Highway to Heinz WPIAL Football Playoff Picture – 10/16/2011

By: Bruce Markey
Sunday, October 16, 2011 | 4:12 PM

The MSA Sports Stretch Run in underway with two weeks remaining before we take the orange barrels away and open up the 2011 ramp to the Highway to Heinz. Several teams have received their postseason pass and are playoff bound. Here is the latest WPIAL football playoff picture through Week Seven.

Top four teams from each conference clinch a playoff spot. Records in parenthesis are section records only.

WPIAL CLASS AAAA Big East Conference:

• Pittsburgh Central Catholic (4-0) has clinched a playoff spot and a home playoff game and can clinch the conference championship with a home win against Altoona on 10/21 OR at Fox Chapel on 10/28
• Woodland Hills (4-1) has clinched a playoff spot and can earn second place with a win at home against Penn Hills on 10/28
•  Penn Hills (3-1) has clinched a playoff spot and can finish in second place with a win at Woodland Hills on 10/28
•  Fox Chapel (2-2) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Plum on 10/21 OR at home against Central Catholic on 10/28 OR an Altoona loss

 WPIAL CLASS AAAA Northern Seven Conference:

• • North Allegheny (4-0) has clinched a playoff spot and can win the conference title with a victory at Shaler on 10/21 OR a win at North Hills AND a Shaler loss at Pine-Richland on 10/28
  • Shaler (3-1) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at home over North Allegheny on 10/21 OR a win at Pine-Richland on 10/28. They can clinch home field advantage with one more win and a Seneca Valley loss. They can clinch the conference title with two more wins
  • Erie McDowell (3-2) can clinch a playoff berth with a victory at Butler on 10/21
  • North Hills (2-2) and Seneca Valley (2-2) are still alive for a playoff spot. North Hills hosts Seneca Valley on 10/21 with the winner all but clinching a playoff spot and the loser needing major help to get in

WPIAL CLASS AAAA Great Southern Conference:

• Upper St. Clair (3-0) and Mount Lebanon (3-0) have clinched playoff spots and will likely play for the conference championship at Upper St. Clair in Week 9
• Bethel Park (2-1) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at home against Upper St. Clair on 10/21 OR at Baldwin on 10/28
• Peters Township (1-2) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at home against Canon-McMillan on 10/28 OR a win at Mount Lebanon on 10/21 AND a Canon-McMillan loss at home to Baldwin on 10/21
• Baldwin (0-3) and Canon-McMillan (0-3) need to win out and get some help to make the playoffs.

WPIAL CLASS AAAA Foothills Conference:

• Penn-Trafford (5-0) has clinched the conference championship
• Gateway (3-1) has clinched a playoff spot and will finish second with a win at McKeesport on 10/28
• McKeesport (3-1) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Hempfield on 10/21 OR a win at home against Gateway on 10/28. McKeesport can clinch second place with wins in both games
• Connellsville (3-2) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Gateway on 10/21 OR a Hempfield loss at home to McKeesport on 10/21
• Hempfield (1-3) needs a win at home against McKeesport on 10/21 AND a win at Norwin on 10/28 AND a Connellsville loss to Gateway on 10/21 AND a McKeesport loss to Gateway on 10/28

WPIAL CLASS AAA Parkway Conference:

• Central Valley (5-0) has clinched a playoff spot and can clinch the conference championship with a win at Blackhawk on 10/21 or at home to Ambridge on 10/28
• West Allegheny (4-1) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at home against Montour on 10/21 OR at Hopewell on 10/28. West Allegheny could lose both game and still get in depending on who they end up tied with at 4-3
• Blackhawk (3-2) and Montour (3-2) can clinch a playoff spot with two more wins OR with one more win and some help. Blackhawk is home to Central Valley on 10/21 and at New Castle on 10/28 while Montour is at West Allegheny on 10/21 and home to Moon on 10/28
• Hopewell (2-3) and New Castle (2-3) will likely need to win out and win the tiebreaker situation to clinch a playoff spot. Hopewell is at Ambridge on 10/21 and home to West Allegheny on 10/28 while New Castle is at Moon on 10/21 and home to Blackhawk on 10/28
• The current tiebreaker points are:  West Allegheny (+29), Blackhawk (+4), Montour (+17), Hopewell (-11) and New Castle (-9)

WPIAL CLASS AAA Big Eight Conference:

• • Thomas Jefferson (5-0) has clinched a playoff spot and can clinch the conference championship with a win at home against Belle Vernon on 10/21 AND a win at West Mifflin on 10/28 or a West Mifflin loss at Chartiers Valley on 10/21
  • West Mifflin (4-1) and Chartiers Valley (4-1) can clinch a playoff spot on 10/21 when the two teams meet on 10/21 OR one more Trinity loss for West Mifflin and one more South Park loss for Chartiers Valley. The winner of the West Mifflin at Chartiers Valley game will earn home field advantage in the first round
  • Belle Vernon (3-2) can clinch a playoff berth with a win at Thomas Jefferson on 10/21 OR at home against Elizabeth Forward on 10/28 OR one more loss by both Trinity and South Park
  • Trinity (2-3) and South Park (2-3) are still alive for a playoff spot but need to win out AND have Belle Vernon lose both games AND/OR have West Mifflin lose both games for Trinity AND/OR Chartiers Valley lose both games for South Park.

