There are just two weeks remaining in the WPIAL football regular season. So far, 39 of the 62 playoff spots have been clinched. You can see which teams are currently in position for those spots at our WPIAL Standings Page. In 5A and 1A, the final playoff spots are determined by Wild Cards, which are detailed on our Wild Card Standings Page. Here are the WPIAL playoff scenarios for this week’s games, detailing how teams can clinch spots in the 2019 playoffs.
How Tiebreakers Work
In all classifications, qualification is based on order of finish within conference standings. Order of finish is first determined by a team’s conference record. Non-conference games do not count towards making the playoffs. If teams are tied, the first tiebreaker is always head-to-head results. The second tiebreaker is a Gardner Points system (essentially a strength of victory metric). Teams receive 10 Gardner Points for each conference win by the teams that they defeated in conference games.
The third tiebreaker is a WPIAL Tiebreaker Points system (essentially a margin of victory metric). In conference games, teams gain or lose Tiebreaker Points based on the margin of victory or margin of defeat. The maximum amount of Tiebreaker Points that can be gained or lost in a conference game is 10, so any double-digit win or loss only counts as +10 or -10. Finally, if teams are still tied, a coin flip is used to determine the order of standings (this happened last year in the 1A Tri-County South). At any point in the tiebreaker system if a team is eliminated the process starts over with head-to-head results.
6A Playoff Scenarios
Playoff Structure: Top 6 make the playoffs. Top 2 teams get first round byes.
4 of 6 spots clinched.
- North Allegheny has clinched a home playoff game.
- Central Catholic, Pine-Richland, and Mt. Lebanon have clinched playoff spots.
- North Allegheny plays a non-conference game, but can clinch the Conference Title with a loss by Pine-Richland.
- Seneca Valley clinches a playoff spot with a win over Pine-Richland OR a Norwin loss.
- Canon-McMillan clinches a playoff spot with a Norwin loss AND either a win over Central Catholic or a Butler loss.
5A Playoff Scenarios
Playoff Structure: Top 5 from each conference make the playoffs. One 6th place team makes the playoffs based on the 5A Wild Card. Top two from each conference (plus 2 third place teams) get home playoff games.
12 of 16 spots clinched.
Allegheny Eight Conference
- Bethel Park, Moon, Peters Twp, Baldwin, and Upper St Clair have clinched playoff spots.
- West Allegheny has clinched 6th place.
Big East Conference
- Penn-Trafford has clinched a home playoff game.
- Gateway, McKeesport, Franklin Regional, and Latrobe have clinched playoff spots.
- Plum has clinched 6th place.
Northern Conference
- Penn Hills has clinched a home playoff game.
- North Hills has clinched a playoff spot.
- North Hills clinches a home playoff game with a win over Shaler AND a Mars loss.
- Mars clinches a playoff spot with a win over Kiski.
5A Wild Card
West Allegheny and Plum have clinched 6th place finishes. The 6th place spot in the Northern Conference is undecided.
4A Playoff Scenarios
Playoff Structure: Top 4 from each conference make the playoffs. Top 2 from each conference get home playoff games.
5 of 8 spots clinched.
Big Eight Conference
- Thomas Jefferson, Belle Vernon, Greensburg Salem, and West Mifflin have clinched the four playoff spots.
- Thomas Jefferson clinches the Conference Title with a win over Greensburg Salem.
- Belle Vernon plays a non-conference game, but can clinch a home playoff game with a Greensburg Salem loss.
Northwest Eight Conference
- South Fayette has clinched a playoff spot.
- South Fayette clinches the Conference Title with a win over Ambridge.
- Blackhawk plays a non-conference game but clinches a playoff spot if New Castle loses to Highlands
3A Playoff Scenarios
Playoff Structure: Top 4 from each conference make the playoffs. Top 2 from each conference get home playoff games.
4 of 8 spots clinched.
Big East Conference
- North Catholic has clinched a home playoff game.
- North Catholic clinches the Conference Title with a win over Yough OR with a Derry loss.
- Derry clinches a playoff spot AND a home playoff game with a win over Deer Lakes.
- Elizabeth Forward clinches a playoff spot with a win over Uniontown.
- Burrell plays a non-conference game but can clinch a playoff spot with losses by Deer Lakes AND Mt. Pleasant.
Tri-County West Conference
- Aliquippa has clinched a home playoff game.
- Central Valley and Beaver Falls have clinched playoff spots.
- Central Valley clinches a home playoff game with a win over South Park.
- South Park clinches a playoff spot with a win over Central Valley OR losses by BOTH Keystone Oaks and Quaker Valley.
2A Playoff Scenarios
Playoff Structure: Top 4 from each conference make the playoffs. Top 2 from each conference get home playoff games.
10 of 16 spots clinched.
Allegheny Conference
- Avonworth has clinched a home playoff game.
- Shady Side Academy and Apollo-Ridge have clinched playoff spots.
- If East Allegheny defeats Shady Side Academy, the following clinchings occur:
– East Allegheny clinches a playoff spot.
– Apollo-Ridge clinches a home playoff game.
– Avonworth clinches the conference title. - None of the above clinchings occur if Shady Side Academy defeats East Allegheny.
- East Allegheny can also clinch a playoff spot if Steel Valley loses to Summit Academy on Saturday.
Interstate Conference
- McGuffey has clinched a home playoff game.
- Washington, Charleroi, and Southmoreland have clinched playoff spots.
- Washington clinches a home playoff game with a win over Southmoreland.
Midwestern Conference
- Freedom has clinched a playoff spot.
- Neshannock clinches a playoff spot with a win over Western Beaver
Three Rivers Conference
- Brentwood and Burgettstown have clinched home playoff games.
- The winner of the Brentwood-Burgettstown game wins the Conference Title.
- South Side Beaver clinches a playoff spot with a win over Fort Cherry AND a Seton LaSalle loss.
- Serra Catholic clinches a playoff spot with a win over Seton LaSalle AND a South Allegheny loss AND a South Side Beaver win.
1A Playoff Scenarios
Playoff Structure: Top 2 from each conference make the playoffs. Two 3rd place teams makes the playoffs based on the 1A Wild Card. Conference champions (plus 1 second place team) get home playoff games.
4 of 8 spots clinched.
Big Seven Conference
- Sto-Rox has clinched the conference title.
Eastern Conference
- Jeannette and Clairton have clinched playoff spots.
- GCC clinches 3rd place if Clairton beats Springdale.
Tri-County South Conference
- West Greene has clinched the Conference Title.
- The winner of Chartiers-Houston vs California clinches a playoff spot. The loser finishes 3rd.
