2016 WPIAL Football Playoff Picture – 10/23

By: Bruce Markey
Sunday, October 23, 2016 | 10:18 AM

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For some teams, Week Nine will be a time to celebrate conference championships…for others, they will earn home field advantage…for others, joy will fill the locker room after a playoff berth is finally clinched…and sadly, others will come up short and the fear of a season over and done will be come a harsh reality.  To help prepare for for a wild weekend (including wild cards), here is the latest WPIAL Playoff Picture heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

A quick tutorial:
Top FOUR teams in each of the two conferences make playoffs in 6-A, 5-A and 4-A.
Top TWO teams in each of three conferences in Class 3-A plus TWO third place wild card teams. One second place team will join the conference champs in hosting a Quarterfinals playoff game.
Top FIVE teams in each of the three conference in Class 2-A and Class 1-A plus ONE sixth place wild card team. TWO third place teams will join the top two in each conference in hosting a First Round playoff game.

MSA Sports exclusive coverage of the 2016 Highway to Heinz AND The Road to RMU will begin on Halloween night, October 31st with the WPIAL Football Playoff Pairings Show at 7:00pm.

Only conference records are shown.

WPIAL CLASS 6-A Northern Seven Conference:

* Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings (5-0) have clinched a share of the conference championship and first place in the conference. A win at Penn Hills on Friday gives them the outright conference championship.

* North Allegheny Tigers (4-1) and Pine-Richland Rams (4-1) have both clinched and play Friday at Pine-Richland for second place.

* Seneca Valley Raiders (3-3) have clinched fourth place by virtue of their head-to-head victory over Penn Hills.

WPIAL CLASS 6-A Southeastern Conference:

* Bethel Park Black Hawks (5-0) and Mount Lebanon Blue Devils (4-1) have both clinched. Bethel Park has clinched a share of the conference championship and can win it outright with a victory over Mount Lebanon on Friday. Mount Lebanon can earn a share of the conference title and first place out of the conference with a win at Bethel Park on Friday.

* Norwin Knights (3-2) and Hempfield Spartans (3-2) have clinched playoff berths and meet Friday at Norwin with the winner claiming third place. There is a chance if Hempfield beats Norwin and Mount Lebanon loses to Bethel Park, Hempfield would finish second and Mount Lebanon third.

WPIAL CLASS 5-A Allegheny Nine Conference:

* West Allegheny Indians (7-0) have clinched a share of the conference championship and first place in the conference. A win over Moon on Friday gives them the outright conference championship.

* Woodland Hills Wolverines (6-1) and Upper St. Clair Panthers (6-1) play for second place on Friday at The Wolvarena in Turtle Creek. The loser finishes in third place.

* North Hills Indians (4-3) have clinched fourth place even if they lose to Hampton on Friday by virtue of their head-to-head victories over both Fox Chapel and Moon.

WPIAL CLASS 5-A Big East Conference:

* Armstrong River Hawks (6-1) have clinched a playoff spot and can earn at least a share of the conference championship and first place in the conference with a win on Friday over Kiski Area.

* McKeesport Tigers (6-1) have clinched a playoff spot and can earn at least a share of the conference championship and no worse than second place in the conference with a win Friday at Penn-Trafford. A McKeesport win and an Armstrong loss gives McKeesport the conference championship outright.

* Gateway Gators (5-2) have clinched a playoff berth and can clinch third place with a win over Franklin Regional on Friday. Even if Gateway loses, they have earned a playoff berth by virtue of head-to-head wins over both Kiski Area and Penn-Trafford.

* Franklin Regional Panthers (5-2) can clinch a playoff spot and third place with a win Friday at Gateway. Franklin Regional can clinch even with a loss IF Kiski Area loses to Armstrong by virtue of head-to-head victory over Penn-Trafford.

* Penn-Trafford Warriors (4-3) can clinch a playoff spot with a win over McKeesport on Friday AND a Franklin Regional loss at Gateway AND a Kiski Area win over Armstrong.

* Kiski Area Cavaliers (4-3) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Armstrong on Friday AND a Franklin Regional loss at Gateway AND a Penn-Trafford loss to McKeesport.

* If Franklin Regional loses and both Penn-Trafford and Kiski Area win, they will all finish 5-3 and will have split in head-to-head. By virtue of their wins over McKeesport and Armstrong in Week 9, Penn-Trafford and Kiski Area would have more Gardner Points and Penn-Trafford would advance because of their head-to-head win over Kiski Area,

WPIAL CLASS 4-A Big Nine Conference:

* Thomas Jefferson Jaguars (7-0) have clinched a share of the conference championship and can win the title outright and earn first place in the conference with a win Friday at West Mifflin.

