UPDATED WPIAL Football Playoff Picture

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, October 19, 2014 | 1:24 PM

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Purchasing a ticket to ride on the Highway to Heinz can be easy or can become very complicated. Some conferences like the Class AA Allegheny Conference are smooth sailing into Week Nine. Meanwhile, it’s like the Highway to Hell trying to figure out the Class AAA Greater Allegheny Conference. Hey, if it was easy, everybody could do it. Thus with abacus in hand, here is the WPIAL Football Playoff Picture heading into the final week of the regular season.

CLASS AAAA Foothills Conference:

Penn-Trafford Warriors (7-0) have clinched
Penn-Trafford has clinched at least a share of the conference championship and the #1-seed out of the Foothills. The Warriors can win the conference championship outright with a win Friday over Norwin OR a McKeesport loss to Kiski Area
10/24:  NORWIN

McKeesport Tigers (6-1) have clinched 
McKeesport has clinched second place and can earn a share of the conference championship with a win Friday at Kiski Area AND a Penn-Trafford loss
10/24:  at Kiski Area

Altoona Mountain Lions (5-2) have clinched 
Altoona has clinched third place
10/24:  CONNELLSVILLE

Plum Mustangs (4-3) have clinched
Plum can finish fourth with a win over Latrobe OR a Norwin loss
10/24:  LATROBE

Norwin Knights (4-3) have clinched  
Norwin can finish fourth with a win at Penn-Trafford Friday AND a Plum loss
10/24:  at Penn-Trafford

Connellsville (3-4) is still alive for the AAAA wild card. Because of tiebreakers, the Falcons can’t finish higher than sixth place.  See Class AAAA Wild Card Picture below for more information.

CLASS AAAA Southeastern Conference:

Woodland Hills Wolverines (6-0) have clinched
Woodland Hills can win conference championship outright with a win over Penn Hills on Friday
10/24:  PENN HILLS

Penn Hills Indians (5-1) have clinched
Penn Hills can earn at least a share of the conference championship and the #1-seed in the conference with a win Friday at Woodland Hills. If the Indians fall into a three way tie for second with Mount Lebanon and Bethel Park, Penn Hills can’t be caught in tiebreaker points and would claim second place.
10/24:  at Woodland Hills

Mount Lebanon Blue Devils (4-2) have clinched
Mount Lebanon will finish third with a win over Upper St. Clair Friday OR a Bethel Park loss
10/24:  UPPER ST. CLAIR

Bethel Park Black Hawks (4-2) have clinched
Bethel Park can finish third if they win at Baldwin Friday AND Mount Lebanon loses. The Black Hawks could finish second if they win AND Mount Lebanon loses AND Penn Hills loses
10/24:  at Baldwin

Upper St. Clair Panthers (3-3) have clinched
Upper St. Clair could finish fourth if they win at Mount Lebanon on Friday and Bethel Park wins. If the Panthers win and Bethel Park loses, tiebreaker points would determine third place (BP +20, MtL +18, USC +3)
10/24:  at Mount Lebanon

Baldwin (2-4) is still alive for the AAAA wild card. Because of tiebreakers, the Highlanders can’t finish higher than sixth place.  See Class AAAA Wild Card Picture below for more information.

CLASS AAAA Northern Eight Conference:

Pine-Richland Rams (7-0) have clinched
Pine-Richland has won the conference championship
10/24:  PETERS TOWNSHIP

Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings (5-1) have clinched
Pittsburgh Central Catholic has clinched second place
10/24:  at Butler

North Allegheny Tigers (4-2) have clinched
North Allegheny will finish third if they win Friday against North Hills
10/24:  NORTH HILLS

North Hills Indians (4-2) have clinched
North Hills will finish third if they win Friday at North Allegheny
10/24:  at North Allegheny

Fox Chapel Foxes (3-4) have clinched
Fox Chapel has clinched fifth place
10/24:  at Hempfield

Butler (1-5) is still alive for the AAAA wild card. See Class AAAA Wild Card Picture below for more information.

