As we enter week number eight of the high school football season, it’s interesting to note the fairly new faces that seem to be making playoff noise in each of the three classes. Certainly there are still several teams that seemingly make the playoff field every year that are still alive and in very good position to be in that coveted field of sixteen when the playoffs begin the weekend of 14th. However, if you look at the teams from last year that were still playing in week number twelve and compare that to the list of teams that would make it in if the playoffs started this weekend then you would note several changes. In fact, if you total all three classes 18 of last year’s 48 would be putting the gear away this season.
Now, let’s keep in mind we still have three weeks of high school regular season action left to play, but in Class AAA, it appears that only ten of last year’s sixteen playoff teams have a good shot at being back this season. Martinsburg, Capital, Point Pleasant, Wheeling Park, University, Cabell Midland, South Charleston, Hurricane, Spring Valley and Lewis County appear to be in pretty good shape. However, Huntington, George Washington, and Morgantown have some work left to do and Oak Hill, Logan and Washington have a lot of work to do!
In Class AA, only a little more than half of last year’s playoff field of sixteen seem to be in pretty good shape. Those teams include Bridgeport, Wayne, Bluefield, Frankfort, Ravenswood, Mingo Central, Keyser, Nicholas County and Robert C. Byrd. Of the remaining seven teams that made it last year, Fairmont Senior, Wyoming East, Sissonville and Ritchie County have some work left while Philip Barbour, Roane County and Summers County have a whole lot of work to do.
In Class A, it appears the situation is a little better. Of the sixteen that made the playoff field in 2013, it would seem that twelve of those teams are in pretty good shape in 2014. That would include St. Marys, Valley Fayette, Williamstown, Man, Moorefield, Greenbrier West, Wahama, Clay-Battelle, Notre Dame, Bishop Donahue and East Hardy. The other four teams from last year’s playoff field that have some work to do include last year’s State Champion Madonna, which currently owns a 2-4 record, Magnolia, Tucker County and perennial favorite Wheeling Central Catholic who find themselves with a 3-4 mark.
Now certainly the season is not over and all of the above could change somewhat, however the teams that have work to do need to get busy this weekend.
Speaking of this weekend, there are several great games on the schedule! In Class AAA, Cabell Midland is at George Washington, Capital is at Woodrow Wilson, Jefferson welcomes Class AA power Keyser, Lewis County will travel to University, Parkersburg visits Huntington and undefeated Point Pleasant will travel to unbeaten Class AA foe Ravenswood. In Class AA, in addition to the Keyser and Ravenswood games, Bluefield welcomes Class A power Greenbrier West, Clay County will host Sissonville, Herbert Hoover will visit Wayne and Nicholas County will host Westside in Summersville. In Class A, East Hardy will head to Moorefield, St. Marys visits Magnolia and Madonna travels to Notre Dame.
Make sure you get out and support your favorite high school team and don’t forget to join Dave Jecklin and me for all the scores on GAMENIGHT. If you can’t find the show on your local radio station, then check out the live audio and video streaming of the show at wvmetronews.com!