WayneƵs Armando Batista leads the Pioneers onto the field before hosting Winfield in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 at Wayne High School.
WayneƵs Armando Batista leads the Pioneers onto the field before hosting Winfield in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 at Wayne High School.
Wayne last won a state championship in football in 2012, but the Pioneers are in the thick of the race for another, according to the ƵSSAC high school football rankings.
The Pioneers (3-0, 10.67 points) are third in Class AA in the ratings, released Tuesday. Wayne trails top-rated Roane County (4-0, 12.75) and No. 2 Frankfort (3-0, 12.33). The top 16 teams make the playoffs, with the top eight earning a home game in the first round of the playoffs.
Philip Barbour (3-1, 9.35) is fourth, followed in the top eight by Westside (4-0, 9.25), Independence (3-1, 8.85), Williamstown (4-0, 8.75) and South Harrison (3-0, 8.67).
Clay County, Poca, Wheeling Central, Nicholas County, Logan Mingo Central, Moorefield and James Monroe round out the top 16.
Huntington High (3-1, 11.0) is eighth in Class AAAA. Hurricane (2-2, 9.0) is 11th and Cabell Midland (0-3, 2.9) 16th. Spring Mills (4-0, 16.25) tops the division, with defending state champion Martinsburg (4-0, 15.5) second.
Wheeling Park (3-1, 13.75) is third, followed in the top eight by Parkersburg South (3-1, 13.63), George Washington (4-0, 12.75), Morgantown (3-1, 12.2), Woodrow Wilson (3-1, 11.38) and the Highlanders.
Washington (3-1, 10.38) is ninth, ahead of Hedgesville, Hurricane, Jefferson, University, Parkersburg, Musselman and Cabell Midland.
Huntington High coach Billy Seals said heƵs not happy with the rating system. Looking at the projected final ratings, Seals bristled at teams with 7-3 records ranking higher than 9-1 squads.
ƵThis is just an olƵ lack of common sense that needs to be fixed,Ƶ Seals said. ƵGive the schools their proper base points and and make it right for all kids.Ƶ
In Class AAA, Point Pleasant (1-2, 6.7) is 15th and Spring Valley (2-2, 6.63) 16th. Lincoln County (0-4, 2.7) is 27th. Bridgeport (4-0, 14.0) is No. 1. Fairmont Senior (4-0, 13.75) is second, followed by Herbert Hoover (3-0, 13.67), Princeton (4-0, 13.5), Ripley (4-0, 11.5), North Marion (3-1, 10.95), Oak Hill (3-1, 9.65) and Capital (2-1, 9.2).
The next eight includes Elkins, Nitro, Shady Spring, East Fairmont, Robert C. Byrd, Hampshire, Point Pleasant and Spring Valley.
In Class A, Wahama (4-0, 7.75) is fourth, behind Tug Valley (3-0, 10.0), River View (3-0, 9.0) and Petersburg (3-1, 8.05). Tolsia (2-1, 5.27) is 15th.
Weirton Madonna (4-0, 7.5) is fifth, and Valley Wetzel (4-0, 7.0), Tucker County (4-0, 6.5) and Doddridge County (3-1, 6.35) are in the top eight. Pendleton County, Tyler Consolidated, Meadow Bridge, Greenbrier West, Wirt County, Man, Tolsia and Webster County complete the top 16.
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