PINEVILLE, W.Va. – Last week Wood County Schools filed legal action that put the high school football playoffs on pause in West Virginia. Their case changed the formula used to determine playoff teams.
As a result four team were removed from the playoffs despite not playing a game. Westside High School in Wyoming County is on that list.
“It was disappointing because Friday after our game we were under the assumption that we were in the playoffs, for the first time since 2015. It was a big deal, we celebrated that and we started preparation Friday night for our playoff game. Then Saturday when we found out the news it was confusing and disappointing and it’s been a whirlwind ever since,” said Westside head coach, Justin Cogar.
In an effort to save Westside’s playoff hopes, the Wyoming County Board of Education was seeking to file their own injunction in a hearing on Wednesday. Represented by Wyoming County prosecutors, their goal was to revert back to the formula that was used when the season started.
However, they’re holding off. During the hearing prosecutors and a representative from the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission agreed they both want the same thing.
“Wyoming County’s position and the position of the WVSSAC is that we should revert back to how the 2024 season was played prior to the order being entered in the circuit court of Wood County. The entire season was played under a certain set of rules. We’re asking to revert back to that set of rules which put Westside in the playoffs,” said assistant prosecutor, Joshua Miller.
Miller says the WVSSAC plans to submit legal briefs to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. It seeks to vacate the order filed in Wood County Circuit Court that pushed the playoffs to the sidelines. Players from Westside say they just want to play ball.
“We worked hard to get to the point where we got to. It took two years to get us there and for it to be taken away from us just wasn’t fair at all,” said senior tackle, Zach Short.
Miller says it is ultimately up to the state’s supreme court of appeals whether or not they decide to take up this case. Miller adds the WVSSAC is expected to file their supreme court action against Wood County no later than Thursday.
Westside along with Tolsia, Point Pleasant and Hampshire are the four teams that would be bumped out of the playoffs if the formula is changed as a result of Wood County Schools legal action.
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