Rick O'Brien: Previewing Southeastern Pennsylvania playoff football matchups

With another helping of Thanksgiving Day football games completed, it's time to pry yourself from the recliner, tighten your belt a notch or two, and head out to watch area playoff action.

The postseason will continue this weekend for seven District 1 squads: four in Class AAAA, two in AAA, and one in A.

Friday's District 1 Class AAA final pits West Chester Henderson against Interboro. In the District 1 AAAA semifinals, Neshaminy will play Coatesville on Friday and Spring-Ford will face Pennridge on Saturday.

Finally, in a Class A state opener Saturday, Bristol will meet undefeated Williams Valley, of District 11.

District 12 champions La Salle (Class AAAA), Archbishop Wood (AAA), and Imhotep Charter (AA) are idle. They will return to action the weekend of Nov. 30.

La Salle awaits the survivor of Saturday's subregional final between District 2's Delaware Valley and District 11's Parkland. Wood's next foe is the Henderson-Interboro victor, and Imhotep gets the winner of Saturday night's subregional title clash between District 2's Wyoming Area and District 11's Pen Argyl.

Here is a closer look at this weekend's playoff matchups.

No. 4 seed West Chester Henderson (9-3) vs. No. 3 Interboro (10-2), at Plymouth Whitemarsh, 7 p.m. Friday

. When it comes to a smash-mouth final, this could rival the 2009 battle between Interboro and Pottsgrove, won by Pottsgrove in overtime.

The Warriors' run-heavy, midline-veer attack features running backs Spencer Rymiszewski and Chris Mitten, and fullbacks Garrett Girafalco and Derek Matonti.

Rymiszewski (122 carries for 1,104 yards, 11 touchdowns) suffered an ankle injury in last week's 31-28 win over Pottsgrove. Henderson coach Steve Mitten said the Division I-AA recruit, who doubles as a cornerback, would be "a game-time decision."

Interboro's rugged offense, with multiple looks, is spurred by fullback Sonny Armstrong (104 carries for 810 yards, five TDs) and quarterback Nick Rentos (1,647 yards passing, 16 TDs).

Rentos' top targets are 6-foot-3, 215-pound tight end Rashon Fentress (34 catches for 671 yards, seven TDs) and wideout Mark Everton (31 for 656, seven).

Pick: A punishing defense, led by linebackers Adam Weaver and Chris Mitten, paves the way for the Warriors' first district crown. Henderson, 31-20.

No. 13 seed Neshaminy (9-3) at No. 9 Coatesville (10-2), 7 p.m. Friday.

It's the Redskins' tough-as-anything defense vs. Coatesville's wide-open, high-scoring offense.

While a bruising defense is its trademark, Neshaminy does have a 1,617-yard rusher in tailback Nate Hall. The 5-foot-5, 160-pounder struck for 282 yards last week against Central Bucks South.

Coatesville's spread attack is ignited by QB Emmitt Hunt (2,263 yards passing, 32 TDs), halfback Daquan Worley (151 carries for 1,099 yards, 12 TDs), and quick wideouts Chris Jones (50 catches for 1,130 yards, 17 TDs) and Dre Boggs.

The Redskins are trying to move closer to their first district title since 2004; the Red Raiders took top honors in 1992.

Pick: Hunt and company find the going tougher than usual, but the hosts triumph on a late score. Coatesville, 21-14.

No. 7 Spring-Ford (11-2) at No. 3 Pennridge (12-1), 1 p.m. Saturday. Both teams reached the semis with down-to-the-wire wins. Spring-Ford held off Ridley, 28-26, and Pennridge escaped Pennsbury, 28-27.

Spring-Ford has a solid one-two rushing punch in tailback Jarred Jones, who returned from a broken wrist in Week 10, and fullback Yousef Lundy. Hank Coyne has completed 122 of 220 throws for 1,597 yards and 22 TDs.

Pennridge has the area's leading rusher. Junior halfback Mike Class, held out in Thursday's 28-13 defeat of Quakertown, has carried 273 times for 2,359 yards and 31 TDs. He gets help from fullback MacKenzie Crawford and wingback Kyle Bigam.

Like Spring-Ford, Pennridge also fares pretty well in the air. Alex Krivda has completed 60 of 112 passes for 1,014 yards and 12 TDs.

Pick: Class turns in his seventh 200-yard effort of the season, and the green-clad Rams advance. Pennridge, 28-13.

Williams Valley (12-0) vs. Bristol (8-1), at Souderton, 1 p.m. Saturday.

With their District 11 foe averaging 37 points, the Warriors are in for a major test.

Williams Valley's Cole Barnhardt has carried 202 times for 1,572 yards and 22 TDs. Vikings QB Stephen Sedesse has completed 99 of 179 passes for 1,796 yards and 25 TDs.

Bristol's leaders on defense include lineman Shane Adamson, safety Sean Coughlin, and cornerback Tyriq Wilson. Sophomore tailback Donte Simmons is a 1,225-yard rusher.

Pick: The Warriors' first appearance in states is a rough one. Williams Valley, 46-7.

Last week's rankings in parentheses. Area teams in bold.

Class AAAA

1. North Allegheny (1) 12-0

2. La Salle (2) 11-1

3. Wilson-W. Lawn (3) 11-1

4. Harrisburg (4) 10-2

5. St. Joseph's Prep (5) 10-1

6. Pennridge (6) 12-1

7. Parkland (9) 10-2

8. Woodland Hills (NR) 10-2

9. Coatesville (10) 10-2

10. Central Dauphin (NR) 10-2

Class AAA

1. Bishop McDevitt (1) 12-0

2. Cathedral Prep (2) 11-0

3. Archbishop Wood (3) 10-2

4. West Allegheny (5) 11-1

5. West Mifflin (9) 11-1

6. Thomas Jefferson (4) 11-1

7. West York (NR) 12-0

8. W.C. Henderson (NR) 9-3

9. Abington Heights (NR) 10-2

10. Susquehanna Twp. (NR) 10-2

Class AA

1. Aliquippa (1) 12-0

2. Imhotep Charter (2) 12-0

3. Wyomissing (4) 12-0

4. Washington (5) 12-0

5. Richland (8) 12-0

6. Hickory (7) 10-1

7. South Fayette (3) 11-1

8. Pen Argyl (NR) 10-2

9. Berm. Springs (NR) 12-0

10. Wyoming Area (NR) 10-2

Class A

1. Clairton (1) 12-0

2. Southern Columbia (2) 12-0

3. Dunmore (4) 11-1

4. Sto-Rox (5) 11-1

5. Port Allegany (6) 11-0

6. Old Forge (2) 11-1

7. Sharpsville (7) 10-1

8. Bellwood-Antis (8) 11-1

9. Williams Valley (9) 12-0

10. Clarion Area (NR) 12-0

- Rick O'Brien