Week number eleven of the high school football regular season is here and for 48% of the state's teams, playoff hopes still abound. This weekend, a total of 51 games will be played (50 on Friday night and one, Matewan at Man on Saturday night) and of those 51 games, several have playoff implications.
According to John Simonson, unofficial playoff guru who also writes a column during the high school football season for wvmetronews.com, a lot of playoff spots in all three classes have already been spoken for. In Class AAA, thirteen teams have clinched a playoff spot and there are six teams still fighting for the remaining three slots. Of those six teams mathematically still alive, only Lewis County (7-3) has completed their season. The remaining five teams have games that will be played Friday night and three of them control their own destiny....in other words, win and they are in. Those teams and their games are.....Parkersburg South (6-3) at John Marshall (2-7).......Robert C. Byrd (6-3) at Class AA #7 Bluefield (7-2).....and, Riverside (5-4) hosting #3 South Charleston (8-1). The remaining two teams in Class AAA that are still alive and playing this weekend are Hurricane (5-4) hosting Cabell Midland (4-5) and Princeton (5-4) hosting Beckley Woodrow Wilson (2-6). Both Hurricane and Princeton have to win and they will still need a little help to make the playoffs. Of the 40 teams in Class AAA, 21 have been eliminated from playoff contention. The teams in Class AAA that have clinched a playoff spot are Brooke - Bridgeport - South Charleston - Fairmont Senior - Spring Valley - George Washington - Martinsburg - Nicholas County - Ripley - Morgantown - Capital - University and Parkersburg.
In Class AA, the numbers are very similar as thirteen teams have clinched a playoff spot, however there are only five teams still alive for the remaining three slots. Of those five teams, Oak Glen (6-4) has clinched a tie for playoff spot #16, but depending on the tie breakers, still might not make the playoffs. Of the remaining four teams, only Pikeview (6-3) controls their own destiny. The Panthers will host Class A Midland Trail (0-9) Friday night....win and they're in. The remaining three teams mathematically still alive in Class AA and their schedule this week are Roane County (5-4) at Ritchie County (2-7).....Scott (4-5) hosting Class AAA Lincoln County (3-6) and Greenbrier West, which finished the season at (6-4), but still needs some help in clinching a playoff spot. Of the 40 teams in Class AA, 22 have been eliminated from playoff contention. The teams in Class AA that have clinched a playoff spot are Wayne - Magnolia - Sherman - Westside - Frankfort - Ravenswood - Bluefield - Keyser - James Monroe - Pt. Pleasant - Liberty (R) - Chapmanville and Herbert Hoover.
In Class A, it's not nearly so simple. Only nine teams have clinched a playoff spot and there are twelve teams still alive trying to grab one of those remaining seven slots. Of those twelve teams, only five control their own destiny and all twelve have games scheduled this weekend. The teams that just need to win to get in the playoffs are.....Wahama (7-2) at Buffalo (P) (3-6)........Iaeger (7-2) hosting Trinity (2-7).....Moorefield (6-3) hosting Tygarts Valley (1-8).....Parkersburg Catholic (7-2) hosting #5 Williamstown (7-2).......and, Calhoun County (5-4) hosting St. Marys (2-7). There are seven other teams in Class A that must win this weekend and will still need a little help to make the playoff round. They include.....Valley (F) (6-3) hosting Williamson (4-5)....Matewan (5-3) at #2 Man (8-1)......Bishop Donahue (6-3) at Doddridge County (3-6).....Pendleton County (6-3) at Bath County, Virginia (6-3).....Gilbert (5-3) hosting Class AA Tug Valley (0-9)....South Harrison (6-3) hosting #8 Wirt County (7-2) and Meadow Bridge (5-4) at Big Creek (1-7). As you can see, Class A is a long way from being decided. Of the 42 teams in Class AA, only 21, or 50%, have been eliminated from playoff contention. The teams in Class A that have clinched a playoff spot are Richwood - Man - Madonna - Clay-Battelle - Williamstown - Wheeling Central - Fayetteville - Wirt County and Tucker County.
The Super Six Championships will be held in Wheeling December 4-5 and two of last year's three state champions have made the first round of the playoffs this season. South Charleston in Class AAA and Williamstown in Class A still have a chance to repeat. Only in Class AA, where Grafton won last year, are we guaranteed, at this point, to have a new state champion.