CLASS AAAA Wild Card:

Three teams enter the final weekend alive for the Quad-A wild card:
In battle for the one wild card spot, the cross-conference game between the Southeastern Conference and the Northern eight Conference are used so the number of conference games is equal between the three conferences.
Connellsville (3-4) has the best chance. The Falcons win the wild card if they beat Altoona on Friday OR if both Baldwin and Butler lose.
Baldwin (2-4) can win the wild card if they beat Bethel Park on Friday AND if Connellsville and Butler lose. The Highlanders would have more gardner points
Butler (1-5) can win the wild card if they beat Pittsburgh Central Catholic on Friday AND Connellsville loses. Butler gets credit for the crossover win over Baldwin earlier plus two conference victories, giving them three wins in the tiebreaker (Seneca Valley is out at 1-5 because they lost their conference crossover game with the Southeastern Conference). Butler would have more gardner points and would win the wild card

CLASS AAAA Third Place:

In battle for home field for two of the three third place teams, the cross-conference game between the Southeastern Conference and the Northern eight Conference are used so the number of conference games is equal between the three conferences.
Currently, the three third place teams are North Allegheny, Mount Lebanon and Altoona although that could easily change after Friday. Counting cross-over games, North Allegheny and Altoona are 5-2 while Mount Lebanon is 4-3. Since Bethel Park would also have three losses counting cross over game, North Allegheny, North Hills and Altoona just need to win to claim a First Round home game.

CLASS AAA Big Nine Conference:

Thomas Jefferson Jaguars (7-0) have clinched
Thomas Jefferson has won the conference championship and the #1 seed and can win the title outright with a win against West Mifflin Friday
10/24:  WEST MIFFLIN

Ringgold Rams (6-1) have clinched
Ringgold has clinched second place and can earn a share of the conference championship with a win Friday over Trinity AND a Thomas Jefferson loss
10/24:  TRINITY

West Mifflin Titans (5-2) have clinched
West Mifflin has clinched third place
10/24:  at Thomas Jefferson

Belle Vernon Leopards (4-3) have clinched
Belle Vernon will clinch fourth place with a win over Elizabeth Forward on Friday. Even if Belle Vernon loses, tiebreakers prevent them from falling lower than fifth place
10/24:  ELIZABETH FORWARD

Laurel Highlands Mustangs (3-4)
Laurel Highlands will clinch a playoff spot if they win at Albert Gallatin on Friday since the Mustangs hold tiebreakers over both Elizabeth Forward and Trinity
10/24:  at Albert Gallatin

Elizabeth Forward Warriors (3-4)
Elizabeth Forward will clinch a playoff spot if they win at Belle Vernon on Friday AND Laurel Highlands loses
10/24:  at Belle Vernon

Trinity Hillers (3-4)
Trinity will clinch a playoff spot if they win at Ringgold on Friday AND Laurel Highlands and Elizabeth Forward lose. A win keep the Hillers in the wild card mix (see Class AAA wild card below)
10/24:  at Ringgold

CLASS AAA Parkway Conference:

Central Valley Warriors (7-0) have clinched
Central Valley hosts West Allegheny Friday for the conference championship
10/24:  WEST ALLEGHENY

West Allegheny Indians (7-0) have clinched
West Allegheny at Central Valley Friday for the conference championship
10/24:  Central Valley

Montour Spartans (5-2) have clinched
Montour will finish third with a win against Moon on Fridayin Week 9
10/24:  MOON

Moon Tigers (4-3) have clinched
Moon will finish third with a win at Montour on Friday
10/24:  at Montour

New Castle Red Hurricane (3-4) have clinched
New Castle will finish fourth with a win at Hopewell on Friday AND a Moon loss
10/24:  at Hopewell

The Chartiers Valley Colts (2-5) AT Ambridge Bridgers (2-5) winner on Friday will finish in sixth place. However neither team will have a shot at the wild card based on fewer gardner points than either sixth place team from the Big Nine or the Greater Allegheny Conference will have

CLASS AAA Greater Allegheny Conference:

Hampton Talbots (7-0) have clinched
Hampton has clinched the conference championship outright
10/24:  MARS

Franklin Regional Panthers (5-2) have clinched
Franklin Regional will finish second with a win over Gateway on Friday
10/24:  GATEWAY

Mars Fighting Planets (4-3)
Mars will clinch a playoff spot with a win Friday at Hampton
10/24:  at Hampton

