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Oct 30, 2009 2:49 pm US/Eastern
The 2009 WPIAL Playoff Picture
Sergei J. Feldman
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
Every WPIAL football regular season begins with angst and uncertainty.
With the way things have played out so far, it figures to end the same way.
Heading into the final weekend of the season, 51 of the 64 allotted playoff spots have been filled. And as the unknown 13 jostle for the remaining positions, the final weekend promises to deliver on the kind of drama only sports can create.
Before the WPIAl championships are decided on Nov. 27 at Heinz Field, the playoffs breakdown as follows:
- The top four teams in each of the 16 WPIAL conferences make the playoffs.
- Home games are played on their own fields by the first and second-place teams in each conference.
- The remaining games are played on a neutral field.
The Conferences breakdown as follows:
CLASS AAAA
Big East Conference:
Woodland Hills currently sits atop the conference with a 7-1 overall record (4-0 Conference) and closes out its season against Penn Hills (4-4, 3-1 Conference). Woodland Hills, Central Catholic (6-2, 3-1 Conference) and Penn Hills have all clinched playoff sports. The winner of Kiski Area (3-5, 1-3) and Plum (2-6, 1-3) will earn a fourth place finish. If Woodland Hills wins its season finale, it will earn the top seed, while Central Catholic will finish second and Penn Hills third.
Foothills Conference:
Gateway and McKeesport highlight this year's Foothills conference battle, as both teams enter their final games with an undefeated Conference record. Gateway sits atop the Conference with an overall record of 8-0, while McKeesport is 7-1. Both teams square off against one another Friday night in a match that will determine the first and second-place seeds. Meanwhile, Latrobe (4-4, 3-2) holds the third spot, while the winner of Norwin (4-4, 2-3) and Penn-Trafford (2-6, 2-3) battle for fourth.
Great Southern Conference:
Bethel Park (7-1, 4-0), Mt. Lebanon (5-3, 3-1) and Upper St. Clair (5-3, 2-2) have clinched playoff spots, with Bethel Park in first place. Upper St. Clair and Mt. Lebanon close out the season against one another. If Mt. Lebanon wins, it will finish second. If Mt. Lebanon wins, Bethel Park defeats Baldwin (2-6, 2-2) and Canon-McMillan (3-5, 1-3) upends Peters Township (4-4, 0-4), Upper St. Clair will finish third, while Canon-McMillan would finish fourth.
Northern Six:
North Allegheny leads with a 7-1 overall record (4-0 Conference). Shaler is also 7-1, but lost a Conference game. North Hills (4-4, 2-2) and Seneca Valley (4-4, 2-2) have also clinched.
CLASS AAA
Big Seven Conference:
Thomas Jefferson (8-0, 5-0) and Chartiers Valley (7-1, 5-1) are first and second, respectively. West Mifflin (5-3, 2-3), Belle Vernon (4-4, 2-3), Trinity (3-5, 2-3), Ringgold (3-5, 1-4) and Elizabeth Forward (4-4, 1-4) are all still battling for the third and fourth seeds.
Greater Allegheny Conference:
Franklin Regional (6-2, 3-1), Mars (5-3, 3-1), Knoch (3-5, 3-1) and Hampton (4-4, 2-2) have clinched playoff spots.
Keystone Conference:
Greensburg Salem (7-1, 5-0) leads the pack, with Uniontown (5-3, 4-1) in second. Derry Area (3-5, 3-2), Laurel Highlands (3-5, 3-2) and Albert Gallatin (3-5, 2-4) are still in the mix for third and fourth-place finishes in the Conference.
Parkway Conference:
Hopewell (8-0, 5-0) leads the Conference, and West Allegheny (6-2, 4-1), New Castle (6-2, 4-2) and Montour (5-3, 3-2) have also clinched playoff spots.
CLASS AA
Allegheny Conference:
Freeport and Shadyside Academy share the Conference lead, with both teams entering their final games with 7-1 overall and Conference records. Both teams have clinched, along with Burrell (6-2, 6-2). The winner of Ford City (6-2, 6-2) and Kittaning (5-3, 5-3) will earn the final playoff seed.
Century Conference:
South Fayette (8-0, 8-0) is in first place and looks to finish the season undefeated Friday night against Bishop Canevin (4-4, 4-4). Keystone Oaks (7-1, 7-1), meanwhile, is second. Sto-Rox (6-2, 6-2) is third. Steel Valley (5-3, 5-3) can clinch with a win over South Park (4-4, 4-4). South Park can finish fourth if Steel Valley loses, and South Fayette beats Bishop Canevin. If South Park beats Steel Valley and Seton-LaSalle (4-4, 4-4) loses to Keystone Oaks, then Bishop Canevin can get in.
Interstate Conference:
Mount Pleasant (8-0, 8-0) and McGuffey (6-2, 6-2) have both clinched, with Mt. Pleasant in first. With a victory over Washington (6-2, 6-2), McGuffey could grab the second seed. Meanwhile, Washington gets in with a win. Jeannette (5-3, 5-3) can qualify by beating Greensburg Central Catholic (6-2, 6-2) and with Charleroi (5-3, 5-3) upending Mount Pleasant. With a win, GCC qualifies.
Midwestern Conference:
Aliquippa (7-1, 6-1), Beaver Falls (7-1, 6-1), Center (7-1, 6-1) and Beaver Area (5-3, 5-2) have clinched.
CLASS A
Big Seven Conference:
Rochester (8-0, 6-0) is in first place, with Laurel (7-1, 5-1) and Monaca (5-3, 4-2) in second and third, respectively. With a win over Western Beaver (2-6, 2-4), South Side Beaver (5-3, 3-3) grabs fourth-place. Meanwhile, Shenango (5-3, 3-0), sitting in fourth currently, can qualify if it beats Laurel and Western Beaver beats South Side Beaver.
Black Hills Conference:
Clairton (7-1, 6-0), Serra (7-1, 5-1) and Fort Cherry (6-2, 4-2) have clinched. The winner of Clairton vs. Serra will determine the first-place team.
Eastern Conference:
North Catholic (6-2, 6-0), Avonworth (7-1, 5-1) and Brentwood (4-4, 4-2) have clinched. The winner of North Catholic and Avonworth gets first-place. Springdale (6-2, 4-2) takes on Riverview (3-5, 3-3) and the winner qualifies.
Tri-County South:
Monessen (6-2, 6-0) is first, Beth-Center (6-2, 5-1) is second and Jefferson-Morgan (6-2, 4-2) third. Carmichaels (3-5, 3-3) qualifies with a win over West Greene (0-8, 0-6) or a California (4-4, 3-3) win over Monessen.
City League
The championship will be decided either Nov. 12 or 13 at a site not yet known, with the top four teams qualifying for the semifinals. Schenley (6-1, 6-1), Oliver (6-1, 6-1), Brashear (6-2, 6-2) and Perry (6-2, 5-2) have all clinched. Schenley can grab a first-place finish with a win over Carrick (3-5, 3-4).
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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