2012 WPIAL Football Playoff Picture Through Week Six

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, October 11, 2012 | 9:23 PM

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This weekend begins the MSA Sports 'Stretch Run' to the 2012 WPIAL football regular season. The final three weeks in which you will here plenty of talk with these words and phrases: Conference champions; Home field advantage; Playoff positioning; Staying alive; Controlling your own destiny; wild card and of course, the dreaded Gardner points. Bottom line is these final three weeks will help set up the brackets for the eventual drive on the Highway to Heinz.

We will break down the WPIAL football playoff picture each week over the next couple of weeks, with each break down being more specific in what needs to happen for all teams involved.  Conference records are in parenthesis as well as remaining conference games.

WPIAL CLASS AAAA Northern Eight Conference:

* North Allegheny Tigers (4-0) have clinched a playoff spot (host Central Catholic 10/12, at Shaler 10/19, host North Hills 10/26)

* Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings (4-1) have clinched a playoff spot (at North Allegheny 10/12, at Butler 10/26)

* Seneca Valley Raiders (4-1) have clinched a playoff spot (at North Hills 10/12, host Fox Chapel 10/26) 

* North Hills Indians (3-1) can clinch a playoff spot with one more conference win (host SValley 10/12, at P-Rich 10/19, at N.Allegheny 10/26)

* Butler Golden Tornado (2-3) has inside track on fifth place and owns tiebreaker vs PRich (host FChapel 10/19, host Cent Cath 10/26)

* Pine-Richland (1-4), Fox Chapel (1-4) and Shaler (0-5) are still alive but need to win at least one if not both remaining conference games

WPIAL CLASS AAAA Southeastern Conference:

* Upper St. Clair Panthers (5-0) have clinched a playoff spot (at BPark 10/12, host Mount Lebanon 10/26)

* Mount Lebanon Blue Devils (5-0) can clinch with one more conference win (host Peters 10/12, at PHills 10/19, at USC 10/26)

* Bethel Park Black Hawks (4-2) can clinch a playoff spot with one more conference win or help (host USC 10/12, at Baldwin 10/26)

* Woodland Hills Wolverines (3-2) can clinch playoffs with two more conference wins (host CMac 10/12, at Peters 10/19, host PH 10/26)

* Peters Township Indians (3-2) can clinch playoffs with two more conference wins (at MtL 10/12, host WHillls 10/19, at CMac 10/26)

* Penn Hills Indians (2-3) can clinch playoffs with two more conference wins and help (at Plum 10/12, host MtL 10/19, at WHills 10/26)

* Baldwin (1-5) and Plum (0-6) need to win both remaining conference games and get plenty of help

WPIAL CLASS AAAA Foothills Conference:

* Gateway Gators (5-0) can clinch a playoff spot with one more conference win (host Nor 10/12, at Penn-Traff 10/19, at McK 10/26)

* Penn-Trafford Warriors (5-0) can clinch a playoff spot with one more conference win (host KA 10/12, Gate 10/19, at Hemp 10/26)

* Kiski Area Cavaliers (3-2) can clinch playoffs with two wins or one conference win and help (at PT 10/12, McK 10/19, at Lat 10/26)

* McKeesport Tigers (3-2) can clinch playoffs with two wins or one conf. win and help (host Conn 10/12, at KA 10/19, host Gate 10/26)   

* Hempfield Spartans (3-3) can clinch playoffs with two conference wins or one win and help (at Nor 10/19, host Penn-Traff 10/26)

* Connellsville Falcons (2-3) can clinch playoffs with two conference wins and help (at McK 10/12, host Lat 10/19, at Alt 10/26)

* Altoona Mountain Lions (2-4) can clinch playoffs with two conference wins or one and help (at Lat 10/12, host Conn 10/26)

* Norwin (1-5) and Latrobe (0-5) need to win remaining conference game and get help to have any chance

WPIAL CLASS AAA Big Nine Conference:

* West Mifflin Titans (6-0) have clinched playoff spot (at Trinity 10/19, at Thomas Jefferson 10/26)

* Thomas Jefferson Jaguars (5-0) can clinch a playoff spot with one more conference win (at BVA 10/12, at Utown 10/19, host WM 10/26)

* Ringgold Rams (4-2) can clinch a playoff spot with a win in one of two conference games left (at EF 10/12, host Trinity 10/26)

* Trinity Hillers (3-2) can clinch playoff spot with two wins or one conference win with help (at Utown 10/12, host WM 10/19, at Ring 10/26)

* Elizabeth Forward Warriors (3-3) can clinch playoffs with two conference wins or one with help (host Ring 10/12, at AGal 10/19)

* Belle Vernon Leopards (2-3) need to win at least two more conf games for playoff shot (host TJ 10/12, host LH 10/19, at AGal 10/26)

Uniontown (1-4), Laurel Highlands (0-5) and Albert Gallatin (0-5) need to win out and get some help to make playoffs

WPIAL CLASS AAA Parkway Conference:

* Montour Spartans (5-0) have clinched a playoff spot (at Black 10/12, host West A 10/19, host Moon 10/26)

* Central Valley Warriors (5-1) can clinch a playoff spot with one more conference win (at Hopewell 10/12, host Ambridge 10/19)

* West Allegheny Indians (4-1) can clinch a playoff spot with one more conference win (host NC 10/12, at Mont 10/19, at Char Vall 10/26)

* Hopewell Vikings (3-3) can clinch a playoff spot with two conf wins or one with help (host Cent Vall 10/12, host NC 10/26)