Indiana Little Indians (4-3)
Indiana will clinch a playoff spot with a win at Hollidaysburg on Friday
10/24:  at Hollidaysburg

Gateway Gators (4-3)
Gateway will clinch a playoff spot with a win at Franklin Regional on Friday
10/24:  at Franklin Regional

Hollidaysburg Golden Tigers (3-4)
Hollidaysburg can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Indiana on Friday
10/24:  INDIANA

Knoch Knights (3-4)
Knoch can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Yough on Friday and some help
10/24:  YOUGH

GAC Breakdown:
IF Hampton, Franklin Regional, Indiana and Knoch win:  1) Hampton, 2) Franklin Regional, 3) Indiana, 4) Knoch, 5) Mars, 6) Gateway
IF Hampton, Franklin Regional, Hollidaysburg and Knoch win:  1) Hampton, 2) Franklin Regional, 3) Gateway, 4) Hollidaysburg, 5) Indiana, 6) Knoch
IF Hampton, Gateway, Indiana and Knoch win:  1) Hampton, 2) Gateway, 3) Franklin Regional, 4) Indiana, 5) Knoch, 6) Mars
IF Hampton, Gateway, Hollidaysburg and Knoch win:  1) Hampton, 2) Gateway, 3) Franklin Regional, 4) Hollidaysburg, 5) Indiana, 6) Knoch
IF Mars, Franklin Regional, Indiana and Knoch win:  1) Hampton, 2) Franklin Regional, 3) Indiana, 4) Mars, 5) Gateway, 6) Knoch
IF Mars, Franklin Regional, Hollidaysburg and Knoch win:  1) Hampton, 2) Franklin Regional, 3) Mars, 4) Gateway, 5) Hollidaysburg, 6) Knoch
IF Mars, Gateway, Indiana and Knoch win:  1) Hampton, 2) Gateway, 3) Franklin Regional, 4) Indiana, 5) Mars, 6) Knoch
IF Mars, Gateway, Hollidaysburg and Knoch win:  1)  Hampton, 2) Tiebreaker points between FR (+33) and Mars (+24) since Gateway (-6) would have no shot 3) If Franklin Regional second, Mars is third and Gateway fourth…If Mars second, Gateway is third and Franklin Regional fourth 5) Hollidaysburg, 6) Indiana

CLASS AAA Wild Card:

The sixth place finisher in the Parkway Conference has NO shot at the wild card.
If Trinity finishes sixth in the Big Nine Conference, they have the best chance at the wild card based on gardner points and wins over West Mifflin and possibly Ringgold this week.
If Knoch finishes sixth in the Greater Allegheny Conference, they have the next best shot at the wild card due to gardner points and a win over Franklin Regional.

CLASS AAA Third Place:

Currently, the three third place teams are Montour, West Mifflin and Mars/Indiana/Gateway, although that will change in the GAC after Friday. Montour and West Mifflin with 5-2 records control their own destiny for home field advantage.

CLASS AA Century Conference:

South Fayette Lions (8-0) have clinched
South Fayette has clinched at least a share of the conference championship and the #1-seed in the conference and can win the conference title outright with a win Friday over Quaker Valley OR a Seton-LaSalle loss
10/24:  QUAKER VALLEY

Seton-LaSalle Rebels (7-1) have clinched
Seton-LaSalle clinched second place and can earn a share of the conference championship with a win at Keystone Oaks Friday AND a Seton-LaSalle loss
10/24:  at Keystone Oaks

South Park Eagles (6-2) have clinched
South Park has clinched third place
10/24:  STO-ROX

Steel Valley Ironmen (5-3)
Steel Valley can clinch a playoff spot with a win Friday at South Allegheny OR with a Quaker Valley loss
10/24:  at South Allegheny

Quaker Valley Quakers (5-3)
Quaker Valley can clinch a playoff spot with a win Friday at South Fayette AND a Steel Valley loss
10/24:  at South Fayette

CLASS AA Allegheny Conference:

Highlands Golden Rams (8-0) have clinched
Highlands has clinched at least a share of conference title and the #1-seed out of the conference and can win the title outright with a win over Shady Side Academy on Friday OR an Apollo-Ridge loss
10/24:  SHADY SIDE ACADEMY

