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By SCOTT FERTAL; Times Leader Sports Writer
Friday, November 07, 1997     Page:

They’re in. Then out. Then back in again.
   
Which is it?
    Finally, after Wednesday’s decision to declare the Berwick Bulldogs
eligible for the District 2 Class AAA playoffs by the PIAA Board of Appeals,
the District 2 and Eastern Conference playoffs are set.
   
A new District 2 Class AAAA and AA champion will be crowned in two weeks as
the defending champs in each of respective classifications, Coughlin and
Hanover Area, are home for the postseason.
   
Riverside (Class A) and Berwick (Class AAA) are back and ready to defend
their district titles.
   
But first come the district semifinals, with five games tonight and three
more on Saturday.
   
The two Eastern Conference games involving Wyoming Valley Conference teams
will be played Friday night.
   
Tonight’s district playoff games are Hazleton Area at Wyoming Valley West
(Class AAAA semifinal); Dallas at Wyoming Area (AAA semifinal); Lake-Lehman at
GAR (AA semifinal); Montrose at Oxford (AA semifinal) and Mid Valley at
Riverside (A semifinal). The Hazleton Area-Valley West game will be at 7:30
p.m.. All other games will be at 7 p.m.
   
Saturday’s district games will be Lehighton at Berwick (AAA semifinal);
Williamsport at Abington Heights (AAAA semifinal) and Susquehanna at Bishop
O’Reilly (A semifinal). The Berwick-Lehighton game will begin at 12:06 p.m.;
the other games are set for 1 p.m. starts.
   
Tonight’s Eastern Conference games are Tunkhannock at Northeastern (AAAA
semifinal) and Pittston Area at Wallenpaupack (AAA semifinal). Both games will
be at 7 p.m.
   
Here’s my predictions for this weekend’s game:
   
Class AAAA
   
Hazleton Area (5-5) at Wyoming Valley West (10-0): So the Spartans aren’t
as good as Berwick. At least, that’s Hazleton Area coach John Yaccino’s
opinion. The Spartans and coach Jim Cantafio have good memories. … Wyoming
Valley West 42-0.
   
Williamsport (6-4) at Abington Heights (10-0): The Comets have stumbled in
the semifinals the last two years, but not this year. … Abington Heights
28-13.
   
Class AAA
   
Lehighton (6-4) at Berwick (8-2): If the Indians thought last week’s 56-0
loss to the Dawgs was bad, this one will be worse. The siren will be blaring
so much that the people of Berwick will think the town is on fire. … Berwick
77-0.
   
Dallas (9-1) at Wyoming Area (10-0): Dallas coach Ted Jackson has waited
eight weeks for this rematch. Let’s just hope a good officiating crew shows up
this time. … Dallas 17-14.
   
Class AA
   
Lake-Lehman (6-4) at GAR (7-3): How can these two top that incredible game
three weeks ago? Well, I guess they can do it without any brawls. The
Grenadiers win another close one. … GAR 35-28.
   
Montrose (6-4) at Oxford (6-4): The fact is that District 1 AA teams don’t
have a chance against District 2 AA teams. That was pretty evident last year.
Too bad our teams always have to make that long trip. … Montrose 28-7.
   
Class A
   
Mid Valley (7-3) at Riverside (9-1): The Vikings could win any of the four
classes- they’re that good. It’ll be one and done for the Invaders. …
Riverside 42-6.
   
Susquehanna (8-2) at Bishop O’Reilly (9-1): Bryan Bellas will score
touchdowns and the Queensmen will win. Enjoy it while you can Queensmen. …
Bishop O’Reilly 35-21.
   
Eastern Conference
   
Class AAAA
   
Tunkhannock (6-4) at Northampton (6-4): The Tigers have made great strides
in coach Don Holl’s three seasons. But not quite enough for a championship.
… Northampton 28-27.
   
Class AAA
   
Pittston Area (4-6) at Wallenpaupack (9-1): A playoff spot for the Patriots
didn’t seem possible. A playoff win is out of the question. … Wallenpaupack
35-14.
   
PREDICTIONS