WPIAL Week 8 Playoff Scenarios

With two weeks left in the regular season, 34 of 64 playoff spots have been clinched and one team has already secured a Conference Championship. Somewhat surprisingly, that team is the Washington Prexies in the AA Interstate Conference. With only one conference game remaining, the worst Washington can finish is 7-1 in conference play which would put them in a tie with Jeanette, who they beat head-to-head. Congratulations to the Prexies on winning the Interstate Conference crown. Here's a look at the other playoff races as we head down to the wire.

AAAA

8 of 16 playoff spots clinched

Top 5 teams from each conference make the playoffs plus the 6th place team with the best conference record

Foothills Conference

Clinched Playoff Spot: Gateway (6-0, 6-1), Penn-Trafford (6-0, 6-1)

In the Running: McKeesport (4-2, 4-3), Kiski Area (3-3, 3-4),  Hempfield (3-3, 3-4), Altoona (3-4, 3-4), Connellsville (2-4, 2-5)

Scenarios:

• The winner of the Gateway vs Penn-Trafford game wins the Conference Championship
• McKeesport clinches a playoff spot with a win over Kiski

Northern Eight Conference

Clinched Playoff Spot: North Allegheny (5-0, 7-0), Seneca Valley (5-1, 6-1), Central Catholic (4-2, 5-2)

In the Running: North Hills (3-2, 5-2), Butler (2-3, 3-4), Pine-Richland (2-4, 3-4)

Scenarios:

• North Allegheny clinches the Conference Championship with a win over Shaler
• North Hills clinches a playoff spot with a win over Pine-Richland
• Butler clinches a playoff spot with a win over Fox Chapel

Southeastern Conference

Clinched Playoff Spot: Upper St Clair (5-1, 6-1), Mt Lebanon (6-0, 6-1), Bethel Park (5-2, 5-2)

In the Running: Woodland Hills (4-2, 5-2), Peters Twp (3-3, 4-3), Penn Hills (3-3, 3-4)

Scenarios:

• Mt. Lebanon clinches the Conference Championship with a win over Penn Hills and an Upper St Clair loss
• Woodland Hills clinches a playoff spot with a win over Peters Twp and a Penn Hills loss
• Peters Twp clinches a playoff spot with a win over Woodland Hills and a Penn Hills loss

AAA

8 of 16 playoff spots clinched

Top 5 teams from each conference make the playoffs plus the 6th place team with the best conference record

Big Nine Conference

Clinched Playoff Spot: West Mifflin (6-0, 7-0), Thomas Jefferson (6-0, 7-0)

In the Running: Ringgold (4-3, 4-3), Trinity (4-2, 4-3), Elizabeth Forward (4-3, 4-3), Belle Vernon (2-4, 2-5)

Scenarios:

• Trinity clinches a playoff spot with a win over West Mifflin or a Belle Vernon loss
• Elizabeth Forward clinches a playoff spot with a win over Albert Gallatin or with a Trinity win or with a Belle Vernon loss
• Ringgold plays a non-conference game but can clinch a playoff spot if Trinity wins or Belle Vernon loses

Greater Allegheny Conference

Clinched Playoff Spot: Mars (5-1, 6-1), Franklin Regional (5-1, 6-1), Hampton (5-1, 6-1)

In the Running: Knoch (4-2, 5-2), Hollidaysburg (3-3, 3-4), Highlands (3-4, 3-4), Indiana (2-4, 2-5)

Scenarios:

• Franklin Regional can clinch the Conference Championship with a win over Hampton and a Mars loss
• Knoch clinches a playoff spot with a win over Indiana
• Hollidaysburg clinches a playoff spot with a win over Mars and an Indiana loss

Parkway Conference

Clinched Playoff Spot: Montour (6-0, 7-0), Central Valley (6-1, 6-1), West Allegheny (5-1, 6-1)

In the Running: Ambridge (3-3, 3-4), Hopewell (3-4, 3-4), New Castle (2-4, 3-4)

