(11-19-24) The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has ruled to let the high school football playoffs continue.
Related:
West Virginia Supreme Court In HS Football Playoff Case…WVSSAC Remains In ‘Postpone Mode’
Supreme Court of Appeals of WV rules in favor of WVSSAC; original football ratings plan restored
The Supreme Court of Appeals announced that they will allow the WVSSAC to start playing football championships. The ruling was announced on Tuesday afternoon, and grants the WVSSAC’s petition to vacate the injunctions in the circuit courts.
The order ruled that judges in Wood County and Mason County overreached their authority by ordering the WVSSAC to schedule play-in games according to what they believed was fair.
Portions of the order-
“It is beyond question that the WVSSAC had the authority to reclassify under West Virginia Code of State Rules §127-3-10. Upon our review, we find that the circuit court’s entry of injunctive relief was not based on the WVSSAC’s lack of authority to reclassify, but rather on the timing and manner of that reclassification. We have repeatedly held that the manner in which the WVSSAC applies its rules is not subject to judicial review.”
This means that the championships will continue with the rankings calculated based on standings when the football season ended.
With the ruling, the original ratings points formula will be used to determine the seeds for all four classes in the WVSSAC football playoffs. First-round games are scheduled for November 22-23 with dates and times to be announced later today. The typical playoff schedule has been pushed back by one week, meaning state title games will now be held December 13-14 at University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field instead of December 6-7.
All of the teams that were in the playoffs before the Wood County decision are in the playoffs again, and that games will resume this weekend.
Stateline Sports Network 