9. Allentown Central Catholic (6-4)
The Vikings fell 35-21 to Whitehall in their regular-season finale, finishing 6-4.
Torres-Johnson contributed a three-yard touchdown run, but Central Catholic couldn’t overcome the Zephyrs.
Despite the loss, the Vikings are headed to the Class 4A postseason after navigating a challenging schedule.
10. Pottsville (7-3)
Six straight wins.
The Crimson Tide have become one of the district’s hottest teams heading into November.
Pottsville closed the regular season with a 42-13 victory over Hazleton Area, successfully converting every fourth-down attempt. Andrew Allen added an interception in the win.
After an uneven start to the season, Pottsville has found its rhythm at exactly the right time.
SMALL SCHOOL TOP 10
1. Northwestern Lehigh (9-1)
The Tigers wasted little time responding to their loss against Southern Lehigh.
Northwestern erupted for 34 second-quarter points in a 49-12 victory over Catasauqua.
Chase Sukanick rushed for 112 yards on just eight carries, while Trey Snyder completed 12 of 15 passes for 167 yards.
Brady Zimmerman added a 27-yard touchdown run, and offensive linemen Luke Rennells and Rhys Trotter each found the end zone.
The Tigers remain No. 1 in the final small-school rankings.
2. Notre Dame Green Pond (9-1)
The Crusaders continued their offensive dominance with a 49-7 victory over Wilson Area.
Quarterback Tommy Murphy threw four touchdown passes as Notre Dame Green Pond completed a 9-1 regular season.
With one of the district’s most dangerous passing attacks, the Crusaders enter the postseason capable of putting points on the board in a hurry.
3. Williams Valley (9-1)
The Vikings finished their regular season with a hard-fought 28-21 victory over Tri-Valley, securing the No. 1 seed in the Class 1A subregional.
Cole Hubler rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, while Fletcher Thompson added 109 yards and a score. Trevon Bair contributed another 58 yards.
Williams Valley finished with 303 rushing yards, and Witmer added an interception on defense.
The Vikings enter the postseason with a powerful ground game and plenty of momentum.
4. Jim Thorpe (6-4)
One of the biggest finishes of Week 10.
Trailing Palmerton 10-6 after three quarters, Jim Thorpe took control with 20 unanswered fourth-quarter points to secure a 26-10 victory.
Two turnovers and a fourth-and-one defensive stop helped swing the momentum.
Bobby Levins capped the scoring with a two-yard touchdown, while Anthony Kiehl contributed an interception.
The Olympians climb to No. 4 and head into the playoffs following a statement victory.
5. Palmerton (7-3)
The Blue Bombers appeared poised to finish the regular season with a victory, carrying a 10-6 advantage into the fourth quarter against Jim Thorpe.
Instead, the Olympians scored 20 unanswered points to hand Palmerton a 26-10 defeat.
Cale Young contributed 94 receiving yards and a rushing touchdown.
Palmerton finishes 7-3 and will look to regroup for the postseason.
6. Shenandoah Valley (7-3)
The Blue Devils ended a lengthy rivalry drought with a 21-12 victory at Mahanoy Area, their first win over the Golden Bears since 2012.
David Burrous, Mike Elchisak, Dylan Getz and Owen Kerlavage helped lead a defensive turnaround after Shenandoah Valley had surrendered more than 300 rushing yards in each of its previous three Division II losses.
The victory provides a confidence boost heading into November.
7. Executive Education (5-5)
The Raptors closed their regular season with a 27-22 loss to Interboro.
Quarterback Shawntez Whitsitt threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns while adding 45 rushing yards.
Executive Education remained within striking distance, but a late interception sealed the victory for the Buccaneers.
The Raptors finish the regular season at 5-5.
8. Schuylkill Haven (6-4)
Four straight victories and a ground game that keeps producing.
Schuylkill Haven defeated Marian Catholic 24-7, with a third-quarter defensive touchdown helping turn the game in the Hurricanes’ favor.
Colton Reber continued his outstanding season, rushing for 273 yards on 22 carries.
After a challenging start, Schuylkill Haven enters the postseason riding a four-game winning streak.
9. Tri-Valley (6-4)
The Bulldogs battled Williams Valley before falling 28-21 in their regular-season finale.
Quarterback Trey Porter scored on a four-yard run and connected with Doyle Flory for a five-yard touchdown pass.
Tri-Valley also missed an early 42-yard field goal in a competitive matchup against the top-seeded Vikings.
The Bulldogs finish 6-4.
10. Tamaqua (6-4)
Tamaqua closed the regular season with a 35-7 road victory over Pine Grove to earn a spot in the final Top 10.
Alex Schickram rushed for 86 yards on six carries, while Terrence McDowell added 55 yards on the ground.
The Blue Raiders finish 6-4 and are projected to face Jim Thorpe as the No. 6 seed in the Class 3A playoffs.
THE ROAD TO NOVEMBER
Ten weeks of football have produced unbeaten seasons, rivalry upsets, record-setting performances and late-season surges throughout District 11.
Southern Lehigh and Northwestern Lehigh finish atop their respective rankings, but the postseason presents an entirely different challenge.
Whitehall, Parkland, Nazareth and Bethlehem Catholic headline a competitive big-school field. Meanwhile, Notre Dame Green Pond, Williams Valley, Jim Thorpe and Schuylkill Haven have each shown the ability to make noise in November.
The regular-season rankings tell the story of the first 10 weeks.
The playoffs will determine who writes the final chapter.
SportzWire’s District 11 Football Top 10 Rankings are powered by Envy Electrical - Your Home. Your Options.
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