Scenarios:

• Ambridge clinches a playoff spot with a win over Central Valley and a New Castle loss

AA

10 of 16 playoff spots clinched

Top 4 from each conference make playoffs

Allegheny Conference

Clinched Playoff Spot: Freeport (6-1, 6-1)

In the Running: Burrell (5-1, 6-1), Shady Side Academy (4-2, 4-3), Valley (4-2, 5-2), Kittanning (4-2, 5-3)

Scenarios:

• Freeport plays a non-conference game but can clinch the Conference Championship with losses by Burrell and Valley
• Burrell clinches a playoff spot with a win over East Allegheny
• Shady Side Academy clinches a playoff spot with a win over Summit Academy and a Valley loss
• Kittanning clinches a playoff spot with a win over Valley
• Valley clinches a playoff spot with a win over Kittanning and a Shady Side Academy loss

Century Conference

Clinched Playoff Spot: South Fayette (6-0, 7-0), Seton-La Salle (6-1, 6-1), South Allegheny (5-1, 6-1)

In the Running: Steel Valley (4-2, 4-3), South Park (3-3, 3-4)

Scenarios:

• South Fayette clinches the Conference Championship with a win over South Park and a South Allegheny loss
• Steel Valley clinches a playoff spot with a win over South Allegheny or a South Park loss

Interstate Conference

Conference Champion: Washington (7-0, 7-0)

Clinched Playoff Spot: Jeanette (5-1, 6-1), Mt Pleasant (5-2, 5-2)

In the Running: GCC (4-2, 5-2), Yough (3-3, 3-4)

Scenarios:

• GCC clinches a playoff spot with a win over Yough

Midwestern Conference

Clinched Playoff Spot: Beaver (5-0, 7-0), Aliquippa (5-0, 7-0), Beaver Falls (5-1, 6-1)

In the Running: Mohawk (2-4, 2-5), Freedom (2-4, 2-5)

Scenarios:

• No clinching scenarios because Mohawk and Freedom both play non-conference games

A

8 of 16 playoff spots clinched

Top 4 from each conference make playoffs

Big Seven Conference

Clinched Playoff Spot: Rochester (6-0, 7-0), Neshannock (6-1, 6-1)

In the Running: Sto-Rox (5-1, 6-1), Union (4-2, 5-2), Laurel (3-3, 4-3)

Scenarios:

• Rochester clinches the Conference Championship with a win over OLSH and a Sto-Rox loss
• Sto-Rox clinches a playoff spot with a win over Laurel
• Union clinches a playoff spot with a win over South Side Beaver or a Laurel loss

Black Hills Conference

Clinched Playoff Spot: Clairton (7-0, 7-0), Monessen (6-1, 6-1), Bishop Canevin (5-2, 5-2)

In the Running:  Brentwood (4-3, 4-3), Fort Cherry (3-4, 3-4), Chartiers-Houston (3-4, 3-4)
Imani Christian is currently 5-2 but is ineligible for the playoffs

Scenarios:

• Clairton clinches the Conference Championship with a win over Serra Catholic
• Brentwood clinches a playoff spot with a win over Bishop Canevin or with losses by Fort Cherry and Chartiers-Houston

Eastern Conference

Clinched Playoff Spot: North Catholic (6-1, 6-1)

In the Running: Northgate (5-1, 5-2), Springdale (4-2, 4-3), Apollo-Ridge (4-2, 4-3), Avonworth (4-2, 4-3)

Scenarios:

• Northgate clinches a playoff spot with a win over Springdale

Tri-County South Conference

Clinched Playoff Spot: Beth-Center (6-1, 6-1)

In the Running: Frazier (5-2, 5-2), Avella (4-2, 5-2), Jefferson-Morgan (4-2, 5-2), Carmichaels (4-2, 5-2)

Scenarios:

• Beth-Center clinches the Conference Championship with a win over Avella