MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Since the 16-team playoff change in 1991, at least one Monongalia County football team has seen the postseason after 1992 when then-No. 13 Clay-Battelle started the 27-year series.
But not this year – that streak is all but over barring a major shakeup in Class AAA or A.
Preston, on the other hand, hasn’t made the state playoffs since 2008 when they were ranked No. 15. This year looks to be the same case for the Knights (4-5), who enter the final week of regular season play in that exact spot. They end their season on the road against No. 23 Brooke (2-7) who are coming off a 54-0 blowout loss at Weir (AA).
Of note, the Bruins’ only wins have come at Hedgesville in Week 2 and home against Buckhannon-Upshur in Week 9. Preston defeated Buckhannon-Upshur in Buckhannon 27-14 last week, so this game, theoretically, should be a win for PHS.
Preston is just ahead of No. 16 John Marshall in the WVSSAC ratings, but the Monarchs have a very tough matchup with Wheeling Park this week. A loss to the Patriots would likely knock them out of the playoffs should No. 17 Hurricane defeat No. 25 St. Albans or No. 18 Ripley defeat No. 24 Ravenswood (AA). Ahead of Preston are No. 13 South Charleston (4-5) that faces No. 2 Cabell Midland and No. 14 Riverside (4-5) that hosts No. 9 Greenbrier East. Should both SCHS and Riverside lose, Preston and its 68 total points would jump ahead of them.
After Preston’s 1-point win over University in Week 9, Clay-Battelle looked to be the final Mon County team with a shot at picking up a playoff bid down the stretch. Yet, even after defeating visiting Massanutten (Va.) 45-0 on Friday, the Cee-Bees (5-4) are ranked out of the top 20 at No. 21. They have 30 total points and 12 bonus points. What hurts C-B here is the bonus points, which they’ve gotten 1 per opponent wins. They’ve also not played a AA team – a win that would have put them in the top 16.
Clay-Battelle finishes its season with a road game at Hundred (2-7). A win would give them eight total points (6 points, 2 bonus) putting them at 36 points and 14 bonus. Say every team behind No. 16 Madonna (6-3-1), who has 42 points and 15.25 bonus points, loses this week that would still put C-B behind No. 17 Tyler Consolidated (6-3; 36 points, 15 bonus) and No. 18 Parkersburg Catholic (6-4; 36 and 19). No. 19 Meadow Bridge finishes its season with Gilmer County, and No. 20 Buffalo finished with Wahama – both easy matchups for the two teams that would account for six points and three bonus points.
The last time Clay-Battelle made the playoffs was 2014 when the Cee-Bees were ranked No. 4 and lost in the semifinals to St. Marys.
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