🏈 Southern WV Teams Face Tough Tests in WVSSAC Football Playoffs Opener

🚀 Opening Round Preview 🚀

The road to the Super Six in Charleston begins this week for numerous Southern West Virginia high school football teams as they embark on their WVSSAC playoff journeys. Several matchups feature intriguing contrasts between strong contenders and determined underdogs, setting the stage for a dramatic opening round.

Class AAAA: High Seeds Host Challenging Matchups

In the largest classification, two southern West Virginia teams face road tests:

• No. 12 Oak Hill (5-5) at No. 5 George Washington (8-2) – Friday, November 14.

The Oak Hill Red Devils finished the regular season at .500 but earned a trip to Charleston to face the formidable George Washington Patriots. The Patriots, with an 8-2 record, enter as solid favorites, boasting a high-powered offense and the home-field advantage. Oak Hill will need a top-tier defensive performance and a mistake-free night to pull off the upset. 

• No. 11 Woodrow Wilson (5-5) at No. 6 Wheeling Park (6-4) – Friday, November 14.

The Woodrow Wilson Flying Eagles also come in at 5-5, traveling a long distance to take on the Wheeling Park Patriots. Wheeling Park, at 6-4, is known for their physical style of play and will look to capitalize on their home crowd. For Woodrow Wilson, this is an opportunity to prove their mettle against a strong northern opponent.

Class AAA: A balance of high-octane and ground and pound.

Class AAA features two highly-ranked southern teams hoping to begin a deep playoff run.

• No. 16 PikeView (7-3) at No. 1 Bridgeport (10-0)

The PikeView Panthers (7-3) drew the toughest assignment: a trip to face the undefeated and perennial power, Bridgeport Indians. You can expect the Panthers to bring a fight as they seek to become on the second 16 seed in WVSSAC history to win a state championship.

• No. 15 Hampshire (6-4) at No. 2 Princeton (10-0)

The Princeton Tigers (10-0) are one of the state's true unbeatens and are heavily favored in their home matchup against Hampshire (6-4). The Tigers, led by a dominant ground game and defense, have Super Six aspirations for the second time in 3 season and will look to make a statement in Round 1 enroute to the programs first state championship.

• No. 9 Chapmanville (10-0) at No. 8 Greenbrier East (6-4)

In one of the most exciting Class AAA matchups, the undefeated Chapmanville Tigers (10-0) travel to Lewisburg to face the Greenbrier East Spartans (6-4). Chapmanville's perfect record will be tested by a Greenbrier East team that plays a strong schedule. This is a classic 8-seed vs. 9-seed contest that could go either way.

Class AA & A: A slate complete with super teams and underdogs looking to play spoiler.

The smaller classifications are loaded with Southern WV talent.

Class AA Notables

• No. 15 Oak Glen (7-3) at No. 2 Bluefield (8-2)

The Bluefield Beavers (8-2) are a consistent title threat and host a tough Oak Glen team. The Beavers will rely on their playoff experience and tradition to push past the Golden Bears as they chase the 12th state championship in school history and the 6th for legendary head coach, Fred Simon.

• No. 13 Lincoln (4-6) at No. 4 Independence (9-1)

The Independence Patriots (9-1) enjoyed a fantastic season and are a top contender. They host Lincoln, a team that snuck in at 4-6, giving the Patriots a strong chance to advance in front of their home crowd in Coal City.

• No. 12 Logan (8-2) at No. 5 Doddridge County (10-0)

The Logan Wildcats (8-2) face a long road trip to take on the undefeated Doddridge County Bulldogs. Logan is eager to eat making this a dangerous matchup for the Bulldogs, but Doddridge County will lean on its perfect season momentum. 

• No. 9 James Monroe (7-3) at No. 8 Mingo Central (8-2)

The Mingo Central Miners (8-2) host the James Monroe Mavericks (7-3) in another highly competitive 8/9 seed game. Both teams have strong offenses and this game is expected to be a high-scoring battle on Miner Mountain.

Class A Notables

• No. 15 Man (3-7) at No. 2 Wahama (10-0)

The Man Hillbillies (3-7) face a monumental challenge against the 10-0, highly-ranked Wahama White Falcons. Wahama is a state title favorite and will be a tough out for the Hillbillies. 

• No. 13 Greenbrier West (4-6) at No. 4 Pendleton County (8-2)

The Greenbrier West Cavaliers (4-6) make the trip to play the Pendleton County Wildcats (8-2). The Cavaliers are looking to recapture past glory in the playoffs against a strong Wildcats program. 

• No. 12 East Hardy (5-5) at No. 5 Sherman (8-2)

The Class A bracket opens with a thrilling clash as the No. 12 seed East Hardy Cougars travel to Seth to take on the No. 5 Sherman Tide. This matchup pits the high-powered offense of the Cougars against the formidable defense and home-field advantage of the Tide.

• No. 10 Meadow Bridge (7-3) at No. 7 Cameron (6-3)

The Meadow Bridge Wildcats (7-3) have an exciting matchup on the road against Cameron. This game is a toss-up between two mid-seed teams, promising an intense playoff atmosphere. 

• No. 9 Tug Valley (6-4) at No. 8 Tucker County (6-4)

The Tug Valley Panthers (6-4) travel to face the Tucker County Mountain Lions (6-4) in a very evenly matched contest. The winner of this game will earn a trip to the quarterfinals, making every snap crucial. 

The opening round is known for its upsets and excitement, and these matchups prove that the road to the state title runs straight through Southern West Virginia.