Don't miss these games

The second half of the high school football season is upon us. Leaves are changing, the weather is getting cooler and everyone is starting to look ahead to the second season, normally referred to as the playoffs.

Before we delve into brackets and win-or-go-home games, let's take a look at the can't-miss games that dot the schedule over the final four weeks of the regular season. All listed games are on Friday unless noted. Team records are in parenthesis.

Week 7
Trinity (5-1) at Middletown (5-1), Saturday, 2 p.m.: A battle for seeding in the District 3-AA playoffs. Middletown coming off an ugly 40-14 loss at Steelton-Highspire.

Week 8
Harrisburg (3-3) at Cumberland Valley (4-1): Eagles looking more and more like a District 3-AAAA contender. Harrisburg just wants into the 16-team field.

Steelton-Highspire (6-0) at Trinity (5-1): Another big game in terms of playing positioning. Trinity, which won 31-7 last year, can make a move up the table if it beats Middletown and Steel-High.

Week 9
Susquehanna Twp. (4-2) at Northern (4-2): This could be a must-win for the Polar Bears if they lose to Greencastle-Antrim in Week 8. If Northern wants a playoff game at Bostic Field, it can't afford to lose many more.

Week 10
Camp Hill (5-1) at Steelton-Highspire (6-0): Teams split last year. This could be a preview of the District 3-A final a week before Thanksgiving.

Central Dauphin (4-2) at Cumberland Valley (4-1): Loser here might be on the road in the playoffs. For CV, that might not be a bad thing.

Red Land (4-2) at Mechanicsburg (6-0): Wildcats could be trying to secure top seed in 3-AAA bracket and a perfect season. Red Land might be fighting for its playoff life for a spot in the 3-AAAA field.