Breaking down the WPIAL football playoff picture entering Week 8

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, October 14, 2018 | 8:18 PM

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For the first time in more than two decades, the WPIAL football playoff field will not consist of 64 teams.

Both Class 5A and Class 2A will have a full 16-team tournament while Classes 4A, 3A and A will have a three-week eight-team bracket. The new twist this year is to the shrinking Class 6A, where only six of the nine teams will qualify for a district postseason that will consists of only five games — two in the quarterfinals and semifinals and one championship game.

So heading into Week 8, here is all you need to know about the 2018 WPIAL football playoffs. Who is in, who is out and all the scenario’s that will make your head spin and wish you had an abacus to figure it out.

Only conference records are shown.

Class 6A

Clinched: North Allegheny (7-0), Pine-Richland (6-0), Central Catholic (4-2)

Out: Hempfield (0-7)

Close to a berth: Seneca Valley (4-2)

Conference schedule: Week 8 — Seneca Valley at Pine-Richland, Central Catholic at Canon-McMillan, Norwin at Mt. Lebanon, Butler at Hempfield. Week 9 — Pine-Richland at North Allegheny, Mt. Lebanon at Central Catholic, Seneca Valley at Norwin, Canon-McMillan at Butler.

The lowdown: North Allegheny has clinched one of the top two spots and, with it, a bye for the quarterfinals and a home game in the semifinals. Pine-Richland can earn the same with one more win.

Seneca Valley could win out and, with a North Allegheny win over Pine-Richland, earn second place. Or the Raiders could lose out and fall out of the top six and a playoff spot.

Both Seneca Valley and Mt. Lebanon can clinch with a win on Friday.

Canon-McMillan and Norwin are tied for sixth place with 2-4 records. Norwin loses a head-to-head tiebreaker to the Big Macs so the Knights need to win both of their remaining games while Canon-McMillan splits or Norwin can split if Canon-McMillan loses both games. They could both win out and bump either Mt. Lebanon or Seneca Valley out of the top six, as well.

Class 5A Big East

Clinched: Gateway (5-0), Penn-Trafford (5-1), McKeesport (4-1), Franklin Regional (4-1)

Out: Plum (1-6)

Close to a berth: Latrobe (2-4)

Conference schedule: Week 8 — Franklin Regional at McKeesport, Gateway at Connellsville, Albert Gallatin at Latrobe. Week 9 — McKeesport at Gateway, Franklin Regional at Penn-Trafford, Connellsville at Albert Gallatin.

The lowdown: Franklin Regional at McKeesport on Friday and McKeesport at Gateway and Franklin Regional at Penn-Trafford will sort out the order of the top four teams.

A Latrobe victory over winless Albert Gallatin clinches the Wildcats’ first playoff berth since 2009.

Class 5A Northern

Clinched: Penn Hills (6-0), Mars (4-1), North Hills (4-1)

Out: None

Close to a berth: Kiski Area (2-3) and Shaler (2-3)

Conference schedule: Week 8 — Mars at Kiski Area, North Hills at Shaler, Fox Chapel at Armstrong. Week 9 — Penn Hills at North Hills, Hampton at Mars, Kiski Area at Armstrong, Fox Chapel at Shaler.

The lowdown: If Mars and North Hills win out, they will be tri-champions with Penn Hills at 6-1. It would come down to tiebreaker points since they would all be 1-1 in head-to-head. The tie-breaker points coming into Week 8: Penn Hills +60, Mars +29, North Hills +20.

If Shaler and Kiski Area split their final two games and end up tied for fourth, the Titans would be fourth and the Cavaliers fifth based on head-to-head.

The winner of the Fox Chapel at Armstrong game Friday will be playing for a playoff berth in Week 9. The loser is still alive for a top-five spot or a wild card if Shaler and/or Kiski Area lose in Week 8.

Class 5A Allegheny Eight

Clinched: West Allegheny (5-1), Bethel Park (4-1), Peters Township (4-1), Upper St. Clair (4-1)

Out: None

Close to a berth: Baldwin (2-4)

Conference schedule: Week 8 — Bethel Park at Peters Township, Chartiers Valley at Upper St. Clair, Woodland Hills at Moon. Week 9 — West Allegheny at Moon, Upper St. Clair at Bethel Park, Baldwin at Peters Township, Chartiers Valley at Woodland Hills.

