Mark your calendar for these 10 must-watch District 10 high school football games in 2024

The District 10 football regular season gets started in one month as 38 teams pursue a state championship. After teams compete in scrimmages on Aug. 17, the regular season is set for the following weekend Aug. 23-24.

There are new regions this year with teams also going up or down in classification. From rivalry games to budding new rivalries, there are plenty of interesting games to check out over the 10-week period.

Here is a look at 10 games to watch this fall:

Hickory at Farrell

• Aug. 24 : What a way to start the season for two big-time programs. They meet on the first Saturday on the season in a non-region showdown. The game is a measuring stick for both teams as Farrell lost a lot to graduation and transfers, while Hickory returns a team that could make a deep PIAA playoff run in Class 3A.

Cathedral Prep at Sharon

• Aug. 30 : The Ramblers sent a message last year with a 44-18 win at Farrell in Week 10. The question has been asked for years if powerhouses from Mercer County could compete with the big schools up north like Prep and McDowell. Sharon will get its chance this year with an early-season home game against the Ramblers.

Erie at McDowell

• Sept. 12 : It’s the only game of the year to be a guaranteed preview of a District 10 championship. Erie and McDowell will meet for the D-10 Class 6A championship after the regular season, but this game is a quick preview of how things might go in the playoffs. McDowell has dominated the head-to-head series over the past few years and this could be a big-time game on a Thursday night.

Sharon at Hickory

• Sept. 13 : Another big-time rivalry in District 10 between two powerhouse teams. Both the Tigers and Hornets return talented teams this season which could lead to one of the best games of the season. The two rivals battle in nearly every sport and football always produces an intense game.

Slippery Rock at Grove City

• Sept. 14 : Another intense rivalry from the southern part of District 10. The Rockets and the Eagles are separated by just six miles and their biggest games of the year is when they play each other. The two have played some instant classics over the past few years and could be in for region-deciding game this fall.

McDowell at Cathedral Prep

• Oct. 4 (Veterans Stadium) : There’s no rivalry like the Prep-McDowell rivalry . These two teams could match up in any sport and the game/match would draw a big crowd. One of the more intriguing storylines this year is how much both powerhouse teams lost to graduation. There could be plenty of new faces on both sidelines including new McDowell head coach Aaron Slocum.

Wilmington at Reynolds

• Oct. 5 : Wilmington moved down to Class 1A for this cycle, creating some interesting possibilities for the D-10 Class 1A playoffs. The Greyhounds have a long tradition of winning, while Reynolds has been a powerhouse in Class 1A. The two teams meet in early October and could be on a collision course for the playoffs as well.

Meadville at General McLane

• Oct. 10 : Meadville has dominated Class 4A for several years and brings back a solid team this fall. The biggest hurdle for another D-10 title for the Bulldogs could be General McLane. The Lancers moved up from Class 3A this cycle and have been improving each season under head coach Marshall McCormick. With all 4A teams in the same region, the D-10 championship will be a rematch from the regular season.

Sharpsville at Farrell

• Oct. 11 : The Blue Devils and the Steelers have two of the top football programs in Mercer County. They’ve become the Class 2A powerhouses in the south and could match up in the D-10 championship this fall. Mercyhurst Prep has been a power player as well in Class 2A, but the Lakers lost a lot from last year’s team.

Cambridge Springs at Lakeview

• Oct. 18 : Cambridge Springs and Lakeview usually have their battles within their own counties. The past few years have changed everything as they both became contenders in Class 1A. The two teams played two instant classics last year and will line up in region play this year. The Oct. 18 game could determine the Region 2 champion.

Contact Tom Reisenweber at treisenweber@timesnews.com . Follow him on X @ETNreisenweber .

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Mark your calendar for these 10 must-watch District 10 high school football games in 2024