The WPIAL football regular season ends Saturday, Oct. 25th with the conclusion of the Burgettstown/Bishop Canevin game at Dormont Stadium. All told, 65 teams will enter the WPIAL playoffs, most by claiming one of the conference automatic berths, 16 others by invitation of the WPIAL Football Steering Committee as Wild Cards. The League is expected to release the brackets the afternoon of the final day of the season. Following is a two-weeks-to-play look at the playoff pictures for the 19 teams in Washington & Greene Counties. (Conference records).
The Class 1A playoff field will include 16 teams, the top three finishers in each of the four conferences, then four wild card selections. The Black Hills Conference will almost certainly get one wild card slot and possibly two. The Tri-County South did not fare well a year ago in the at-large selection process, though a 7-win fourth-place team should be in good shape for an at-large selection this season.
Black Hills Conference: Fort Cherry (5-0) has clinched their third straight conference title. The two-time defending WPIAL champion has a non-conference game this week before hosting Serra Catholic (0-4) to close the season. Chartiers-Houston (3-2) is in a virtual tie with Cornell (2-2) and Monessen (2-2) heading into this weekend’s action. The Bucs go to Cornell Friday to close their conference slate. Bugettstown (0-4) cannot win an automatic bid and is not in wild card consideration.
Tri-County South: California (5-0) has clinched one of the three automatic bids. The Trojans host Beth-Center this week before finishing at Jeff-Morgan. Bentworth (4-1) stayed within one game of the lead with last week’s win over Jeff-Morgan. The Bearcats go to Mapletown before hosting Avella. Bentworth clinches a playoff spot with a win. Jeff-Morgan (4-1) lost at Bentworth, now hosts Avella and California to close. The Rockets have to win at least once to qualify. Avella (3-2) goes to Jeff-Morgan, then Bentworth. The Eagles have to win at least once down the stretch to get in. Beth-Center (2-3), Carmichaels (1-4) , West Greene (1-4) and Mapletown (0-5) are relegated to spoiler role, which the Mikes may well have done with last week’s win at Avella.
2A Wash High, Waynesburg, Charleroi: The Little Prexies (4-0) locked up their playoff spot in the 13-team bracket, comprised of the top three finishers in each conference plus four wild card teams. Wash High has games with Carlynton (0-4) and co-leader Seton-La Salle (4-0). Waynesburg (1-3) cannot claim an automatic berth after its loss to Keystone Oaks (4-1). The Raiders close with Charleroi (1-3) and Sto-Rox (1-4), needing to win both to get to .500 and into the at-large discussion. Charleroi, at 1-7 overall, cannot qualify.
3A McGuffey: The Highlanders (0-5) cannot qualify for the 12-team bracket made up of the top three conference finishers and three wild card choices.
4A Trinity, Ringgold: The Hillers (3-0) have sole possession of first place in the Big Six Conference, one game up on Chartiers Valley (2-1) and Thomas Jefferson (2-1). The top two teams in each conference qualify for the 8-team bracket, supplemented by two wild cards teams. Trinity clinches a playoff spot with any win (at Laurel Highlands, at Belle Vernon), and the conference title with two wins, or a win and a Belle Vernon loss. The Hillers have already beaten Chartiers Valley (2-1) and Thomas Jefferson (2-1). Those two meet Friday in Bridgeville. Ringgold (1-2) goes to Belle Vernon (1-2) this week, then to Chartiers Valley to end the regular season, the Rams likely in need of two wins to get into wild card discussions, or losses ahead of them to get back in the AQ position.
5A Peters Township: The Indians (3-0) remain the #2 ranked team in the classification behind Pine-Richland. Peters Township clinches a playoff spot with any win, playing Friday at Baldwin (0-3), then closing the schedule at Bethel Park (1-2). The top three teams in each conference qualify along with three wild card selections, making up a 12-team bracket.
6A Canon-McMillan: The Big Macs (2-2) got some help last week when Seneca Valley (1-3) knocked off Hempfield (1-4). But the Big Macs could use one more win, either this week at Norwin (2-2) or home next Friday vs. Central Catholic (4-0). Shy of that, the Big Macs could use some help from Mt. Lebanon (1-3) this week at home against Hempfield. C-M clinches with a win this week, but can get in without it. The top four teams qualify for the bracket with Central Catholic and North Allegheny (4-1) already clinching spots.