It's the game that neither coach expected to happen, at least for another week.

Southern Columbia coach Jim Roth expected Line Mountain to beat Millersburg last week and therefore claim the No. 1 seed in the District 4 Class A tournament. Line Mountain coach Todd Rothermel felt pretty good about his team's chances of doing just that.

But Millersburg, a team that had already clinched the No. 1 seed in the District 3 Class A playoffs, spoiled the party, dropping the Eagles to No. 3 and giving Southern a home date for the first round. Had the Eagles won, Roth's team would have had to make its second trip this season to Bloomsburg, where the Tigers tasted their only defeat since the 2005 season.

Instead of hosting No. 4 seed Canton while Bloomsburg and Southern beat up on one another, the Eagles visit the Tigers' den, scene of last year's exciting 49-31 loss in the district final.

"It doesn't matter who they put in front of you, we have to be ready to play, and that's what we're telling the kids," Rothermel said. "If we want to feel sorry for ourselves, they will stomp us."

That's what Millersburg, a team that continued to drop in state rankings despite going unbeaten since week one, figures to do in its quarterfinal game. The Indians will face off for the second time this year against Twin Valley Conference opponent Upper Dauphin. The Trojans are 1-9, having beaten only lowly Pequea Valley in week one, but got in basically because no one else wanted the spot.

The Trojans are entering the playoffs having been outscored 361-52 and shut out seven times this season.

This game almost makes the District 4 Class AAA tournament look normal. You know, the one where Selinsgrove hosts 3-7 East Juniata while awaiting the winner of Jersey Shore and Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Warrior Run's trio of quarterback Bryson Brooke (5 touchdown passes) and split ends Chad Dixon (4 catches, 105 yards, 3 TDs) and Steve Martin (2-113, 2 TDs) in the Defenders' come-from-behind win over Central Columbia to earn a District 4 Class AA playoff berth.

COACH OF THE WEEK: Roy Wall, for Millersburg's Twin Valley Conference title-clinching victory at previously unbeaten Line Mountain.

Last week's and season records: 21-6; 198-57, .776.

This week's picks:

FRIDAY

District 4 Class AA

quarterfinals