MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – It’s the first time in four weeks that local teams other than Clay-Battelle have risen in the prep football rankings due to a win, and on the backside of that rise sees the Cee-Bees drop three spots.
The University Hawks (3-4) and Preston Knights (2-5) both snapped their respective losing streaks to rise in the rankings after defeating Buckhannon-Upshur and Washington, respectively. UHS’ win accounts for a one-spot rise to No. 17 heading into a road game across the county line in Kingwood, and Preston’s win pushes the Knights up three spots to No. 19.
Falling to another top-10 opponent in No. 3 Parkersburg South on Friday, No. 24 Morgantown remains in the same spot as last week. The Mohigans (1-7) return to action on Friday at No. 14 John Marshall – their first non-top 10 game after three weeks.
Class A
Clay-Battelle and Cameron battled it out on the Dragons’ turf to see who would maintain their winning streak, and Cameron came out on top to knock the Cee-Bees (4-3) down three spots to No. 17. This marks the second-biggest drop for C-B since the team fell five spots to No. 19 entering Week 6, and the team will look to rebound with their third-straight away game against Conotton Valley (Ohio).
Trinity Christian (2-5) remains on a skid, and the latest loss to Steubenville Catholic Central put the Warriors down two spots to No. 30. TCS has another tough matchup this week against No. 10 Tygarts Valley.
Playoff implications
Clay-Battelle is the only local team with a positive record, but the Cee-Bees may not have enough bonus points to pick up a playoff spot should they falter in the final stage of the season. They’ll need to win out, and some in the bottom rungs of the top 16 will need to lose to give C-B a shot at getting a spot. Currently, there are two teams tied for No. 10 and No. 12, which could affect the standings going forward as well. After facing Conotton Valley, C-B has a home game against Massanutten (Va.) and a road game at Hundred (2-6) which resides in the Class A basement at No. 36.
University is also on the edge of the top 16, but like C-B the Hawks need to win their final two games over Preston and Morgantown to have any shot at making the cut. They currently have four bonus points behind a bottom group of seven schools that averages nearly six bonus points.
Class AAA top 10
No. 1 Martinsburg (8-0) | Last week’s rank: 2
Martinsburg jumps one spot ahead of Cabell Midland after both teams picked up wins this week. The Bulldogs lead Cabell Midland in overall points 118 to 115. Martinsburg next faces Jefferson (1-6) on Friday.
No. 2 Cabell Midland (8-0) | Last week’s rank: 1
Cabell Midland downed Woodrow Wilson on Friday 48-8 but drops one spot behind the Bulldogs. CBHS next plays No. 8 Huntington (4-3) on the road before a Week 10 bye.
No. 3 Parkersburg South (7-0) | Last week’s rank: 3
The Patriots remain in the No. 3 spot after defeating Morgantown on Friday. South next faces No. 7 Greenbrier East (5-2) at home on Friday.
No. 4 Musselman (7-1) | Last week’s rank: 5
The Applemen rise one spot following a tight 26-24 win over No. 6 Wheeling Park at home. They have an easier matchup this week against Washington (2-5) in Charles Town.
No. 5 Spring Valley (7-1) | Last week’s rank: 4
Spring Valley traded places with Musselman although blowing out St. Albans 47-0 on Friday. The Timberwolves are rated 0.13 lower than the Applemen in what has been a rank
No. 6 Wheeling Park (5-2) | Last week’s rank: 6
The Patriots fell to Musselman on Friday, but it didn’t effect their ranking. They end their three-week road series this week at Class AA No. 31 Elkins (2-5).
No. 7 Greenbrier East (5-2) | Last week’s rank: 8
The Spartans rise one spot after defeating Ripley 34-28 on the road. They next face No. 3 Parkersburg South.
No. 8 Huntington (4-3) | Last week’s rank: 9
Huntington defeated its No. 9 neighbor Capital 24-12 on Friday to rise one spot while knocking xx down to No. 13. The Highlanders next face No. 2 Cabell Midland.
No. 9 George Washington (4-3) | Last week’s rank: 7
GW fell two spots after the bye and are 0.15 points behind the Highlanders. The Patriots next face No. 10 Riverside (4-3) on the road.
No. 10 Spring Mills (4-3) | Last week’s rank: 12
The Cardinals rise two spots after defeating Albert Gallatin (Pa.) 22-19 Friday. Spring Mills next faces No. 12 Parkersburg (4-3) in Parkersburg.
No. 10 Riverside (4-3) | Last week’s rank: 11
Riverside rises one spot after edging South Charleston 36-33 at home. They next take on George Washington in their final game of a three-game home stand.
Class A top 10
No. 1 Doddridge County (7-0) | Last week’s rank: 1
The Bulldogs remain the top team in Class A after blowing out Ravenswood 31-0 on the road Friday. Doddridge returns home for a showdown with Valley-Wetzel (2-5).
No. 2 Pendleton County (7-0) | Last week’s rank: 2
Pendleton County stays No. 2 after defeating Parkersburg Catholic 26-20 in Parkersburg on Friday. The Wildcats next have a home game against No. 12 East Hardy (5-2).
No. 3 Ritchie County (6-1) | Last week’s rank: 3
Ritchie remains No. 3 following a 28-point blowout over Webster County in Ellenboro. The Rebels have another home game against Wirt County (3-5) before finishing the season with two road games at Glimer and Calhoun.
No. 4 Williamstown (7-1) | Last week’s rank: 4
The Yellowjackets also remain in their spot from last week after defeating Tyler Consolidated 46-28 in Sistersville. They finish their four-game road series this Friday against Parkersburg Catholic (5-3).
No. 5 Greenbrier West (6-1) | Last week’s rank: 5
After going through Week 8 tied with Wheeling Central for No. 5, Greenbrier West hangs onto the spot after defeating Richwood 22-12. They next face Sherman (1-6).
No. 6 Midland Trail (5-2) | Last week’s rank: 7
Although falling to Liberty (Raleigh) 32-20 at home. on Friday, Midland Trail rises one spot. The Patriots next have a bye before facing No. 17 Buffalo (4-3) on the road.
No. 7 Wheeling Central (4-3) | Last week’s rank: 5
The Maroon Knights keep taking right hooks this year, falling two spots after losing to Martins Ferry (Ohio) 27-13. They next face P. John Paul the Great (Va.) at 6 p.m. this Friday.
No. 8 St. Marys (5-2) | Last week’s rank: 12
The Blue Devils leap four spots into the top 10 after dismantling Magnolia 40-6 at home. St. Marys returns to action Friday facing No. 12 South Harrison (4-3).
No. 9 Madonna (6-2) | Last week’s rank: 8
Madonna falls one spot after its 55-14 blowout loss at Toronto (Ohio) Friday. The Blue Dons look to rebound this week with a home game against Steubenville Catholic Central.
No. 10 Tygarts Valley (5-2) | Last week’s rank: 9
After winning the first half of the season, the Bulldogs picked up their second straight loss at South Harrison. The loss shoved them down one spot, but they should have a good chance for a rebound against Trinity Christian on Friday.
No. 10 Tolsia (4-3) | Last week’s rank: 9
Tolsia remains locked with Tygarts Valley rated 5.86 following a 13-6 loss to Buffalo. The Rebels will look to snap their two-game skid with a home game against No. 24 Mount View (3-4).
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