By Philip See for WVMetroNews.com
When the current classifications took effect for the 2016 football season, the state’s largest class found itself in a bit of an unprecedented situation. With just 29 schools now in AAA, more than half the teams in the class will make the 16-team playoff field, regardless of record.
The old standard to secure a AAA playoff berth was a 6-4 record, and occasionally a 7-3 mark was needed to make the field. Now, a 5-5 record should ensure a spot in the playoffs, and some teams with a 4-6 record look likely to slip in.
With two weeks remaining in the regular season, many teams in the Kanawha Valley are still fighting for final playoff spots and positioning. Capital (5-3, No. 7 in the most recent playoff rankings) and George Washington (5-3, No. 9) should comfortably be in the playoffs, though their seeding is still far from determined.
Hurricane (4-4, No. 12) is still in good playoff position, though it would feel much more comfortable by winning one of its last two contests. St. Albans (4-5, No. 16), which is idle in week 10, and Riverside (4-5, No. 17) are clinging to hopes of making the playoff field at 4-6 but should seal a playoff spot by winning their final games. South Charleston (3-5, No. 18) has to win at least one of its final two games to retain any chance of making the playoffs.
All of these teams are also objectively pretty good. Hurricane convincingly beat Spring Valley, South Charleston has a win over George Washington, Riverside won at Morgantown, St. Albans took University to overtime. None have any bad losses on their resume. Each team can make a case that it is among the best 16 teams in AAA but got chewed up by a difficult schedule in the Mountain State Athletic Conference.
South Charleston (3-5) at Capital (5-3)
South Charleston has been in the playoffs each of the last four seasons and nine of the last 12.
Capital is looking to bounce back from a tough 35-28 loss to Spring Valley. That loss bumped the Cougars down to seventh in the playoff ratings, and it will now be tough for them to climb into the top-four seeds to ensure hosting two playoff rounds. A win over South Charleston, though, should ensure Capital will host at least one playoff game.
This has been an excellent rivalry with some exciting games in the last several years, but Capital has controlled it recently. The Cougars have claimed five consecutive victories in the series, including the 2014 AAA state championship game.
Hurricane (4-4) at George Washington (5-3)
After a convincing 41-21 victory over Spring Valley, Hurricane sat at 4-1 with its sights set on hosting at least one playoff game. Now, it is looking to break a three-game skid with losses to Capital, Huntington, and Parkersburg.
The win over Spring Valley is still providing valuable bonus points, but Hurricane must either beat George Washington or win its finale over St. Albans to 100 percent ensure a spot in the playoffs — the Redskins still may get in with just four wins. Knocking off both would give Hurricane a shot at still hosting a playoff game.
George Washington’s season, meanwhile, has been somewhat the reverse of Hurricane’s. The Patriots dropped three of their first four contests before their conference schedule lightened a bit. They have now run off four straight victories, and a win this week should move them into the top eight.
Junior quarterback Grant Wells, who committed this week to play in college at Marshall, has led the way for George Washington. He has thrown for 1,316 yards and eight touchdowns, and he is also the team’s leading rusher with 497 yards and nine touchdowns on 82 carries.
Riverside (4-5) at Parkersburg (5-3)
**Game to be played at Ripley due to Parkersburg fire
Riverside wraps up its season this week by traveling to Parkersburg. The Warriors have teetered on the playoff cut line all season, and a tough 21-14 loss to George Washington last week pushed them outside the top-16.
Parkersburg continues to impress in its resurgent season. The once-dominant AAA program has missed the playoffs four out of the last five seasons, but last week’s win over Hurricane secured a spot in the postseason this year. Currently at No. 10 in the ratings, winning its final two games over Riverside and Parkersburg South could allow Parkersburg to host the first round of the playoffs.
Other Games:
Winfield (6-2) at Scott (3-5)
Poca (2-6) at Herbert Hoover (1-7)
Sissonville (5-3) at Nitro (2-6)
Lincoln County (3-5) at Buffalo (1-7)