WPIAL CLASS AAA Greater Allegheny Conference:

*  Knoch (4-0) has clinched a playoff spot and can win the conference championship with a win at Highlands on 10/21

• Indiana (4-1) has clinched a playoff spot and can clinch a home playoff game with a win at home against Kittanning on 10/28 AND one more Highlands loss. Indiana can clinch a share of the conference championship if they beat Kittanning and Highlands beats Knoch
• Highlands (3-1) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at home against Knoch on 10/21 OR a win at Hampton on 10/28. They can win at least a  share of the conference championship if they win both remaining games
• Mars (2-2) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at home against Valley on 10/21
• Hampton (1-3) and Kittanning (1-3) need to win out AND get have Mars lose both remaining game against Valley on 10/21 and at Knoch on 10/28. Hampton is at Kittanning on 10/21 before hosting Highlands on 10/28 while Kittanning is at Indiana on 10/28

WPIAL CLASS AAA Keystone Conference:

• Ringgold (5-0), Franklin Regional (5-0) and Greensburg-Salem (4-1) have all clinched playoff spots. Franklin Regional host Ringgold on 10/21 and Greensburg-Salem hosts Franklin Regional on 10/28 to help determine the order of the top three. Greensburg-Salem is at Albert Gallatin on 10/21 while Ringgold hosts Uniontown on 10/28
• Here is the current tiebreaker points between the three teams: Franklin Regional (+50), Ringgold (+41), Greensburg-Salem (+39)
• Hollidaysburg (2-3) and Derry (2-3) play at Derry on 10/28. That game will be for the final playoff spot IF Hollidaysburg beats visiting Laurel Highlands on 10/21 AND Derry beats host Uniontown on 10/21
• If Laurel Highlands (1-4) and/or Uniontown (1-4) win on 10/21, they would remain alive going into 10/28. Uniontown is at Ringgold while Laurel Highlands hosts Albert Gallatin on 10/28. Tiebreaker points are: Hollidaysburg (-10), Derry (-10), Laurel Highlands (-30), Uniontown (-35)

WPIAL CLASS AA Midwestern Conference:

• Aliquippa (7-0) has clinched a playoff spot and at least a share of the conference championship
• Beaver Falls (5-1) has clinched a playoff spot and can clinch second place with a win at Ellwood City on 10/21 AND at home against Beaver on 10/28
• Beaver (5-1) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at home against Laurel on 10/21 and can claim second place with a win at Beaver Falls on 10/28
• Ellwood City (4-2) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at home against Beaver Falls on 10/21 OR a Laurel loss at Beaver on 10/21 AND a Riverside loss at New Brighton on 10/21
• Laurel (3-3) and Riverside (2-4) need to win out and get some help to earn a playoff spot

WPIAL CLASS AA Allegheny Conference:

• Burrell (4-1), Freeport (4-1) and Shady Side Academy (4-1) are all tied for first place and likely are one win away from clinching a playoff spot. Burrell hosts Deer Lakes on 10/21 and are at Ford City on 10/28. Freeport hosts West Shamokin on 10/21 and visit Summit Academy on 10/29. Shady Side Academy hosts Summit Academy on 10/21 and visits Deer Lakes on 10/28. The tiebreaker points for these three teams are: Burrell (+28), Freeport (+29), Shady Side Academy (+33)
• Ford City (3-2) and Summit Academy (3-2) are alive for a playoff spot. Ford City is at Apollo-Ridge on 10/21 and they host Burrell on 10/28. Summit Academy is at Shady Side Academy on 10/21 and home to Freeport on 10/28. Ford City owns the head-to-head tiebreaker against Summit Academy.