The lowdown: Bethel Park at Peters Township on Friday and Upper St. Clair at Bethel Park in Week 9 will help sort out the top four.

Thus far in head-to-head, West Allegheny beat Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair, Peters Township beat West Allegheny and Upper St. Clair beat Peters Township.

Baldwin can likely clinch with a Week 9 win over Peters Township. Baldwin wins tiebreaker with Moon but loses it with Woodland Hills.

Winner of Woodland Hills at Moon on Friday remains alive for either fifth place or a possible sixth-place wild card.

Class 5A Wild Card

Yeah, right.

Way too early to tell, but two conference wins will be needed by a sixth-place finisher and three wins likely will do the trick.

Class 4A Northwest Eight

Clinched: South Fayette (5-0), Blackhawk (5-1)

Out: Ambridge (0-5)

Close to a berth: Beaver (3-2), Montour (3-2)

Conference schedule: Week 8 — South Fayette at Ambridge, Montour at Beaver, Highlands at New Castle. Week 9 — South Fayette at Montour, Beaver at Blackhawk, New Castle at Ambridge

The lowdown: South Fayette clinches the top seed with a win Friday at Ambridge.

If Beaver beats Montour Friday, Beaver at Blackhawk in Week 9 is for second place and home field advantage in the quarterfinals.

The winner of Beaver at Montour Friday clinches a playoff berth.

The loser of Beaver at Montour can clinch a playoff berth with a Week 9 victory.

If Beaver or Montour lose out, that opens the door for Knoch, Highlands and New Castle.

The loser of Highlands at New Castle on Friday is eliminated.

If Montour loses out and ties Highlands and Knoch for fourth place, Montour is in based on head-to-head. If it is Montour, Knoch and New Castle tied for fourth, it would come down to tiebreaker points. Heading into Week 8, Montour is +6, Knoch is -12 and New Castle is -25.

If Beaver loses out and ties Highlands and Knoch for fourth place, it would come down to tiebreaker points. Heading into Week 8, Beaver is +8, Knoch is -12 and Highlands is -17. If it is Beaver, Knoch and New Castle tied for fourth, Beaver is in based on head-to-head.

Class 4A Big Eight

Clinched: Thomas Jefferson (5-0), Belle Vernon (5-1), West Mifflin (4-1)

Out: Trinity (1-5), Ringgold (0-5)

Close to a berth: Greensburg Salem (3-2), Indiana (2-3)

Conference schedule: Week 8 — Greensburg Salem at Thomas Jefferson, West Mifflin at Ringgold, Indiana at Laurel Highlands. Week 9 — Thomas Jefferson at West Mifflin, Belle Vernon at Ringgold, Greensburg Salem at Indiana, Laurel Highlands at Trinity.

The lowdown: Assuming Thomas Jefferson and West Mifflin win in Week 8 and if Thomas Jefferson beats West Mifflin in Week 9, Thomas Jefferson is first, Belle Vernon second and West Mifflin third. If West Mifflin beats Thomas Jefferson in Week 9, all three teams will be tied for first and all will be 1-1 in head-to-head. Tiebreaker points coming into Week 8: Jaguars +50, Leopards +40, Titans +30.

If Indiana beats Laurel Highlands in Week 8, the Greensburg Salem at Indiana game in Week 9 will be for a playoff berth.

If Laurel Highlands beats Indiana and Greensburg Salem loses to Thomas Jefferson in Week 8 and Indiana and Laurel Highlands win in Week 9, that forces a three-way tie for fourth place between Greesnburg Salem, Indiana and Laurel Highlands and all would be 1-1 in head-to-head. Tiebreaker points heading into Week 8: Greensburg Salem +10, Indiana -14, Laurel Highlands -30.

Class 3A Tri-County West

Clinched: Aliquippa (5-0), Beaver Falls (5-1)

Out: Waynesburg (0-6)

Close to a berth: Quaker Valley (3-2), Central Valley (3-2)

Conference schedule: Week 8 — Keystone Oaks at Aliquippa, Central Valley at South Park, Quaker Valley at Hopewell. Week 9 — Aliquippa at Central Valley, Hopewell at Beaver Falls, South Park at Quaker Valley, Keystone Oaks at Waynesburg

The lowdown: Aliquippa can clinch the top seed with one more win.

