PLAYOFF PICTURE COMING INTO FOCUS

Publication: CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL
Published: 11/08/1997
Page: P1B
Headline: PLAYOFF PICTURE COMING INTO FOCUS
Byline: DOUG SMOCK

DAILY MAIL SPORTSWRITER

Nitro and Capital have clinched two rounds of home-field advantage for
the playoffs, while DuPont also will open at home.

East Bank faces a road trip to Magnolia or Frankfort. Clay County will
venture to Logan County to battle Man.

Ripley slides into the playoffs, according to Daily Mail figures, by
one point. But a few area teams, including Buffalo-Putnam and Scott,
could not get enough help and were sent to the sidelines despite
successful seasons.

A few ties need to be broken, and a few games will be played today.
But the picture is pretty clear in all three classes.

Class AAA

Ripley (8.3) captured the 16th and final spot with a bonus point from
Sissonville's victory over Wayne and Tucker County's victory over
Liberty-Harrison. Tucker's victory deprived Robert C. Byrd (8.2) of a
bonus point needed to tie Ripley.

But the Vikings have a chore ahead - they must travel to No. 1
Morgantown (16.0).

North Marion (14.4) is second after beating Brooke, and should host
No. 15 Wheeling Park in a rematch of a 49-7 Husky victory on Sept. 19.

Nitro (13.56) moved up to third, with Capital (12.9) dropping to
fourth. The Wildcats, who are slated to play at St. Albans' Crawford
Field, would host No. 14 Oak Hill (9.0). Capital would welcome No. 13
Point Pleasant (9.7) to Laidley.

The 5-7 spots appear to need major tiebreaker help. DuPont,
Parkersburg and Cabell Midland are at 12.1. Those teams would play No.
12 Greenbrier East (9.9), No. 11 Brooke (10.3) or No. 10 Huntington
(10.5).

The 8-9 battle is clearer. Hedgesville (11.4 to 11.7) appears to have
locked up home field against Bridgeport (11.2).