Only three weeks remain in the regular season for high school football teams around the state and one would like to think the playoff picture is beginning to take shape. But that’s not necessarily the case.
When you look at the current WVSSAC rankings in all classes, and please keep in mind new rankings will be out on October 22nd, the top eight teams in each class still have a long ways to go in order to hang on to that home field advantage in the first round. Some of the teams are certainly in better shape than others, but as of today, no position is currently guaranteed.
In Class AAA, the top eight teams and their current records, plus the records of the teams remaining on their schedule look this way:
- Huntington………………..7-0……….10-11
- Point Pleasant………….7-0…………6-16
- Martinsburg………………7-1…………8-6
- George Washington….6-1…………9-12
- Capital……………………..6-1………..11-10
- University………………….7-1…………10-5
- Wheeling Park………….6-1…………11-11
- Oak Hill…………………….6-1…………13-9
In Class AA, the numbers look this way:
- Wayne……………………..7-0………..11-11
- Frankfort…………………. 6-1………. 13-9
- Bluefield…………………..6-1…………15-6
- Bridgeport………………..6-1…………3-17-1
- Sissonville………………..6-1…………4-19
- Summers County………7-1…………3-11
- Wyoming East…………..7-1…………5-10
- Ritchie County…………..5-2…………9-11-1
And, in Class A, the numbers look this way:
- St. Marys…………………..7-0…………12-10
- Madonna…………………..7-0…………17-4
- Valley Fayette……………7-0…………10-12
- Man…………………………..6-1………… 9-14
- Williamstown……………..6-1…………16-6
- Moorefield…………………7-1………….2-12
- East Hardy………………..6-1………….6-15
- Greenbrier West………..7-1………….5-9
Now, please keep in mind the above numbers will change slightly when the new rankings come out because of the above teams George Washington, Frankfort, and East Hardy lost last week. But, as you can see there are a few teams in the top eight in each class that may have trouble maintaining their position. Right now, the teams in Class AAA that appear to have the toughest schedule remaining would be Martinsburg (8-6), University (10-5) and Oak Hill (13-9). The teams with the “easiest” remaining schedule would be Point Pleasant (6-16) and George Washington (9-12).
In Class AA, the teams with the toughest remaining schedules would be Frankfort (13-9) and Bluefield (15-6), while no other team in the top eight in Class AA have a remaining schedule would their opponents combined records total more than .500. In fact, the “easiest” schedule remaining in the top eight in Class AA belongs to Bridgeport whose three remaining teams total 3 wins, 17 losses and 1 tie!
In Class AA, the teams with the toughest remaining schedules would be Madonna (17-4) and Williamstown (16-6). The “easiest” schedule remaining belongs to Moorefield (2-12).
Something else to consider, no team in the top 15 in Class AAA has more than 2 losses and there are 5 more teams with just 3 losses. In Class AA, no team in the top 14 has more than 2 losses and there are 3 more teams with just 3 losses. In Class A, no team in the top 15 has more than 2 losses and there are 4 more teams with just 3 losses. Last year, in all three classes combined we had 7 four loss teams make the playoffs and we even had 2 five loss teams get in the field of 48. Not sure that will happen in 2013!
Coming up this weekend, there are several “big” games on the schedule including:
AAA: Cabell Midland at Spring Valley, Jefferson at Martinsburg, Oak Hill at Class AA Bluefield and Steubenville, Ohio at Wheeling Park.
AA: Mingo Central hosting Class AAA rival Logan, and Philip Barbour at Class A Notre Dame.
A: Two big games are scheduled for Saturday this week….Williamstown will be at Parkersburg Catholic and Madonna (7-0) will host (8-0) Steubenville Catholic!
Be sure and join Dave Jecklin and me this Friday night for High School GAMENIGHT, presented by MVB Bank for all the scores of all the games. The program is heard on 46 radio stations statewide and the live audio and video stream can be found at wvmetronews.com!