BHS Closes Gap in SSAC Rankings, but Still Second; Indians Back as Unanimous No. 1 in MetroNews Poll
By Jeff Toquinto on November 04, 2025
Bridgeport’s win against Class AAA No. 3-ranked Fairmont Senior was not enough to move the Indians back into the top spot of the AAA WVSSAC rankings.
The WVSSAC rankings, which determine the 16-team playoff field and seeds of those teams, is a computer-based ranking system. There is no voting that takes place.
Although the Indians closed the margin in the poll between top-ranked and unbeaten Princeton, the Tribe still is set at No. 2. However, it is 
not necessarily unwelcome news for 10-0 BHS as it looks to have locked up homefield advantage for the postseason with a bye week coming up.
not necessarily unwelcome news for 10-0 BHS as it looks to have locked up homefield advantage for the postseason with a bye week coming up.
The Tigers, 9-0, will wrap up their regular season Friday. PHS will battle Class AAA South Charleston, who has a 2-7 mark.
Fairmont Senior, based on its strength of schedule, did not drop in the standings. The Polar Bears come in as the third-ranked team once again with a 7-2 mark. FSHS closes its season Friday against East Fairmont.
North Marion comes in at No. 4 with an 8-1 record to give the Big 10 Conference three of the top four teams in Class AAA. Elkins, 6-3, is ranked No. 12 and 4-5 Robert C. Byrd comes in at No. 15.
In Class AAAA, there is a new No. 1-ranked team. Morgantown, at 8-1, took over the top spot from now second-ranked Huntington. The Highlanders suffered their second loss of the season and now stand at 7-2. Both losses by HHS have come to teams from Tennessee.
Martinsburg comes in at No. 3 with a 7-2 mark, while University (7-3) is in the No. 6 spot. Jefferson (5-4), No. 4, and George Washington (7-2) round out the top five, respectively.
In Class AA, Frankfort is at the top of standings with a 9-0 record. They are followed by Bluefield (8-2) and Independence (8-1) at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.
Two local squads round out the top five. Philip Barbour (7-2) and Doddridge County (9-0) are No. 4 and No.5, respectively.
Lincoln and South Harrison are also currently in the playoff mix as both are ranked in the top 16. Lincoln (4-5) is No.13 and the Hawks (5-4) are No. 14.
The top three teams in Class A are Wheeling Central (6-2) at No. 1, Wahama (9-0) at No. 2, and Clay-Battelle (8-1) at No. 3.
Click HERE for the ranking of every school in each classification.
The MetroNews High School Football Power Rankings were released yesterday. The Indians found themselves where they have been since the preseason poll – at the top.
However, prior to the Fairmont Senior game, the Indians were not a unanimous choice of the 20 sports writers and radio broadcasters voting in the poll. Prior to the game with the Polar Bears, for the first time all season, BHS had 19 of the 20 first place votes.
That has changed.
Once again, the Tribe is a unanimous choice atop the MetroNews poll with all 20 first place votes. The 62-28 win against an incredibly talented Fairmont Senior team likely swayed the voter who had, last week, cast their first-place vote for Princeton.
The Tigers remain second in the poll. They will be favorites to close the season unbeaten when they visit South Charleston Friday.
Fairmont Senior stayed in the third slot after its setback to BHS. The Polar Bears are followed by Herbert Hoover and Nitro, respectively, to 
round out the top five.
round out the top five.
The Big 10’s North Marion comes in at No. 6 in the standings. Spring Valley, who BHS toppled earlier this season, comes in at No. 8. Elkins is listed in the “also receiving votes” category.
Huntington remains at No. 1 in Class AAAA with 14 first-place votes. Martinsburg has five first-place votes to land second, while Morgantown has one first-place vote to come in No. 3. University, who fell to Morgantown 21-0 last week, is ranked fifth.
The top three in Class AA stays the same – Frankfort, Independence, and Bluefield, in order. Two locals round out the top five with unbeaten Doddridge County at 9-0 in the fourth spot and Philip Barbour at 7-2 in the fifth position.
The top three in Class A include a new team. Wahama is ranked No. 1 and is followed by Wheeling Central. Clay-Battelle, at 8-1, moved up a spot after its 16-8 win against Oak Glen.
Click HERE for the top 10 of all four classifications in the MetroNews poll.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Noah West bringing down a Fairmont Senior runner, while Coach Tyler Phares cracks a bit of a smile while talking with lineman Bryson Lowther in the middle photo. Bottom photo shows Gavin Williams (20) leading the way on a run by Kasen Baun. Photos by Joe LaRocca.
