Lucky No. 6?

Jaws dropped around the Mid-Penn on Friday night when word spread that Trinity lost, 16-13, to Milton Hershey.

The loss moved the Shamrocks (7-3) from fourth to sixth in the District 3 Class AA power rankings, which will likely force Trinity to win two road games if it wants to get back to Hersheypark Stadium and play for a district championship. The Spartans, for the record, finished the season 4-6.

If Trinity coach Jeff Boger is looking for a silver lining, it's this: Not only have the Shamrocks already beaten Middletown, their quarterfinal opponent, but last year Delone Catholic started the playoffs No. 6 before downing Columbia and Lancaster Catholic on the road before nailing Trinity, 25-0, in the district final.

If history repeats, it will be the Shamrocks waiting for the District 4 champion in the PIAA quarterfinals later this month.