The first round of the high school football playoffs has been postponed as the lawsuit continues

PARKERSBURG – High school football in West Virginia continues to exist in the unknown.
On Tuesday afternoon, WVSSAC Director David Price confirmed the state football playoffs have been postponed due to ongoing litigation.
The playoffs will begin after the lawsuit is resolved.
“We are extremely disappointed not to have the playoffs this weekend,” Price said. “We understand the frustration of all parties involved and we would like nothing more than to put the focus back on the student-athletes and their pursuit of a championship.
“However, we must adhere to the decisions of the courts and their timeline.”
WVSSAC administrators held their annual playoff meeting for football coaches for all four classifications on Sunday in Parkersburg. A total of 64 schools were represented during the day.
With lawsuits underway that afternoon, the WVSSAC was hopeful the state football playoffs would go on as scheduled, with first-round games played on Friday and Saturday.
“We had some hope, but we also knew it was likely we would get this postponement,” said WVSSAC Associate Director Wayne Ryan.
In the most recent ruling on multiple injunctions filed against the WVSSAC, a play-in round was scheduled for Class AAA. The order was issued late Monday evening by Mason County Circuit Judge Anita Ashley.
Essentially, this delayed the first round of this week’s state football playoffs for the 16 teams in each of the four classifications.
“We’ll see what the court decides, but it’s unlikely there will be a play-in round,” Ryan said.
The play-in round followed the initial order, which was issued Saturday by Wood County Circuit Court Judge John D. Beane. The WVSSAC football ratings were reworked that same afternoon, knocking Point Pleasant and Hampshire out of the original Class AAA field. Capital and St Albans were the two teams as replacements.
One entry in Beane’s order stated, “There will be minimal disruption to the state football playoffs and all parties will benefit as WVSSAC must apply its points system to the schedules…”
As for what happens as high school football moves forward, Ryan responded: “The postponement is clearly a result of the conflicting decisions of different judges from different counties across the state. We’ll ask the state Supreme Court to give us a decision, to give us some direction: Do we use the rating system we had all season or the rating system given to us by the Wood County judge?
The Wood County Board of Education filed the appeal on behalf of Parkersburg High School, Parkersburg South High School and Williamstown High School. At issue was the rescheduling and the data used to determine the play-off points.
“While the reshuffling itself may not be arbitrary or capricious, the decision to reshuffle teams beyond a point where schedules can be changed is almost by definition arbitrary,” Beane said. “Using the August 12 and 16 realignments to determine points will benefit certain teams, hurt certain teams, avoid any impact, and there is nothing a school can do about it because no one can change their schedule change. .”
When football season started and schools were reclassified, there was dissatisfaction with the ratings and points received. Appeals followed asking the board to reconsider the decision, and when this was denied, “they didn’t accept the decision, so these orders have come in, which is quite unfortunate for everyone involved,” Ryan said.
Several football coaches gave their thoughts on the state of high school football in the state of West Virginia during Sunday’s playoff meetings.
“It is time for people with political power and/or money – which I don’t have either – to stand up for our student-athletes and end this justice system because it is an embarrassment to the state of West Virginia,” St. .Marys. coach Jodi Mote. “Better decisions should be made by adults in positions of authority.
“During the COVID year 2020, players wear shields on the face mask and play on Sunday – the Lord’s Day. I will never forget it and this current situation is right up there.”
Last season, West Virginia football consisted of three classes. The four-class system made its debut this year. In developing a schedule, Wirt County played on a schedule that gave the Tigers a bye week during the final week of the regular season. Even if the playoffs don’t resume until next weekend at the earliest, Wirt County will have passed three weeks since the last game.
“With what’s happening, the best I can compare it to is the COVID year.” Wirt County coach Jason Hickman said. “We were in the play-offs and you looked at a map to see if you could play or not. I have very similar feelings about that.
“We just have to focus on what we can control. Right now our opponent is Tyler Consolidated, and we have to move forward. We prepare to spend hours on film work that may or may not matter. But we have to do it because that’s where we are now.”
Like Cabell Midland and St. Albans in Class AAA, St. Marys finished 4-6 and failed to qualify for the postseason in the ratings released Friday. Following Saturday’s review following the order issued by the Wood County Board of Education, the Blue Devils received the No. 14 seed in Class A.
“We love St. Marys High School, but we don’t belong in the playoffs,” Mote said. “We haven’t beaten a school with a winning record yet. However, we will prepare to play with our young men for another week until the courthouses in the state of West Virginia open probably on Tuesday.

–By KERRY PATRICK