MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Only one week remains for high school football teams to change their positioning in the playoff race.
The WVSSAC’s Week 10 Playoff Ratings give a good idea of how the postseason picture will look, though there is still opportunity for teams to improve or hurt their cause in season’s final week.
Here’s where each team stands going into Week 11:
Some thoughts on the latest playoff ratings in each class.
Class AAA
Winners of 38 straight games, Martinsburg (10-0) is back at No. 1 after it jumped No. 2 Spring Valley (9-0) following last week’s win against Musselman.
The Timberwolves take on No. 6 Huntington (7-2) Friday and a victory would ensure they play at home up until a potential rematch between them and the Bulldogs in the state championship.
Capital (8-1) and Musselman (8-1) switched spots with last week’s results, with the Cougars rising from fourth to third.
No. 5 Parkersburg South (7-2) has won six straight games since a slow start and made its way in the top five for the first time this season.
Ripley (8-1) and Wheeling Park (6-3) are seventh and eighth, respectively, though the Patriots will need to beat No. 10 John Marshall (6-3) this week to ensure themselves of a home playoff game.
Should the Monarchs prevail, they will be in the mix to host a playoff game, along with No. 9 Hedgesville (6-3) and Parkersburg (5-4), which is tied at No. 10 with John Marshall and takes on rival Parkersburg South in Week 11.
No. 12 Cabell Midland (5-4) is likely to reach the postseason and can clinch a spot with a win, but needs to beat South Charleston (3-6) to avoid falling. No. 13 Morgantown (5-5) and No. 14 University (5-5) have both finished their regular seasons and are in good position to reach the postseason, though neither can help its cause in Week 11.
Greenbrier East (5-4) and Hurricane (4-5) currently round of the top 16. The Spartans, one win away from clinching a playoff berth, face Riverside (1-8) and the Redskins take on St. Albans (1-8) in Week 11.
George Washington (4-5) and Spring Mills (4-5) are 17th and 18th, respectively, and both have a chance to make the playoffs if they can end their seasons with a marquee win. The Patriots take on Capital, while the Cardinals clash with Hedgesville.
Class AA
Only three unbeaten teams remain and each is in the top five.
No. 1 Fairmont Senior (9-0) stayed put at the top spot following its bye week.
Nicholas County (9-0) was also off last week, but jumped from fourth to third and trails only the Polar Bears and No. 2 Bridgeport (8-1).
Bluefield (8-1) also rose from No. 5 to No. 4 with its win against James Monroe, while Poca (9-0) fell from third to fifth despite getting by Herbert Hoover.
Very little separates the No. 2 Indians (12.33 rating) from the No. 5 Dots (11.88), meaning Week 11 games are imperative for all four teams between second and fifth.
Robert C. Byrd (7-2) is up to No. 6 after recording its fourth straight win last week. Keyser (7-2) and Point Pleasant (7-1) round out the top eight after the Big Blacks suffered their first loss of the season to Spring Valley.
No. 9 Mingo Central (7-2), No. 10 Wayne (7-2) and No. 11 Weir (8-2) are safely in the playoffs and the Pioneers could host a first-round game by beating Poca on Friday.
No. 12 Shady Spring (7-2) will be playoff-bound so long as it knocks off Pocahontas County in its regular season finale, while No. 13 Petersburg (6-2), which rose five spots by beating Tucker County, is also in position to make the playoffs with a win over East Hardy in Week 11.
Frankfort (7-2), Lewis County (6-4) and Oak Hill (6-3) round out the top 16, though the Minutemen fell from 14th to 15th with a loss to Liberty Harrison and need help this week as their regular season is over.
Grafton (5-3), James Monroe (6-3), Liberty Harrison (5-4) and Sissonville (5-4) are 17th through 20th, respectively, and the Bearcats and Mavericks can make up ground with wins this week. Grafton takes on North Marion (4-5) and James Monroe battles Point Pleasant.
Liberty and Sissonville both face one-win teams in Week 11 as the Mountaineers meet South Harrison and the Indians take on Braxton County.
Class A
Wheeling Central, following its thrilling win over a quality Shadyside, Ohio team, continues its hold on the No. 1 spot.
There was plenty of movement behind the Maroon Knights (9-0), with fellow 9-0 teams Midland Trail and Doddridge County both rising.
The Patriots went from third to a tie for second following a win over Oak Hill, while the Bulldogs jumped from No. 6 to No. 4 after their win against Williamstown.
Mount View (8-1) is tied with Midland Trail and Cameron is fifth after completing its unbeaten regular season last week.
Williamstown (8-2) fell to sixth, while Sherman (8-1) and Pendleton County (7-2) are tied for No. 7.
The Tide takes on No. 10 Van (8-1) this week and the two teams could very well meet again in the opening round of the playoffs.
No. 9 Parkersburg Catholic (9-1) has finished its regular season.
A quartet of 6-3 teams — Magnolia, Tucker County, Summers County and Ritchie County — are 11th through 14th, respectively.
Webster County (6-4) and Fayetteville (5-4) round out of the top 16. The Pirates play at Summers County on Friday, and should Fayetteville lose for the fifth time in six games, it likely opens up a playoff spot for Tyler Consolidated, Pocahontas County or Tygarts Valley.
The Knights appear to be in the best position of the aforementioned three teams vying to reach the playoffs. Besides being No. 17, Tyler Consolidated faces St. Marys (3-6) this week, while Pocahontas County takes on Shady Spring (7-2) and Tygarts Valley clashes with Doddridge County.