Apollo-Ridge Vikings (7-1) have clinched
Apollo-Ridge has clinched second place and can earn a share of the conference championship with a win at Burrell on Friday AND a Highlands loss
10/24:  at Burrell

Shady Side Academy Indians (6-2) have clinched
Shady Side Academy has clinched third place
10/24:  at Highlands

Kittanning Wildcats (5-3) have clinched
Kittanning has clinched fourth place. The Wildcats own the tiebreaker over Freeport if they finish tied
10/24:  FORD CITY

CLASS AA Interstate Conference:

Washington Little Prexies (7-0) have clinched
Washington has clinched at least a share of the conference championship and can win the conference title outright with a win at McGuffey on Friday. If Washington loses and Mount Pleasant wins, there will be Tri-Champions between Washington, McGuffey and Mount Pleasant. Tiebreaker points would give either Washington (+68) or McGuffey (+54) the #1-seed. Even if the Little Prexies lose out to McGuffey in tie-breaker points (Mount Pleasant has +37), they can’t finish lower than the #2 seed out of the conference.
10/24:  at McGuffey

McGuffey Highlanders (6-1) have clinched
McGuffey can clinch a share of the conference championship with a win Friday over Washington. If McGuffey wins and Mount Pleasant loses, the Highlanders would be the #1-seed out of the conference. If there are tri-champions, McGuffey would need to win by 7 or more points to earn the #1-seed
10/24:  WASHINGTON

Mount Pleasant Vikings (6-1) have clinched
Mount Pleasant can earn a share of the conference championship with a win Friday over Southmoreland AND a McGuffey win over Washington. The Vikings can’t earn the #1-seed, but can take the #2-seed in the conference with a win and a McGuffey loss OR a win and a McGuffey victory by 6 or less points over Washington
10/24:  SOUTHMORELAND

Waynesburg Raiders (4-3)
Waynesburg can clinch a playoff spot with a win Friday over Derry OR a Southmoreland loss
10/17:  at McGuffey
10/24:  DERRY

Southmoreland Scotties (4-3)
Southmoreland can clinch a playoff spot with a win Friday at Mount Pleasant AND a Waynesburg loss
10/24:  at Mount Pleasant

CLASS AA Midwestern Conference:

Aliquippa Quips (7-0) have clinched
Aliquippa has clinched at least a share of the conference championship and can clinch the conference championship outright with a win Friday  against Beaver Falls
10/24:  BEAVER FALLS

Beaver Falls Tigers (6-1)  have clinched
Beaver Falls can clinch a share of the conference championship and the #1-seed in the conference with a win at Aliquippa Friday.
10/24:  at Aliquippa

New Brighton Lions (5-2) have clinched
New Brighton can clinch a tie for second place with a win Friday over Mohawk AND Beaver Falls loss to Aliquippa
10/24:  MOHAWK

Beaver Bobcats (5-2) have clinched
Beaver can clinch a tie for second place with a win Friday at Ellwood City AND a Beaver Falls loss to Aliquippa
10/24:  at Ellwood City

MAC Breakdown:
IF Beaver Falls loses and New Brighton wins and Beaver lose:  1) Aliquippa, 2) Beaver Falls, 3) New Brighton, 4) Beaver
IF Beaver Falls loses and New Brighton loses and Beaver wins:  1) Aliquippa, 2) Beaver, 3) Beaver Falls, 4) New Brighton
IF Beaver Falls loses and New Brighton wins and Beaver wins:  1) Aliquippa, 2) Tie-breaker points would decide. Coming into this week, Beaver Falls +50, Beaver +30 and New Brighton +27. Beaver Falls would win the tiebreaker UNLESS the Tigers lost by 10 or more AND the Bobcats won by 10 or more. Then they would be both +40 and Beaver would take second based on head-to-head with Beaver Falls. In that case, New Brighton would be third and Beaver Falls fourth. If Beaver Falls is second, New Brighton would be third and Beaver fourth.