* West Mifflin Titans (6-1) have clinched a playoff spot and can earn a share of the conference championship and first place in the conference with a win over Thomas Jefferson on Friday. West Mifflin has clinched at least second place even if they lose to Thomas Jefferson by virtue of their head-to-head victory over Belle Vernon. If West Mifflin loses and Ringgold beats Trinity Friday, there will be a three way tie for second place. West Mifflin, Ringgold and Belle Vernon will have all split in head-to-head and would be tied with Gardner Points, but West Mifflin can’t be caught in WPIAL tiebreaker points.

* Belle Vernon Leopards (6-2) have clinched third place by virtue of their head-to-head win over Ringgold.

* Ringgold Rams (5-2) have clinched fourth place

WPIAL CLASS 4-A Northwest Nine Conference:

* South Fayette Lions (7-0) have clinched a share of the conference championship and first place in the conference. A win over Montour on Friday gives them the outright conference championship.

* Mars Fighting Planets (6-1) have clinched second place and can earn a share of the conference championship with a win over Knoch AND a South Fayette loss to Montour.

* New Castle Red Hurricane (5-2) can earn a playoff spot with a win at Blackhawk on Friday OR a Montour loss at South Fayette.

* Blackhawk Cougars (4-3) can earn a playoff spot with a win over New Castle on Friday.

* Montour Spartans (4-3) can earn a playoff spot with a win at South Fayette on Friday OR a Blackhawk loss to New Castle.

* If Blackhawk and Montour win on Friday, that would force a three-way tie with New Castle for third place and they would have split in head-to-head. Montour would finish in third place based on most Gardner Points after beating South Fayette and Blackhawk would be fourth based on head-to-head victory over New Castle.

WPIAL CLASS 3-A Beaver Valley Conference:

* Aliquippa Quips (4-1) have clinched a playoff spot and host Hopewell on Friday.

* The winner of the Beaver Falls Tigers (4-1) at Beaver Bobcats (4-1) game on Friday will clinch a playoff berth.

* Central Valley Warriors (4-2) have a non-conference game at Shady Side Academy .

* If Aliquippa and Beaver win on Friday = Beaver is first based on head-to-head win over Aliquippa…Aliquippa is second…Beaver Falls is third based on head-to-head win over Central Valley.

* If Aliquippa and Beaver Falls win on Friday = Aliquippa is first based on head-to-head win over Beaver Falls…Beaver Falls is second…Central Valley is third based on head-to-head win over Beaver.

* If Hopewell and Beaver win on Friday = Beaver is first…Aliquippa is second based on head-to-head wins over Beaver Falls and Central Valley…Beaver Falls is third based on head-to-head with Central Valley.

* If Hopewell and Beaver Falls win on Friday = Beaver Falls is first…Aliquippa is second based on more Gardner Points than Beaver and Central Valley because of win over Beaver Falls…Central Valley is third.

WPIAL CLASS 3-A Allegheny Conference:

* Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles (6-0) have clinched the conference championship and first place in the conference. They face Seton-LaSalle on Friday.

* Apollo-Ridge Vikings (5-2) have clinched a playoff berth and second place based on head-to-head wins over both Seton-LaSalle and Valley. Apollo-Ridge has a non-conference game at South Allegheny on Friday.

* Valley Vikings (4-2) are alive for a third place wild card and are at Freeport on Friday. Valley can finish in third place with a win based on head-to-head victory over Seton-LaSalle.

* Seton-LaSalle Rebels (4-2) are alive for a third place wild card and face Keystone Oaks on Friday. Seton-LaSalle needs a win AND a Valley loss to finish in third place.

WPIAL CLASS 3-A Interstate Conference:

* Derry Trojans (6-0) have clinched the conference championship and first place. They are at McGuffey on Friday.

* Mount Pleasant Vikings (4-2), South Park Eagles (4-2) and Yough Cougars (3-3) are alive for second place or a third place wild card. On Friday: Mount Pleasant at Southmoreland, Yough at South Park, Derry at McGuffey (Elizabeth Forward has a non-conference at Burgettstown)

* Elizabeth Forward Warriors (4-3) and McGuffey Highlanders (3-3) have no chance to finish second or third in below scenarios and are out of the playoff chase.

* If Mount Pleasant and South Park win on Friday: Mount Pleasant is in second place and South Park third based on head-to-head result.

