There will officially be three weeks left in the regular season after Friday concludes. Several teams are still behind the pack in games played as we head down the stretch with much to gain. Several local Class AA schools have put themselves in contention for homefield advantage while the Class A playoff picture is murkier than ever.
All In
What Midland Trail head coach Frank Isaacs has done lays the blueprint for how programs that are serious about making deep playoff runs should handle their schedule. His Patriots have played Nicholas County and Independence, both Class AA teams that would be hosting playoff games if the season ended today, as well as Clay County. That’s what he’s always done – schedule up.
The bad news is that in a year where teams are struggling to get games in due to the pandemic, his team is struggling to stay in the playoff race.
Sitting at 2-3, the Patriots are No. 29 in the Class A playoff ratings, 13 spots outside of the field of 16. Fortunately for them there’s a wealth of bonus points sitting right in front of them as they travel to James Monroe on Friday.
The Mavericks are riding high after an upset victory at Greenbrier West that vaulted them all the way up to a four-way tie for No. 5 in the Class A playoff picture. Behind the stellar play of Cooper Ridgeway, the Mavericks are charging. If there’s a silver lining for the Patriots its that a win Friday would go a long way to correcting their season. The Mavericks are a perfect example.
At 3-1 last week, James Monroe was No. 14 in the Class A ratings. A big win and a jackpot of bonus points from Greenbrier West vaulted them up nine spots.
Though winning won’t be easy. The Patriots have been playing without linebackers River Barnhouse and Aden Isaacs the last few weeks and the difference has been noticeable. Nicholas County running back Kaleb Clark ran wild with over 150 yards against Trail and Independence backup running back Judah Price posted a cool 250-yard rushing performance.
If the Patriots hope to pull off the upset the trio of Ayden Simms, Josh Dickerson and Robert Ruffner will need to have one of their best performances of the season.
Race for homefield
As usual the Class AA field is littered with teams not only vying for playoff spots but also those hoping to secure homefield advantage.
The path to doing so appears clearer than ever for some, though intertwined with others. Starting with the big dog, Independence comes into the week rated No. 3 in Class AA. As it stands, the Patriots control their own fate in not just securing a home game in the playoffs, but also securing homefield advantage all the way to Wheeling should they make it that far.
A quick look at their schedule reveals a game against Class A Man on Friday followed by what will likely be showdown between two top-five Class AA teams in Indy and Nicholas County next Friday.
Sitting ahead of Indy in the ratings are Herbert Hoover at No. 1 and Poca at No. 2. Those two teams are scheduled to play on Oct. 29, provided Covid doesn’t interfere. If it does both teams could sit in their respective spots and force Indy to hit the road should it reach the semifinal round of the playoffs.
Other Class AA teams hoping to advance their playoff prospects include the other two Raleigh County Class AA teams in Shady Spring and Liberty.
For the Raiders there’s another opportunity to rack in bonus points with a big win when they travel to Scott. The Skyhawks are coming off a loss to Logan, a team Liberty already beat, but come in with a 4-2 record, meaning bonus points could help bolster their position. Considering last week’s win over Westside, as well as a few losses throughout Class AA, pushed Liberty into contention for a home playoff game the stakes are even higher. Sitting at No. 6, there’s a chance for the Raiders to climb even higher. If they win out, they can benefit from next week’s contest between Indy and Nicholas County. If Nicholas loses, that opens up a slot at No. 5.
Over in Shady Spring the Tigers’ playoff hopes were revived after the Westside loss was ruled a forfeit in favor of Shady as the Renegades used ineligible players. That combined with a win over Wyoming East last Friday has the Tigers on the verge of the playoffs, sitting at No. 17. They’ll have the opportunity to crack that field but the task won’t be easy. They host Mingo Central Friday, a team that’s 2-4 but more dangerous than its record would indicate. The Miners dispersed of a common foe in Wyoming East earlier this year, beating the Warriors 43-12 in New Richmond.
The Mingo game is the start of a stretch that will see the Tigers face Class AAA Ripley as well as Liberty in the final three weeks of the season. The opportunity to make the playoffs is there, but it will require Shady peaking at the right time.
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Last but not least on the Class AA front, Bluefield picked up its first win of the season Monday when it hosted PikeView. After going 35 days without playing a game, Friday will mark the third game in seven days for the Beavers as they visit Tazewell. As it stands, the Beavers are in playoff mode, still seeking a game to meet the eight-game requirement to qualify for the postseason but the time to stack wins is running out. At 1-2, it appears the road to the Class AA playoffs will no longer go through Mitchell Stadium as it has three of the last four years. The good news is just one win moved Bluefield from No. 34 in the ratings to No. 23. If they can win out and find another game, possibly against a Class AAA foe, there’s an outside chance of sneaking back into the top eight and ensure a first-round home playoff game.
Odds and ends
In Class A the only other game with playoff implications will likely be Greenbrier West at Richwood. West sits at No. 17 after last week’s loss to James Monroe. Every win is vital as the early projections appear unfavorable to Class A teams that lose more three games.
In Summers County the Bobcats will host Meadow Bridge, looking to snap a four-game losing streak. Sitting at 1-4 and No. 36 in the Class A ratings, the Bobcats likely have no shot at a playoff spot after a grueling schedule that’s seen them play Shady, Indy and Class A No. 4 Mount View.
Meadow Bridge on the other hand still has an outside shot, sitting at 2-3 and No. 22 in the latest ratings.
On the Class AAA front Princeton will be back in action for the first time in two weeks as it travels to Hedgesville, Greenbrier East will travel to Ripley and Beckley and Oak Hill will be idle.
Last but not least, Nicholas County will travel to Westside while the Point Pleasant at Wyoming East game has been called off.