CLASS A Big 7 Conference:

Neshannock Lancers (6-0) have clinched
Neshannock has clinched at least a share of the conference championship and the top seed out of the conference and can win the conference outright with a victory Friday over Union
10/24:  UNION

Shenango Wildcats (6-1) have clinched
Shenango has clinched the #2-seed out of the conference and can earn a share of the conference title with a Neshannock loss on Friday
10/24:  at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic

South Side Rams (4-2) have clinched
South Side has clinched third place
10/25:  at Western Beaver

Riverside Panthers (3-3)
Riverside can clinch a playoff spot with a win Friday over Vincentian Academy
10/24:  VINCENTIAN ACADEMY

Vincentian Academy Royals (2-4)
Vincentian Academy can clinch a playoff spot with a win Friday at Riverside AND a Western Beaver loss
10/24:  at Riverside

Western Beaver Golden Beavers (2-4)
Western Beaver can clinch a playoff spot with a win Saturday over South Side AND a Vincentian Academy win over Riverside. Western Beaver would win a three-way tie-breaker with Riverside and Vincentian Academy based on more gardner points
10/25:  SOUTH SIDE BEAVER

CLASS A Eastern Conference:

Clairton Bears (7-0) have clinched
Clairton has clinched at least a share of the conference championship and the top-seed in the conference and can win the conference outright with a win over Leechburg OR a Jeannette loss
10/24:  LEECHBURG

Jeannette Jayhawks (6-1) have clinched
Jeannette can clinch second place with a win Friday over Greensburg Central Catholic. The Jayhawks can earn a share of the conference championship and the #2-seed in the conference with a win AND a Clairton loss
10/24:  GREENSBURG CENTRAL CATHOLIC

Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions (5-2) have clinched
Greensburg Central Catholic can clinch second place with a win Friday at Jeannette
10/24:  at Jeannette

Springdale Dynamos (4-3) have clinched
Springdale can clinch third place with a win at Riverview Saturday AND a Greensburg Central Catholic loss to Jeannette. Monessen and Riverview have been eliminated because they lose all tiebreakers in a two-way or three-way tie with Springdale
10/25:  at Riverview

CLASS A Black Hills Conference:

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans (7-0) have clinched
Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic has clinched the conference championship outright
10/24:  SHENANGO

Avonworth Antelopes (5-1) have clinched
Avonworth has clinched second place
10/24:  NORTHGATE

Brentwood Spartans (4-2) have clinched
Brentwood has clinched third place
10/24:  BISHOP CANEVIN

Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers (3-3)
Chartiers-Houston can clinch a playoff spot with a win Friday over Fort Cherry
10/24:  FORT CHERRY

Fort Cherry Rangers (2-4)
Fort Cherry can clinch a playoff spot with a win Friday at Chartiers-Houston AND a Northgate loss
10/24:  at Chartiers-Houston

Northgate Flames (2-4)
Northgate can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Avonworth on Friday AND a Fort Cherry win over Chartiers-Houston. The Flames would win the three-way tiebreaker with Chartiers-Houston and Fort Cherry via gardner points
10/24:  at Avonworth

CLASS A Tri-County South Conference:

Beth-Center Bulldogs (7-0) have clinched
Beth-Center has clinched at least a share of the conference championship and the #1-seed out of the conference and can clinch the conference title outright with a win Friday at Bentworth
10/24:  at Bentworth

Frazier Commodores (6-1) have clinched
Frazier has clinched second place and can earn a share of the conference championship with a win at California on Friday AND a Beth-Center loss
10/24:  at California

Mapletown Maples (6-2) have clinched
Mapletown has clinched third place
10/24:  at Monessen

Avella Eagles (3-4)
Avella can clinch a playoff spot with a win Friday over West Greene AND a Bentworth loss
10/24:  WEST GREENE

Bentworth Bearcats (3-4)
Bentworth can clinch a playoff spot with a win Friday over Beth-Center AND an Avella win because the Bearcats win any three-way tiebreaker with Avella and the Carmichaels/Jefferson-Morgan winner because of gardner points
10/24:  BETH-CENTER

Jefferson-Morgan Rockets (3-4)
Jefferson-Morgan can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Carmichaels on Friday AND a Bentworth loss AND an Avella loss
10/24:  at Carmichaels

Carmichaels Mighty Mikes (3-4)
Carmichaels can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Jefferson-Morgan Friday AND a Bentworth loss AND an Avella loss
10/24:  JEFFERSON-MORGAN