With the WVSSAC announcing state champions despite the cancelation of the Super Six for the first time ever, some may wonder where the rest of the teams in the state fared in the rankings. On Wednesday, just where 16 members of the state’s radio broadcasters and sports writers thought teams should be ranked was released.

 

The final MetroNews High School Football Power Rankings were released. Bridgeport High School found itself in a familiar position in the Class AAA portion of the poll that saw four teams receiving first place votes. BHS was not one of those teams.

 

The Indians finished the season ranked No. 6. The Tribe’s final record in the COVID-19-interrupted season was 7-1 and a runner-up finish to eventual state champion South Charleston in the final standings. BHS received the runner-up spot due to having its game moved to Sunday as a result of Cabell Midland initially being orange when the color-coded map came out after semifinal matchups were determined. When Harrison County was orange the following Sunday, the game was off, and BHS was declared runner-up by the WVSSAC because it was initially clear to play on Friday and Saturday.

 

Eventual state champion South Charleston was ranked first. SCHS, 6-0, received eight of the first-place votes, which is an anomaly that almost never takes place. Then again, not being unanimous and being different is the norm for 2020.

 

Martinsburg, who lost technically by a 1-0 score to Bridgeport in the quarterfinal due to a COVID forfeit, received four first place votes and finished second with a 5-1 record.

 

Spring Valley, who handed the Tribe their only loss, finished third at 4-1 with three first place votes. Cabell Midland, 5-0, came in at No. 4 and had the remaining first place vote. Musselman, a team BHS was supposed to play in the final week of the regular season, came in at No. 5 with a 7-1 record.

 

No other BHS opponent was ranked in the top 10. Morgantown was in the “also receiving votes” portion of the poll.

 

Fairmont Senior, 10-2, was a near unanimous choice as number one. The Polar Bears were declared champions after their 21-19 win against Bluefield in the Class AA semifinals and received 15 first place votes. Oak Glen, 8-1, was ranked second and received the other first place vote.

 

Robert C. Byrd, who like BHS was the runner-up in their classification, also came in at No. 6. The Eagles finished the year at 8-1.

 

The only team Bridgeport played that was in the “also receiving votes” category was Liberty.

 

St. Marys, 10-1, and the state champion was number one in the poll with eight first place votes. Despite second-ranked Wheeling Central, 6-3, also having eight first place votes, SMHS edged out Wheeling on points.

 

Locally, Doddridge County finished in the top 10. The Bulldogs came in at No. 7 with a 6-2 record.

 

Click HERE for the entire top 10 in all three classes.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Devin Hill blowing up an opposing lineman to open a hole for Cam Cole, while the bottom photo shows, from left, J.T. Muller, Peyton Kirkpatrick, and Tanner Saltis leaving the field after the coinflip against Washington in what would prove to be the final game of the 2020 BHS season. Photos courtesy of Karey Kirkpatrick.