If you couldn’t tell already, the weather this past weekend was a reminder that we are now truly in the heart of football season. Speaking as someone who was on the sideline for a very cold, very wet Bradford-Clarion game, I was longing for the far off days — otherwise known as last week — of shorts and t-shirts.

Weather complaints aside, this coming week represents the last regular season game for most District 9 teams, with playoffs right around the corner.

Clustered second tier, Large School edition

When we sit down to do our weekly Large School and Small School power rankings, there hasn’t been much debate in recent weeks over would be number one in the Large School section.

Undefeated Ridgway continues to plow through the rest of the district, casually putting up more than enough points to supplement its always-stifling defense.

The next tier of teams is a whole different story.

Despite back-to-back losses, Clarion still needs to be taken seriously. Not only are the Bobcats the reigning Class AA District Champions, but they have looked good enough for most of this year to still be given the benefit of the doubt. Another loss, though, and that changes.

Meanwhile, the triumvirate of Bradford, Brockway, and Brookville is thoroughly frustrating to sort through.

For starters, each team is 1-1 against the other two this year: Bradford beat Brockway and lost to Brookville; Brockway beat Brookville and lost to Bradford; Brookville beat Bradford and lost to Brockway — say that five times fast.

Second, all three teams have very similar point differentials, one of the best measures of how well a team has actually played: Brockway is plus-76, Bradford is plus-67, and Brookville is plus-59.

Each team has looked great at times and less great at others. All three face significant tests to close out the regular season.

Bradford — winners of three in a row — must make the long trip to Karns City to face a Gremlins squad that has scored more points than it’s allowed despite a 3-5 record.

Brockway has rebounded from back-to-back losses with back-to-back wins, but must now play Clarion on the road.

Brookville has scored 120 points in its last two games against St. Marys and Kane but now has to go up against the best defense in District 9 in Ridgway.

Suffice to say, anything can happen in these next couple weeks.

Clustered second tier, Small School edition

Much like the Large Schools, there hasn’t been much question with regards to the class of the Small Schools.

Smethport continued its best season in years with a 37-0 rout of Keystone on Friday to improve to 8-0 and all but wrap up the number one seed in the Class A playoffs.

After the Hubbers, you’ll find a few high-flying offenses jockeying for playoff positions.

Elk Catholic has won five in a row, and the Crusaders aren’t squeaking by anybody: ECC has won by an average score of 48-6 over that stretch. For all the talk about the offense, though, the Crusaders’ defense has been just as good: the ‘D’ hasn’t allowed more than 28 points in a game all season.

Clarion-Limestone, meanwhile, has been torching defenses all year, topping 40 points five times this year and 50 points three times.

Coudersport, while dominant at times, has been less consistent, going 3-3 in its last six games. In its five victories, the Falcons have won by an average score of 54-4. But in the three losses, that score has been 30-18 on average.

Also lurking is Curwensville, which sits at 6-2 after winning four in a row. The Golden Tide haven’t been as dominant in their victories this year, but possess big game experience after reaching last year’s District title game.

The number of quality teams in the Small School Division this season has been a welcome sign in year one of the new alignment.

North vs. South title game in the cards?

The dissolution of the Allegheny Mountain League this year also marked the end of the annual AML title game at the end of the season.

Even with a North and South setup in the Small School ranks, there were no plans for a similar title game moving forward. But there has been chatter among local coaches about the possibility of playing such a game.

One issue preventing any clarity in the situation is the fact that neither division has been secured yet.

Despite sitting with a perfect 8-0 record, Smethport is still tied with Coudersport (5-3) at 4-0 in North Division play ahead of this week’s pivotal showdown.

In the South, ECC, Clarion-Limestone, and Curwensville all boast 3-1 division records, though ECC would clinch the title with a win over Keystone having already defeated both C-L and the Golden Tide.

If ECC were to lose on Friday, however, the winner of Clarion-Limestone/Curwensville would earn the division crown.

A possible Small School Championship Game would present all sorts of interesting matchup possibilities: my personal choice would be to see C-L’s high-flying attack go up against Smethport’s dominant defense.