They Picked Six: PIAA final class numbers for 2016-2018 (Projections included before upgrades)

It's a pick six of a different kind.

The 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 enrollment cycle marks the first season the PIAA will have six classes in football among a list of other sports. They also added additional classes in other sports including girls volleyball.

Boys and girls Basketball, Baseball, and Softball joined football with six classes.

Friday, the enrollment parameters were released for all sports with football breaking down as follows:
A -- 140 and below
AA -- 141-200
AAA -- 201-282
AAAA -- 283-397
AAAAA -- 398-563
AAAAAA -- 564 and above

How does this effect Districts 5 and 6? Let's start by taking a look at how District 5's alignment could look like (All numbers are based upon the current enrollment cycle).

A (5) -- Berlin Brothersvalley (126), Conemaugh Township (116), Meyersdale (118), Shade (73), Windber (104).
AA (4) -- Everett (174), North Star (142), Northern Bedford (144), Tussey Mountain (143)
AAA (2) -- Bedford (255), Chestnut Ridge (227)
AAAA (1) -- Somerset (319)

Class A might get away with having their own postseason, but there is a good chance that District 5 might have to form a subregion with District 6 in each of the classifications. Everyone who is in AA-AAAA in this plan will jump up by at least one class.

What about District 6?
A (19) -- Bishop Carroll (82), Bishop Guilfoyle (118), Blacklick Valley (82), Blairsville (126), Claysburg-Kimmel (106), Conemaugh Valley (104), Ferndale (76), Glendale (98), Homer Center (107), Juniata Valley (95), Moshannon Valley (105), Northern Cambria (139), Penns Manor (111), Portage (83), Purchase Line (125), Saltsburg (86), St. Joseph's (46), United (136), Williamsburg (62).
AA (8) -- Bellwood-Antis (154), Bishop McCort (148), Cambria Heights (169), Marion Center (170), West Branch (162), Westmont Hilltop (173), Mount Union (183), Southern Huntingdon (169).
AAA (12) -- Bald Eagle Area (206), Central Cambria (224), Central (232), Forest Hills (240), Huntingdon (258), Juniata (230), Ligonier Valley (218),  Penn Cambria (206), Penns Valley (207), Philipsburg-Osceola (230), Richland (202), Tyrone (229).
AAAA (2) -- Bellefonte (341), Johnstown (324).
AAAAA (2) -- Hollidaysburg (402), Central Mountain (505).
AAAAAA (3) -- Mifflin County (617), Altoona (933)*, State College (866).

*-Altoona qualifies for the playoffs through the WPIAL.

Class A-AAA could get away with hosting their own playoff, but because of the numbers, A-AAAA probably will have to merge to form a subregional with District 5. Five-A and Six-A are probably looking at subregionals as well or possibly a state only tournament.

Schools are not required to play in the classification they qualify for if they're Class 5A or lower, BUT they can't play down in classification. The initial numbers are due out Monday with schools having until December 15 to upgrade.

Click here for the enrollment parameters for each of the PIAA sports.