MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In a significant decision, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia has ruled in favor of the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC), marking an important step forward for high school football in the state. This ruling has lifted an injunction that had disrupted the state high school football playoffs for an entire week.
With the court’s decision, the original ratings points formula is back in action, which will be used to finalize the seeds for all four classes in the upcoming WVSSAC football playoffs. The first-round games are on schedule for November 22-23, with specific dates and times expected to be announced later today. This means that the usual playoff timeline has shifted back by one week, leading to state title games now taking place on December 13-14 at the University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field.
The postponement also affects some scheduled games, including a Class A “play-in” game between St. Marys and Tolsia, which has now been canceled. The Supreme Court emphasized that the WVSSAC possessed the authority to reclassify schools and that any objections about timing or execution of those adjustments would not be subject to court review.
Moreover, schools such as Hampshire, Point Pleasant (Class AAA), Westside (Class AA), and Tolsia (Class A) have had their playoff spots reinstated in their divisions. However, Capital, St. Albans, Lincoln, and St. Marys will not be participating in the postseason.
The legal struggles began when several schools expressed concern over the WVSSAC’s ratings formula after a series of changes were made to the classifications earlier this year. The WVSSAC Executive Director, David Price, stated that the existing football rating plan did not allow for the changes that these schools requested.
As the playoffs prepare to kick off, the record of Spring Mills High School has also altered due to a recent ruling that restored previous victories lost to an ineligible player’s participation. This change boosts Spring Mills from a 5-5 record to a 9-1 record, elevating them to the No. 2 seed in the Class AAAA playoffs.
Here’s a look at the upcoming WVSSAC high school football playoffs matchups:
- Class AAAA:
- No. 16 Parkersburg (4-6) at No. 1 Martinsburg (9-1)
- No. 15 Hedgesville (2-8) at No. 2 Spring Mills (9-1)
- No. 14 Cabell Midland (5-5) at No. 3 Jefferson (7-3)
- No. 13 Musselman (2-8) at No. 4 Wheeling Park (7-3)
- No. 12 University (4-6) at No. 5 Huntington (9-1)
- No. 11 George Washington (7-3) at No. 6 Hurricane (7-3)
- No. 10 Woodrow Wilson (6-4) at No. 7 Morgantown (7-3)
- No. 9 Washington (6-4) at No. 8 Parkersburg South (5-5)
- Class AAA:
- No. 16 Hampshire (5-5) at No. 1 Princeton (10-0)
- No. 15 Point Pleasant (4-5) at No. 2 Fairmont Senior (9-1)
- No. 14 Robert C. Byrd (4-6) at No. 3 Bridgeport (10-0)
- No. 13 Elkins (5-5) at No. 4 Herbert Hoover (10-0)
- No. 12 Lewis County (5-5) at No. 5 Oak Hill (9-1)
- No. 11 Shady Spring (7-3) at No. 6 Nitro (9-1)
- No. 10 East Fairmont (5-4) at No. 7 Spring Valley (7-3)
- No. 9 Ripley (7-3) at No. 8 North Marion (7-3)
- Class AA:
- No. 16 Westside (7-3) at No. 1 Frankfort (10-0)
- No. 15 Chapmanville (5-5) at No. 2 Roane County (10-0)
- No. 14 James Monroe (7-3) at No. 3 Independence (6-3)
- No. 13 Moorefield (4-6) at No. 4 Williamstown (8-2)
- No. 12 Nicholas County (6-4) at No. 5 Wheeling Central Catholic (8-2)
- No. 11 Clay County (7-3) at No. 6 Philip Barbour (7-3)
- No. 10 Wayne (6-4) at No. 7 Scott (8-2)
- No. 9 South Harrison (8-2) at No. 8 Bluefield (4-5)
- Class A:
- No. 16 Tolsia (6-4) at No. 1 Tug Valley (10-0)
- No. 15 East Hardy (4-6) at No. 2 Tucker County (10-0)
- No. 14 Madonna (7-3) at No. 3 Wahama (10-0)
- No. 13 Valley Wetzel (7-2) at No. 4 Cameron (9-1)
- No. 12 Wirt County (7-3) at No. 5 Doddridge County (8-2)
- No. 11 Tyler Consolidated (6-4) at No. 6 Sherman (8-2)
- No. 10 Meadow Bridge (7-3) at No. 7 Pendleton County (7-3)
- No. 9 River View (7-3) at No. 8 Petersburg (5-5)
As the playoffs prepare to commence, excitement continues to build among teams and fans alike throughout West Virginia.