Beaver Falls has clinched at least second place and a home game in the quarterfinals.

Central Valley and Quaker Valley can clinch with wins on Friday. Losses open the door for South Park, Keystone Oaks and Hopewell.

A Keystone Oaks loss at Aliquippa in Week 8 would eliminate the Golden Eagles.

Class 3A Big East

Clinched: Derry (5-1), North Catholic (5-1), Elizabeth Forward (5-1)

Out: Burrell (2-5), Mt. Pleasant (1-5), Uniontown (0-6)

Close to a berth: Freeport (4-3)

Conference schedule: Week 8 — Deer Lakes at Derry, Yough at North Catholic, Elizabeth Forward at Uniontown, Mt. Pleasant at Freeport. Week 9 — Burrell at Derry, North Catholic at Deer Lakes, Yough at Elizabeth Forward, Uniontown at Mt. Pleasant.

The lowdown: If Derry, North Catholic and Elizabeth Forward win out, they will be tri-champions and would have split in head-to-head at 1-1 so tiebreaker points would be needed to determine first, second and third. The top two finishers earn a home game in the quarterfinals. Tiebreaker points heading into Week 8: Derry +43, North Catholic +40, Elizabeth Forward +29.

If Freeport beats Mt. Pleasant in Week 8, the Yellowjackets clinch.

If Freeport loses, it opens the door for Deer Lakes and Yough. Both teams would have to win out to pass Freeport since they both lost to the Yellowjackets.

If Freeport loses and both Yough and Deer Lakes win out, Yough would clinch based on their head-to-head win over Deer Lakes.

Class 2A Allegheny

Clinched: Shady Side Academy (4-0), Avonworth (4-1), Steel Valley (4-1)

Out: Apollo-Ridge (1-5), Summit Academy (0-5)

Close to a berth: East Allegheny (2-2), Valley (2-3)

Conference schedule: Week 8 — East Allegheny at Shady Side Academy, Summit Academy at Steel Valley. Week 9 — Shady Side Academy at Avonworth, Valley at East Allegheny

The lowdown: The order of the top three teams (first and second place earn a home game in first round) will be determined in large part by the Week 9 game with Shady Side Academy at Avonworth.

Barring upsets in Week 8, if Shady Side Academy beats Avonworth, Shady Side Academy will be first, Steel Valley second and Avonworth third.

Barring upsets in Week 8, if Avonworth beats Shady Side Academy, there will be tri-champions in the conference and all three would be 1-1 against each other. First place would be determined by tiebreaker points. Tiebreaker points coming into Week 8: Shady Side Academy +40, Avonworth +33, Steel Valley +27.

Even if East Allegheny beats Shady Side Academy in Week 8, the winner of Valley at East Allegheny in Week 9 clinches a playoff berth.

Class 2A Century

Clinched: Charleroi (5-1), McGuffey (5-1), Washington (4-1)

Out: Southmoreland (2-4), Brownsville (0-5), Carmichaels (0-5)

Close to a berth: Beth-Center (4-2), Frazier (2-3)

Conference schedule: Week 8 — Charleroi at Brownsville, Southmoreland at Washington, Carmichaels at Frazier. Week 9 — McGuffey at Washington, Frazier at Beth-Center, Brownsville at Carmichaels.

The lowdown: If Charleroi beats Brownsville in Week 8, it finishes first even if it ties with the Washington-McGuffey winner, since the Cougars beat both the Little Prexies and Highlanders.

If Charleroi wins, McGuffey at Washington is for second place with the loser finishing third.

If Frazier beats Carmichaels in Week 8, then the Frazier at Beth-Center game in Week 9 is for a playoff berth.

Class 2A Midwestern Athletic

Clinched: Mohawk (5-1), Freedom (5-1), Riverside (4-2)

Out: Ellwood City (2-4), Western Beaver (1-4), Shenango (0-5)

Close to a berth: New Brighton (3-2)

Conference schedule: Week 8 — Ellwood City at Mohawk, New Brighton at Shenango, Neshannock at Western Beaver. Week 9 — Western Beaver at Freedom, New Brighton at Riverside, Shenango at Neshannock

The lowdown: If Mohawk beats Ellwood City in Week 8, the Warriors clinch first place because of head-to-head tiebreaker over Freedom.