* Ambridge Bridgers (2-3) can clinch with two more conf wins or one with help (host Char Vall 10/12, at Cent Vall 10/19, host Black 10/26)

* New Castle Red Hurricane (2-3) can clinch with two conf wins or one with help (at WA 10/12, host Moon 10/19, at Hope 10/26)

* Blackhawk (1-4), Chartiers Valley (1-4) and Moon (1-5) need to win out and get help to make the postseason

WPIAL CLASS AAA Greater Allegheny Conference:

* Mars Fighting Planets (5-0) can clinch a playoff spot with one more conference win (host Knoch 10/12, at Holl (10/19, at Hamp 10/26)

* Franklin Regional Panthers (4-1) can clinch a playoff spot with two more conference wins or one with help (host Holl 10/12, at Hamp 10/19, host Derry 10/26)

* Hampton Talbots (4-1) can clinch a playoff spot with two more conference wins or one with help (at Derry 10/12, host FR 10/19, host Mars 10/26)

* Knoch Knights (3-2) can clinch with two more conference wins or one with help (at Mars 10/12, host Indiana 10/19, at High 10/26)

* Hollidaysburg Golden Tigers (3-2) can clinch with two more conf wins or one with help (at FR 10/12, host Mars 10/19, at Ind 10/26)     

* Indiana Little Indians (2-4) and Highlands Golden Rams (2-4) need to win out and get some tiebreaker help. Indiana (at Knoch 10/19, host Holl 10/26). Highlands (at G-Salem 10/12, host Knoch 10/26)

* Greensburg-Salem (1-5) and Derry (0-5) need to win out and get lost of help. 

WPIAL CLASS AA Midwestern Conference:

* Aliquippa Quips (4-0) have clinched a playoff spot

* Beaver Bobcats (4-0) and Beaver Falls Tigers (4-1) are one conference win away from clinching a playoff spot

* Beaver Falls at Aliquippa on 10/19 and Beaver at Aliquippa on 10/26 will determine the order of the top three teams

* Freedom (2-3), Mohawk (2-3), Ellwood City (1-4), New Brighton (1-4) and Riverside (1-4) are all alive for the final playoff spot

WPIAL CLASS AA Century Conference:

* South Fayette Lions (6-0) have clinched a playoff spot and needs just one more conference win to win the conference title

* Seton-LaSalle Rebels (5-1) can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Quaker Valley or a Steel Valley loss to South Park on 10/12

* South Allegheny (4-1) can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Keystone Oaks (10/12)  and a South Park loss to Steel Valley

* The winner of Steel Valley at South Park takes over fourth place, although SV has lighter schedule in final two weeks (at SA, home to McG) where for SP (home SF, at SL)

WPIAL CLASS AA Interstate Conference:

* Washington Little Prexies (6-0), Jeannette Jayhawks (5-1) and Mount Pleasant Vikings (5-1) have all clinched playoff spots.

* Washington will be conference champs if they win at Mount Pleasant on 10/12

* Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions (3-2) hosts the Yough Cougars (2-3)  on 10/19 with the winner having a good shot at fourth place

WPIAL CLASS AA Allegheny Conference:

* Freeport Yellowjackets (5-1) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at East Allegheny on 10/12

* Burrell Buccaneers (4-1)  and Shady Side Academy (4-2) control their own playoff fate

* Kittanning Wildcats (3-2) at Valley Vikings (3-2) on 10/19 could determine a playoff spot

WPIAL CLASS A Black Hills Conference:

* Clairton Bears (6-0) has clinched a playoff spot

* Bishop Canevin Crusaders (5-1) and Monessen Greyhounds (5-1) are one conference win away from clinching a playoff spot

* Brentwood Spartans (3-3) is two conference wins away (or help) from clinching a playoff spot. Brentwood owns the tiebreaker over both Chartiers-Houston (2-4) and Fort Cherry (2-4) if they were to tie.

* Imani Christian Saints (5-1) are on probation and are NOT eligible for the WPIAL playoffs.

WPIAL CLASS A Big 7 Conference:

* Rochester Rams (5-0) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Laurel on 10/12

* Neshannock Lancers (5-1) could clinch a playoff spot with a win at OLSH on 10/12 and if Laurel loses to Rochester or Union loses to Shenango

* Sto-Rox Vikings (4-1) can clinch a playoff spot with a win against Western Beaver on 10/12 and against Laurel on 10/19

* Laurel Spartans (3-2), Union Scotties (3-2) and Shenango (2-3) are battling for likely the final playoff spot. Union at Shenango on 10/13 and Shenango at Laurel on 10/26 will go a long way to determine a postseason berth

WPIAL CLASS A Eastern Conference:

* Northgate Flames (5-0) can clinch a playoff spot with a win against Apollo-Ridge on 10/12

* North Catholic Trojans (5-1) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Wilkinsburg on 10/13

* Springdale Dynamos (4-1) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Avonworth on 10/12

* Apollo-Ridge Vikings (3-2) and Avonworth Antelopes (3-2) are in the hunt for a playoff spot with AR owning the tiebreaker

WPIAL CLASS A Tri-County South Conference:

* Beth-Center Bulldogs (6-0) have clinched a playoff spot

* Avella Eagles (4-1) can move closer to a playoff spot with a win against Carmichaels on 10/12. A loss however and they lose tiebreakers to both Frazier and Carmichaels

* Frazier Commodores (4-2) , Jefferson-Morgan Rockets (4-2) and Carmichaels Mighty Mikes (3-2) are alive and looking to inch closer to a playoff spot with wins.