"Mr. High School Sports" - Who's In And Who's Out? (Final Edition)
Week 9 of the 2012 WPIAL football season is just about in the books, which means the regular season, as a whole, is almost over, and the district playoffs are right around the corner.
Next Friday, 64 teams across four classifications will vie for the right to play at Heinz Field...and beyond. Who are they?
Let's take a look at the final playoff clinchings:
CLASS AAAA:
NORTHERN EIGHT CONFERENCE: North Allegheny, Seneca Valley, Pittsburgh Central Catholic, North Hills, Butler
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE: Upper St. Clair, Mount Lebanon, Woodland Hills, Bethel Park, Peters Township
FOOTHILLS CONFERENCE: Gateway, Penn-Trafford, McKeesport, Hempfield, Kiski Area
WILD CARD: Altoona
CLASS AAA:
*BIG NINE CONFERENCE: Thomas Jefferson, West Mifflin, Elizabeth Forward, Ringgold, Trinity, Belle Vernon
PARKWAY CONFERENCE: Central Valley, West Allegheny, Montour, Hopewell, Blackhawk
GREATER ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE: Mars, Hampton, Franklin Regional, Knoch, Hollidaysburg
*WILD CARD: Trinity will play at Ringgold Saturday at noon; their game was postponed from Friday due to a water main break. The outcome will determine the final order of finish in the Big Nine, along with the Wild Card. If Trinity wins, Belle Vernon is the Wild Card. If Ringgold wins, Trinity is the Wild Card.
CLASS AA:
MIDWESTERN CONFERENCE: Aliquippa, Beaver, Beaver Falls, Freedom
CENTURY CONFERENCE: South Fayette, Seton-LaSalle, South Allegheny, Steel Valley
INTERSTATE CONFERENCE: Washington, Jeannette, Mount Pleasant, Greensburg Central Catholic
ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE: Freeport, Burrell, Shady Side Academy, Valley
CLASS A:
BLACK HILLS CONFERENCE: Clairton, Monessen, Brentwood, Bishop Canevin
BIG 7 CONFERENCE: Sto-Rox, Rochester, Neshannock, Union
EASTERN CONFERENCE: North Catholic, Springdale, Apollo-Ridge, Avonworth
TRI-COUNTY SOUTH CONFERENCE: Beth-Center, Jefferson-Morgan, Carmichaels, Frazier
(The MSA Sports Network contributed to this post.)
(Follow me on Twitter @mpopchock.)