We are less than a week away from the official playoff brackets being released by the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission. Tuesday the SSAC released the latest round of playoff rankings.
During the next few weeks, LedeNews.com will examine the playoff race, by class, each week. This week, we’ll take a look at the rankings prior to the final week of play and some potential outcomes. Today we take a look at A.
Must Win for the Champs
Wheeling Central (5-3) had little time to celebrate last week’s huge win against Williamstown. Despite the points barrage gained by defeating the Yellowjackets, the defending Class A champs find themselves on the outside looking in at the playoff picture.
One thing keeping Central lower in the rankings is how bonus points are being tabulated, in particular, for Ohio teams. Once Ohio started its postseason, no additional wins were factored in. So that win against Shadyside stopped being beneficial Week 7.
The Tigers are playing to form and are in the Division VII regional final opposite Newark Catholic. But as far as the WV ratings system is concerned, they finished 3-3.
Central is currently No. 18 in Class A, two spots away from the final spot. Playing from the lower half of the bracket has never bothered the Knights.
The three-time defending champs won last season out of the No. 10 spot, not once setting foot on their home turf during the postseason, unless you count the Island.
But to even get in the playoffs—provided Ohio County moves off its current orange coloring—head coach Mike Young’s charges must get past Petersburg.
Petersburg hasn’t won a game on the field since defeating Class AAA Hampshire 39-25 back in October. That capped a four-game win streak that also featured a big 50-24 win against AA Independence and Atticus Goodson.
But what followed were blowout losses to Frankfort and Keyser before a forfeit win against Tucker County last week. The Vikings are facing a hungry Maroon Knights’ team playing for their playoff lives.
Traditionally, that situation has not faired well for Class A opponents.
Madonna Punches Ticket
The No. 15 Madonna Blue Dons effectively punched their postseason ticket earlier this week with a 32-14 win against Bridgeport.
Quarterback Santino Arlia again led the high-flying Blue Dons’ passing attack, firing for 267 yards and three touchdowns. Thomas Sessi hauled in seven of those passes for 145 yards and two scores along with gaining 72 yards and a score on the ground.
Madonna will no doubt hit the round for the first round. Arlia and company will be looking for the school’s first postseason victory since the Blue Dons won the 2013 Class A championship.
It’s two recent postseason appearances have ended in the first round in 2017 (37-14 loss to Sherman) and last season’s 57-7 loss to No. 1 Doddridge County.
Elsewhere in the OVAC, No. 13 Clay-Battelle is in good position to advance provided it dispatches of Wirt County tonight at home.
The only other OVAC teams within sniffing distance of a postseason spot are Cameron (No. 22, 4-3) and Trinity (No. 23, 3-2).
The Dragons were originally supposed to play Madonna this week but were forced to cancel when Marshall County first came up gold. Barring a whole load of COVID casualties, the Dragons’ appear done for the season.
Trinity, meanwhile, takes on Wahama (5-4) on the road and, with a win and a lot of luck, could sneak in.
Ratings
| Rank | School | Rating | W | L | Current DHRR Map Color |
| 1 | TUG VALLEY | 9 | 3 | 0 | Red |
| 2 | GREENBRIER WEST | 8.88 | 8 | 0 | Green |
| 3 | ST. MARYS | 8.44 | 8 | 1 | Gold |
| 4 | DODDRIDGE COUNTY | 8.17 | 5 | 1 | Green |
| 5 | MIDLAND TRAIL | 7.75 | 3 | 1 | Yellow |
| 6 | BUFFALO | 7.33 | 5 | 1 | Orange |
| 6 | EAST HARDY | 7.33 | 5 | 1 | Green |
| 8 | WILLIAMSTOWN | 7.14 | 5 | 2 | Orange |
| 9 | RITCHIE COUNTY | 6.78 | 7 | 2 | Yellow |
| 10 | TYGARTS VALLEY | 6.75 | 7 | 1 | Gold |
| 11 | PETERSBURG | 6.5 | 5 | 3 | Green |
| 12 | TOLSIA | 6.33 | 4 | 2 | Yellow |
| 13 | CLAY-BATTELLE | 6.25 | 3 | 1 | Green |
| 14 | PENDLETON COUNTY | 6.17 | 4 | 2 | Green |
| 15 | SUMMERS COUNTY | 6 | 4 | 2 | Green |
| 15 | MADONNA | 6 | 6 | 2 | Green |
| 17 | WIRT COUNTY | 5.83 | 4 | 2 | Gold |
| 18 | WHEELING CENTRAL | 5.63 | 5 | 3 | Orange |
| 19 | MOOREFIELD | 5.2 | 3 | 2 | Green |
| 20 | RIVER VIEW | 4.86 | 4 | 3 | Yellow |
| 21 | SHERMAN | 4.57 | 4 | 3 | Yellow |
| 22 | CAMERON | 4.43 | 4 | 3 | Red |
| 23 | TRINITY CHRISTIAN | 4.2 | 3 | 2 | Green |
| 24 | GILMER COUNTY | 4.13 | 4 | 4 | Green |
| 25 | WAHAMA | 3.78 | 5 | 4 | Green |
| 26 | MOUNT VIEW | 3.63 | 3 | 5 | Yellow |
| 27 | JAMES MONROE | 3.5 | 1 | 1 | Gold |
| 27 | MEADOW BRIDGE | 3.5 | 3 | 3 | Yellow |
| 29 | MAN | 3.17 | 2 | 4 | Green |
| 30 | SOUTH HARRISON | 2.86 | 3 | 4 | Green |
| 31 | VAN | 2.6 | 2 | 3 | Yellow |
| 32 | MAGNOLIA | 2.25 | 2 | 6 | Gold |
| 33 | RICHWOOD | 2 | 2 | 6 | Green |
| 34 | TYLER CONSOLIDATED | 1.88 | 2 | 6 | Orange |
| 34 | POCAHONTAS COUNTY | 1.88 | 2 | 6 | Green |
| 36 | VALLEY (Wetzel) | 1.71 | 2 | 5 | Gold |
| 37 | TUCKER COUNTY | 1 | 1 | 5 | Green |
| 38 | RAVENSWOOD | 0.67 | 1 | 8 | Orange |
| 38 | MONTCALM | 0.67 | 1 | 8 | Green |
| 40 | HANNAN | 0 | 0 | 3 | Green |
| 40 | HUNDRED | 0 | 0 | 8 | Gold |
| 40 | WEBSTER COUNTY | 0 | 0 | 9 | Green |
| 40 | PADEN CITY | 0 | 0 | 2 | Gold |
| 40 | CALHOUN COUNTY | 0 | 0 | 7 | Green |
Key Matchups
Doddridge County’s defense showed signs of vulnerability for the first time all season its loss to Class AA Herbert Hoover. It fell to No. 4 in rankings but plays host to No.10 Tygarts Valley and its 7-1 record.
A win provides plenty of points. No. 1 Tug Valley is in Mingo County, which shows no signs of getting out of the red. No. 2 Greenbrier West and No. 3 St. Marys are off, so there’s a chance a win pushes Doddridge into one of the top two coveted spots.
Another team fighting to get into at least the Top 4 is No. 6 East Hardy. The Cougars host No. 14 Pendleton County (4-2) and a win should provide a decent amount of points.
The problem is No. 5 Midland Trail has a winnable game against Pocahontas County. Buffalo, tied with East Hardy at No. 6, is playing a battle-tested Man team 3-4 which has played well against a ridiculously difficult schedule.
