Rematches highlight first round of District 1 playoffs

A trio of rematches involving Delco teams, two from the final week of the regular season, highlights the opening round of the District 1 football playoffs, which begin Friday.

The pairings were announced on Sunday but are not official until noon on Monday.

Haverford (5-5) earned the 16th seed in Class 6A with a 55-0 romp over Academy at Palumbo. That gives the Fords a date with topseeded Garnet Valley (100) at Moe DeFrank Stadium Friday night at 7. The Jaguars rolled to a 55-14 victory over Haverford at the Moe on Oct. 15.

No. 10 Conestoga (73) is back at Phil Marion

Field to take on seventhseeded Ridley (9-1) at 7 p.m. in a 6A first-round rematch of a classic battle in the regular-season finale. The Green Raiders rallied from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to pull out a dramatic 29-28 victory over the Pioneers at home on Saturday night. Tahir Mills scored with 2:16 left to tie the game, and Nick Volpone’s extra point was the difference.

In Class 4A, top-seeded Bishop Shanahan (7-3) and No. 4 Chichester (5-3) square off for the second straight week in Downingtown. Shanahan downed Chi, 34-8, last Friday at home to secure the top seed in the classification and book a rematch with Chi.

Strath Haven (9-1) earned the No. 2 seed in Class 5A, the highest of six Delco teams in the field. It will host No. 16 Upper Merion (4-5) Friday night at King Field. In other Class 5A action Friday night, No. 7 Marple Newtown (7-3) entertains No. 10 Phoenixville (5-4) at Harvey Field, No. 14 Springfield (4-6) is at No. 3 Unionville (9-1) and No. 16

Interboro (3-7) visits topseeded West Chester Rustin (8-1). All games start at 7 p.m.

Academy Park (7-2) and Chester (7-3) begin postseason play on Saturday. The sixth-seeded Knights host No. 11 Oxford (5-5) and the eighth-seeded Clippers entertain No. 9 Kennett (73). Both games begin at 1 p.m.