Williamstown tops Class A contenders

In recent years, three teams have dominated Class A football in West Virginia -Moorefield, Wheeling Central and Williamstown.

But the 2005 football season has witnessed Moorefield go winless and Wheeling Central finish 6-4 and just barely make the playoff field.

Williamstown, however, has gone undefeated for the fourth straight regular season. It is the top seed for the playoffs.

And with Moorefield not in the playoffs and Wheeling Central undergoing a coaching change and struggling, the Yellowjackets appear to be in a strong position.

Yet one need look no further than the Jackets' half of the bracket to know Williamstown is going to face two major challenges just to get to Wheeling.

Simply by the luck of the draw, the upper bracket in Class A is loaded and includes three potential champions. The lower bracket isn't nearly as strong and could produce a surprise winner.

Clearly, Williamstown is the favorite and not just because of its' No. 1 seeding. The Yellowjackets not only own wins over No. 5 St. Marys, No. 7 Parkersburg Catholic and No. 11 Calhoun County, but they also have beaten No. 9 Class AA Magnolia. That's impressive.

Yet, come the quarterfinal round, Williamstown may face a serious challenge. No. 9 Man is just 7-3 but its three losses not only were by a combined 16 points, they also were to three Class AA playoff teams -No. 5 Scott, No. 8 Mount View and No. 13 Logan. The Hillbillies, despite their No. 9 seeding, are a dangerous team in this field.

Also in the upper bracket are two 9-1 teams in No. 5 St. Marys, whose only loss is a three-point setback to Williamstown, and South Harrison, whose only defeat is a 14-7 loss to Class AA No. 6 seed Liberty Harrison. It's likely St. Marys and South Harrison will meet in the quarterfinals. And it's highly possible that Williamstown and St. Marys will meet for a second time this season, this time for the right to advance to the Super Six in Wheeling.

At first glance, the lower bracket belongs to undefeated Buffalo. But its only win over a playoff team came against Class AA No. 15 Winfield. The same is true for No. 2 seed and undefeated Greenbrier West, whose only game against a playoff team resulted in a 14-12 win over No. 10 Class AA Independence.

With both of the top seeds in the bracket looking vulnerable, we start searching for live longshots. And the first team to stand out is No. 15 Wheeling Central, the defending state champions. Their four losses all came against larger schools. Picking Central to beat Greenbrier West in the opening round isn't a stretch at all.

Also, the two Little Kanawha Conference teams can't be ignored. Parkersburg Catholic plays great defense and never is out of any game. Calhoun County possesses running back Paul Goodrich, who if he is healthy can carry the Red Devils a long ways.

Upper bracket: No. 16 Tucker County at No. 1 Williamstown; No. 9 Man at No. 8 Hamlin; No. 13 Madonna at No. 4 South Harrison; No. 12 Clay-Battelle at No. 5 St. Marys

Williamstown clearly is the favorite, but Man and St. Marys each is capable of making it to Wheeling. South Harrison doesn't appear to have played the competition to prepare it for the playoffs.

Lower bracket: No. 15 Wheeling Central at No. 2 Greenbrier West; No. No. 10 Pocahontas County at No. 7 Parkersburg Catholic; No. 14 Midland Trail at No. 3 Buffalo; No. 11 Calhoun County at No. 6 Tygarts Valley

The most intriguing bracket in any class. Neither undefeated team -Buffalo or Greenbrier West - is all that impressive. In fact, Wheeling Central may well be the favorite in this group. But one shouldn't totally dismiss Parkersburg Catholic or Calhoun County.

Most likely state champion: Williamstown

Most likely runnerup: Buffalo, Wheeling Central

Other contenders: St. Marys, Man, Greenbrier West

Best longshots: Parkersburg Catholic, Calhoun County

Biggest first-round blowout: Williamstown over Tucker County

Most likely first-round upsets: No. 9 Man over No.8 Hamlin; No. 15 Wheeling Central over No. 2 Greenbrier West; No. 11 Calhoun County over No. 6 Tygarts Valley

Odds to win state title: Williamstown 2-1, Buffalo 4-1, Wheeling Central 5-1, St. Marys 7-1, Parkersburg Catholic 12-1, South Harrison 15-1, Greenbrier West 15-1, Calhoun County 20-1, Hamlin 25-1, Tygarts Valley 100-1, Midland Trail 150-1, Madonna 200-1, Clay-Battelle 250-1, Pocahontas County 400-1, Tucker County 500-1.