From what I’ve read and my understanding of it, the state never updated the playoff computer point ranking system after all of the teams won their appeal to drop down classifications from the new set up this offseason. The system was still giving teams win points based on the original 4 system set up and not after the teams dropped down classes after the appeal. Apparently coaches had been begging for the state to update the system because they could see this problem happening but here we are
The state did update it. Teams that dropped down in august were treated as members of that class for rating points. This screwed over teams that had scheduled the now lower classification teams thinking they would be up a class and worth more base points. Best example is Huntington, who despite being 9-1 was slated to be the #5 seed(before Spring Mills got dinged) in the bracket behind two 7-3 teams. This was because Huntington played 4 or 5 teams as part of their conference schedule that got bumped to 3A from 4A a week before the season started. Predictably a couple counties got injunctions last Friday against this current system and ordering the points he counted as they would’ve been before august. So now Huntington is awarded 4A points for beating their conference opponents that were dropped down.
In 4A it’s a matter of seeding. Which is obviously a big deal when traveling from the EP to the Huntington area, but everyone is in regardless with there only being 16 teams in class. In the lower classifications however reverting to points “as scheduled” is knocking teams that were in under the “as played” system out of the playoffs. Especially when compounded with the relatively new “SoS points”. 3-7 Capital is one of those teams that dropped from 4A to 3A. They play in the same conference as Huntington, and until Friday had a roughly 50/50 4A/3A schedule with all 3 of their wins coming over teams in the same situation as themselves. With the points reverting, Capital not only added 9 base points to their total(12 points for 3A wins>15 points for 4A wins) they also got a heap of additional SoS points(1.2 points per win by 3A opponent who beat you>1.5 per win by 4A opponent who beat you). This vaults Capital, at 3-7, to the #10 seed in 3A, over 5-5 Hampshire and a host of 4-6 teams.
The delay comes in because several more counties have since sought and won injunctions against the “as scheduled” points system. This puts the SSAC in a spot where to go on in either direction puts them in contempt of one court or another. So the state Supreme Court will need to weigh in. In short, it is a huge mess.
Ultimately the issue is WV having its hands tied by private schools. The SSAC is not allowed to force them into their own class, or apply a multiplier for their enrollment. The 4 class system and the secret formula used to group teams was all about getting the tiny catholic schools out of 1A where they routinely dominated most sports. As well as other schools piggybacking off this so they could try to avoid a Martinsburg or Bridgeport. Everybody wants to be the biggest fish possible in the smallest pond possible.
wvmetronews.com