WPIAL CLASS AA Century Conference:

• Seton-LaSalle (5-0) have clinched a playoff spot and can clinch the conference championship with a win at South Fayette on 10/21
• South Fayette (4-1) has clinched a playoff spot and can earn at least a share of the conference championship if they win at home against Seton-LaSalle on 10/21 and at Quaker Valley on 10/28
• Washington (4-1) can clinch a playoff spot with one more win either at home against South Allegheny on 10/21 or at Burgettstown on 10/29 OR a Burgettstown loss at Keystone Oaks on 10/21
• Burgettstown (2-3), Keystone Oaks (2-3) and Steel Valley (2-3) are alive for a playoff spot. Burgettstown plays at Keystone Oaks on 10/21 with the loser likely eliminated. Burgettstown hosts Washington on 10/29 while Keystone Oaks visits Seton-LaSalle on 10/28.  Steel Valley hosts Quaker Valley on 10/21 and visits South Allegheny on 10/28. Steel Valley owns the head-to-head tiebreaker against both Burgettstown and Keystone Oaks

WPIAL CLASS AA Interstate Conference:

• Greensburg Central Catholic (7-0) and Jeannette (7-0) have clinched playoff spots and will play for the conference championship at Jeannette on 10/28
• East Allegheny (5-2) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Greensburg Central Catholic on 10/21 OR a Mount Pleasant win over Waynesburg on 10/21
• Mount Pleasant (4-2) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at home against Waynesburg on 10/21 OR a win at Southmoreland on 10/28 AND a Waynesburg loss to Brownsville on 10/28
• Waynesburg (3-3) is alive for a playoff spot but must win both games at Mount Pleasant on 10/21 and at home against Brownsville on 10/28

WPIAL CLASS A Big Seven Conference:

• Sto-Rox (5-0) has clinched a playoff spot and can win the conference championship with a win at Shenango on 10/22 OR at home against Cornell on 10/28
• Rochester (4-1) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at home against Neshannock on 10/21 OR at South Side on 10/28
• Cornell (3-2) can earn a playoff spot with a win at home against Union on 10/21 OR at Sto-Rox on 10/28
• Western Beaver (3-2) can earn a playoff spot with a win at home against South Side on 10/22 OR at Union on 10/28
• Neshannock (2-3) and Shenango need to win out and get some help to clinch a playoff spot. Neshannock is at Rochester on 10/21 and home to Shenango on 10/28. Shenango is home to Sto-Rox on 10/22

WPIAL CLASS A Eastern Conference:

• • Bishop Canevin (6-0) has clinched a playoff spot and can win at least a share of the conference championship with a win at Riverview on 10/22 OR at home against North Catholic on 10/28
  • Avonworth (5-1) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at home against Our Lady of the Sacred Heart on 10/21 OR at Northgate on 10/28
  • Springdale (4-2) and Northgate (4-2) can clinch a playoff spots by winning our or splitting and getting help. Springdale is at Leechburg on 10/21 and home to Riverview on 10/28 while Northgate is at North Catholic on 10/21 and home to Avonworth on 10/28
  • Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (4-3) can clinch with a win at Avonworth on 10/21 AND have Avonworth or Springdale or Northgate lose both of their remaining games. OLSH could still lose and get in with a lot of help via tiebreakers
  • North Catholic (3-3) can clinch a playoff spot with wins at home against Northgate on 10/21 AND at Bishop Canevin on 10/28 AND get help with OLSH losing to Avonworth on 10/21 and Northgate losing to Avonworth on 10/28

WPIAL CLASS A Black Hills Conference:

• Clairton (5-0) has clinched a playoff spot and can clinch the conference championship with a win at home at Fort Cherry on 10/21
• Brentwood (4-1) has clinched a playoff spot and can clinch second place with a win at Serra Catholic on 10/21 AND a win at home against Carlynton on 10/28 OR one win and a Fort Cherry loss
• Fort Cherry (4-1) has clinched a playoff spot and can finish in second place with a win at home against Clairton on 10/21 AND a win at Chartiers-Houston on 10/28 AND one Brentwood loss in the final two weeks
• Chartiers-Houston (3-2) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Avella on 10/21 AND at home against Fort Cherry on 10/28 OR one win and one more loss by Serra Catholic AND Carlynton
• Serra Catholic (2-3) and Carlynton (2-3) need to win both remaining game and have Chartiers-Houston lose both games OR get help elsewhere in order to clinch a playoff spot. Serra Catholic is home to Brentwood on 10/21 and at Clairton on 10/28 while Carlynton is home to Bentworth on 10/21 and at Brentwood on 10/28

WPIAL CLASS A Tri-County South Conference:

• Beth-Center (6-0) has clinched a playoff spot and can clinch the conference championship with a win at home against West Greene on 10/21 OR at Jefferson-Morgan on 10/28
• Monessen (5-1) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at home against Jefferson-Morgan on 10/21 OR at Frazier on 10/28
• Frazier (5-1) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at California on 10/21 OR at home against Monessen on 10/28. If Frazier beats California, the winner of the Monessen at Frazier game on 10/28 will finish second
• California (4-2) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at home against Frazier on 10/21 AND a win at Geibel on 10/28 or one win and one more Jefferson-Morgan loss
•  Jefferson-Morgan (4-2) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Monessen on 10/21 AND at home against Beth-Center on 10/28 AND at one more loss by California since Jefferson-Morgan loses the head-to-head tiebreaker with California.