Freedom will finish second and earn a home first-round playoff game unless it beats Western Beaver and Mohawk loses to Ellwood City, then the Bulldogs would finish first.

New Brighton can clinch with one more conference win or one more Neshannock loss.

Neshannock needs to win out and have New Brighton lose both remaining games.

Class 2A Three Rivers

Clinched: Burgettstown (5-0)

Out: Carlynton (0-5)

Close to a berth: South Side Beaver (4-2)

Conference schedule: Week 8 — Burgettstown at Brentwood, South Side Beaver at Fort Cherry, Serra Catholic at Seton LaSalle, Carlynton at South Allegheny. Week 9 — South Allegheny at Burgettstown, Fort Cherry at Serra Catholic, Seton LaSalle at Carlynton.

The lowdown: Burgettstown needs just one more conference victory to secure first place.

South Side needs a win in Week 8 over Fort Cherry or a Brentwood loss to Burgettstown in Week 8 to clinch a playoff berth.

One game separates four teams for the other two playoffs spots. Serra Catholic and South Allegheny still control their own destiny.

Class A Eastern

Clinched: Clairton (4-0), Jeannette (4-0)

Out: Greensburg Central Catholic (3-3), Leechburg (1-4), Riverview (1-4), Springdale (0-5)

Close to a berth: Imani Christian (4-2)

Conference schedule: Week 8 — Springdale at Clairton, Jeannette at Riverview. Week 9 — Clairton at Jeannette, Leechburg at Springdale.

The lowdown: The winner of Clairton at Jeannette is first, the loser is second.

Imani Christian’s only hope is through one of two Class A wild cards.

Class A Big 7

Clinched: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (5-0), Rochester (5-1)

Out: Cornell (3-3), Union (2-4) , Bishop Canevin (0-4), Northgate (0-5)

Close to a berth: Sto-Rox (4-2), Laurel (3-2)

Conference schedule: Week 8 — Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at Union, Laurel at Sto-Rox, Bishop Canevin at Northgate. Week 9 — Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at Cornell, Rochester at Bishop Canevin, Laurel at Northgate

The lowdown: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is one win away from clinching first place.

Rochester will finish second unless it beats Bishop Canevin in Week 9 and OLSH loses both remaining conference games.

The winner of Laurel at Sto-Rox in Week 8 will finish third and be in the hunt for a wild card spot.

Class A Tri-County South

Clinched: None

Out: Jefferson-Morgan (2-3), Avella (0-5), Mapletown (0-5)

Close to a berth: Monessen (5-1), West Greene (5-1), California (4-1)

Conference schedule: Week 8 — West Greene at Jefferson-Morgan, California at Chartiers-Houston, Avella at Mapletown. Week 9 — Monessen at Avella, Mapletown at California, Bentworth at Jefferson-Morgan.

The lowdown: If Monessen wins at Avella in Week 9 and West Greene wins at Jefferson-Morgan in Week 8 and California beats both Chartiers-Houston and Mapletown, then there will be tri-champions in the TCS with all three teams 1-1 in head-to-head. It would come down to tiebreaker points to determine first, then head-to-head to determine second. Tiebreaker points heading into Week 8: Monessen +40, West Greene +40, California +30.

If all three teams are tied in tiebreaker points, a coin flip will determine which team is first, then head-to-head will determine which team is second.

While not likely, there are still scenarios in which either Bentworth or Chartiers-Houston could finish third and be in the chase for one of two wild cards.

Class A Wild Cards

If Monessen, West Greene and California all win out and are tri-champs, then no matter which team is “first” and which is “second,” the “third place” team from the Tri-County South will be the first wild card based on conference record and having only one loss.

Imani Christian will finish third in the Eastern Conference and the Laurel at Sto-Rox winner will finish third in the Big 7 Conference. Gardner points coming into Week 8: +500, Sto-Rox +500, Laurel +500. Tiebreaker points coming into Week 8: Imani Christian +20, Sto-Rox +10, Laurel +1.

Keep in mind that the Week 9 nonconference game for Imani Christian against Chartiers-Houston counts for both Gardner points and tiebreaker points for the Saints.

Don Rebel is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Don at drebel@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TheDonRebel.