* If Mount Pleasant, Yough and Derry win on Friday: Mount Pleasant is second and third place tie will be decided by tiebreaker points. Coming into this week, South Park +16,  Elizabeth Forward +2, Yough -1. Yough would have to beat South Park by 9 or more points.

* If Mount Pleasant, Yough and McGuffey win on Friday: Mount Pleasant is second and third place would be decided by tiebreaker points again between Yough, Elizabeth Forward and South Park after McGuffey would be out on head-to-head with 0-3 record vs tied teams.

* If Southmoreland, South Park and Derry win on Friday: South Park is second and Mount Pleasant third based on head-to-head tiebreaker with Elizabeth Forward.

* If Southmoreland, South Park and McGuffey win on Friday: South Park is second and Mount Pleasant is third after head-to-head between Mount Pleasant, Elizabeth Forward and McGuffey is even. Mount Pleasant would have more Gardner Points based on win over South Park.

* If Southmoreland, Yough and Derry win on Friday: Mount Pleasant is second based on 3-0 head-to-head record with South Park, Elizabeth Forward and Yough and third place would be decided by tiebreaker points again between Yough, Elizabeth Forward and South Park.

* If Southmoreland, Yough and McGuffey win on Friday: That would create a 5-way tie for second place. Mount Pleasant would be second based on 3-1 record in head-to-head and third place would be decided by tiebreaker points again between Yough, Elizabeth Forward and South Park after McGuffey would be out on head-to-head with 0-3 record vs tied teams.

WPIAL CLASS 3-A Wild Card and Third Place:

5-2 will likely be the record of the team that wins the wild card. In contention: Beaver/Beaver Falls loser, Central Valley, South Park Eagles, Valley Vikings and Seton-LaSalle Rebels.
Gardner Points coming into Week 9: Beaver +130, Beaver Falls +100, Central Valley +130, South Park +80, Valley +70 and Seton-LaSalle +60
Beaver Valley Conference trio do have lead in WPIAL tiebreaker points…Beaver +43, Beaver Falls +36, Central Valley +33, Seton-LaSalle +27, South Park +16 and Valley +8, thus eliminating South Park and Valley.
For second place home field, if Aliquippa wins, the second place team in the Beaver Valley Conference will host a Quarterfinals playoff game.

WPIAL CLASS 2-A Three Rivers Conference:

* Steel Valley Ironmen (6-0) have clinched a share of the conference championship and can win it outright and finish first with a win at Brentwood on Friday.

* Brentwood Spartans (5-1) have clinched a playoff berth and can earn a share of the conference championship with a win over Steel Valley on Friday.

* East Allegheny Wildcats (5-1) have clinched a playoff berth and can finish in second place with a win at Serra Catholic on Friday and can earn a share of the conference championship with a win AND a Steel Valley loss at Brentwood on Friday.

* If Brentwood and East Allegheny win, there will be a three-way tie for the conference championship. All three split head-to-head and Gardner Points would be tied. WPIAL tiebreaker points would decide first place and that would be Steel Valley, who comes into Week Nine at +60. Both East Allegheny and Brentwood are +39. Steel Valley would be first, East Allegheny would be second based on head-to-head tiebreaker with Brentwood.

* Avonworth Antelopes (3-3) and Serra Catholic Eagles (3-3) have both clinched a playoff berth. Avonworth is at Vincentian Academy on Saturday while Serra Catholic hosts East Allegheny on Friday. If they both win OR both lose, Avonworth will finish in fourth place based on head-to-head win over Serra Catholic.

WPIAL CLASS 2-A Midwestern Athletic Conference:

* Neshannock Lancers (6-0) have clinched at least a share of the conference championship AND first place in the conference and can win the conference title outright with a win over Mohawk on Friday.

* Riverside Panthers (5-1) have clinched second place and are at New Brighton on Friday.

* Laurel Spartans (4-3), Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans (3-3), Freedom Bulldogs (3-3) and South Side Rams (3-4) have ALL clinched playoff spots.

* The order of third place, fourth place, fifth place and sixth place will be decided by the Freedom at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic game since Laurel (hosts Carlynton) and South Side (at Waynesburg) have non-conference games on Friday. If Freedom wins: Laurel is third, Freedom is fourth, South Side is fifth and Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic is sixth. If Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic wins: Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic is third, Laurel is fourth, Freedom is fifth and South Side is sixth.

WPIAL CLASS 2-A Century Conference:

* Washington Little Prexies (6-0) have clinched at least a share of the conference championship AND first place in the conference and can win the conference title outright with a win over Beth-Center on Friday.

* Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers (5-1) have clinched a playoff berth and can finish in second place with a win at Frazier on Friday.

* Frazier Commodores (4-2) have clinched a playoff berth and can finish in second place with a win over Chartiers-Houston on Friday.

* Burgettstown Blue Devils (4-3) have clinched a playoff berth and will finish no worse then fourth place and could finish third if Frazier loses to Chartiers-Houston.

* Beth-Center Bulldogs (3-3) have clinched fifth place.

WPIAL CLASS 2-A Wild Card and Third Place:

The 2-A wild card will be either Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic or South Side from the Midwestern Athletic Conference. Both teams have clinched.
Meanwhile, the third place finishers that will host home games will come from the Three Rivers Conference (either Brentwood or East Allegheny) and from the Century Conference (Chartiers-Houston or Burgettstown).

WPIAL CLASS 1-A Big 7 Conference:

* Rochester Rams (7-0) have clinched at least a share of the conference championship AND first place in the conference and can win the conference title outright with a win at Western Beaver on Saturday.

* Northgate Flames (6-1) have clinched second place.

* Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers (4-2) and Sto-Rox Vikings (4-2) have clinched playoff berths and play for third place at Sto-Rox on Friday.

* Shenango Wildcats (3-4) can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Union on Friday. Shenango could still qualify as a wild card if they lose.

* Union Scotties (2-5) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Shenango on Friday. Even if Western Beaver wins over Rochester on Saturday and Union beats Shenango, Union wins head-to-head tiebreaker against Shenango and Western Beaver.

* If Union loses to Shenango on Friday and Western Beaver (2-5) loses to Rochester on Saturday, then there will be a three way tie for sixth place along with Summit Academy (2-6). All three split in head-to-head and would be tied in Gardner Points. WPIAL tiebreaker points heading into Week Nine are Union (-26), Western Beaver (-32) and Summit Academy (-40), so Summit Academy has no chance to finish sixth and has been eliminated.

WPIAL CLASS 1-A Tri-County South Conference:

* Carmichaels Mighty Mikes (6-0) have clinched the conference championship AND first place in the conference. Carmichaels has a non-conference game Friday against Bishop Canevin.

* Fort Cherry Rangers (5-1) have clinched second place.

* California Trojans (4-2) have clinched third place.

* Mapletown Maples (3-3) have clinched fourht place.

* West Greene Pioneers (2-4) can clinch a playoff spot with a win over California on Friday.

* Avella Eagles (2-5) has a non-conference game at Summit Academy on Saturday. Avella would finish in fifth place in a two-way tiebreaker with West Greene, a three-way tiebreaker with West Greene and Monessen or a four-way tiebreaker with West Greene, Jefferson-Morgan (1-5) and Monessen (1-5).

* Jefferson-Morgan Rockets (1-5) can clinch a playoff berth with a win at Fort Cherry on Friday AND a West Greene loss to California AND a Monessen loss at Mapletown. Jefferson-Morgan, Avella and West Greene would have split in head-to-head, but Jefferson-Morgan would have more Gardner Points.

WPIAL CLASS 1-A Eastern Conference:

* Clairton Bears (6-0) and Jeannette Jayhawks (6-0) have clinched and play for the conference championship on Friday at Jeannette. The winner ends up in first place, the loser is in second place.

* Bishop Canevin Crusaders (5-2) finished in third place.

* Imani Christian Saints (2-4) have clinched a playoff spot adn will play at Leechburg on Friday.

* The winner of the Springdale (2-4) at Greensburg Central Catholic (2-4) on Friday clinches a playoff spot.

* If Springdale and Imani Christian win: Imani Christian will finish in fourth place, Springdale in fifth place and Riverview in sixth place.

* If Springdale and Leechburg win: Springdale will finish in fourth place, Imani Christian would finish fifth based on Gardner points and Riverview in sixth place.

* If Greensburg Central Catholic and Imani Christian win: Greensburg Central Catholic will finish in fourth place, Imani Christian in fifth place and Springdale in sixth place.

* If Greensburg Central Catholic and Leechburg win: Greensburg Central Catholic will finish in fourth place, Imani Christian would finish fifth based on head-to-head tiebreaker and Springdale in sixth place.

WPIAL CLASS 1-A Wild Card and Third Place:

There are several scenarios where the sixth place team could have three conference wins, especially in Eastern Conference and Big 7.
As far as third place home games, winner of OLSH at Sto-Rox will earn a home playoff game and Bishop Canevin can earn a home playoff game with a win at Carmichaels on Friday.