Sure, Woodrow Wilson has long been known as a basketball power. But it seems like the Flying Eagles football team is doing some rebounding of its own this fall. After starting the season dropping its first four games, the current No. 18 rated Woodrow Wilson squad has reeled off three straight victories to bounce back into the playoff picture at 3-4. With three contests remaining, a 6-4 record is within reach. It just might be enough to slip into the field of 16 playoff teams in Class AAA this year. But it’s still a long shot.
The Flying Eagles dropped its first four games to No. 1 rated George Washington (55-12), rival Greenbrier East (17-0), No. 9 Brooke (49-32) and No. 15 Parkersburg (43-14). But Woodrow Wilson knocked off St. Albans (45-13), John Marshall (26-20) and Huntington (24-20).
Looking ahead, the Flying Eagles must face Cabell Midland (2-5) on the road this weekend, go to Riverside (3-4) on Oct. 29, and wrap up at home Nov. 5 against Princeton (2-5).
Those are three very winnable games.
But much needed bonus points (for opponents wins) are not bountiful, with the Knights, Warriors and Tigers combining for just seven victories in 21 games so far this year. Woodrow Wilson won’t get a first round home playoff game at Van Meter Stadium in Beckley with a 6-4 mark, but the Flying Eagles would accomplish a great feat by finishing strong. The reward would be a trip to a top-rated team’s field in the second weekend of November.
A tough task, and one that would likely end in a lop-sided score as most early round games do.
But the confidence that six consecutive wins would give the club could prove to be the off-season motivation needed for a successful 2011 campaign.
But as they say, one game at a time.
Local schedule this week
Fayetteville at Buffalo
James Monroe at St. Clairesville, Oh.
Man at Pocahontas County
Midland Trail at Greenbrier West
Montcalm at Tug Valley
Mount Hope at Meadow Bridge
Nicholas County at North Marion
PikeView at Independence
Princeton at Greenbrier East
Richwood at Valley Fayette
River View at Liberty Raleigh
Shady Spring at Sissonville
Westside at Summers County
Woodrow Wilson at Cabell Midland
Playoff bound(!?)
Trying to figure out the road to the postseason for your school? Here’s a glance at the area teams that still have a shot at reaching the playoffs (at least mathematically) and the opponents they’ll face in the coming three weekends:
Class A
No. 4 Fayetteville (6-1)
Games remaining: Oct. 22 at Buffalo, Oct. 29 vs. Greenbrier West, Nov. 5 vs. Independence
No. 2 Meadow Bridge (8-0)
Games remaining: Oct. 22 vs. Mount Hope, Oct. 29 at Van, Nov. 5 at Richwood
Mount Hope (4-3)
Games remaining: Oct. 22 at Meadow Bridge, Oct. 29 vs. Wirt County, Nov. 5 vs. Webster County
Richwood (4-3)
Games remaining: Oct. 22 at Valley Fayette, Oct. 29 at Summers County, Nov. 5 vs. Meadow Bridge
Class AA
Bluefield (7-1)
Games remaining: Oct 22 Bye, Oct. 29 at James Monroe, Nov. 5 at Wayne
Greenbrier West (8-0)
Games remaining: Oct. 22 vs. Midland Trail, Oct. 29 at Fayetteville, Nov. 5 Bye
Independence (4-3)
Games remaining: Oct. 22 vs. PikeView, Oct. 29 at Wyoming East, Nov. 5 at Fayetteville
James Monroe (5-3)
Games remaining: Oct. 22 at St. Clairesville, Oh., Oct. 29 at Shady Spring, Nov. 5 Bye
Liberty Raleigh (4-3)
Games remaining: Oct. 22 vs. River View, Oct. 29 vs. at Shady Spring, Nov. 5 vs. Wyoming East
River View (6-1)
Games remaining: Oct. 22 at Liberty Raleigh, Oct. 29 vs. Lincoln County, Nov. 5 vs. Westside
Shady Spring (5-3)
Games remaining: Oct. 22 at Sissonville, Oct. 29 vs. Liberty Raleigh, Nov. 5 Bye
Westside (4-3)
Games remaining: Oct. 22 at Summers County, Oct. 29 vs. Gilbert, Nov. 5 at River View
Class AAA
Nicholas County (7-1)
Games remaining: Oct. 22 at North Marion, Oct. 29 Bye, Nov. 5 at Preston
Woodrow Wilson (3-4)
Games remaining: Oct. 22 at Cabell Midland, Oct. 29 at Riverside, Nov. 5 vs. Princeton
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