WYOMING COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – On Friday, November 8th, Westside High School’s football team won their final game of the 2024 regular season, finishing with a 7-3 record.
At that point, based on the points ranking system administered by the WVSSAC, Westside was eligible to compete in the postseason as the 16th seed in AA.
On Saturday, November 9th, the Wood County Circuit Court issued an order requiring the WVSSAC to apply a different points ranking system, which resulted in 7-3 Westside being excluded from the playoffs.
This order, granting injunctive relief, altered the rules just before the playoffs began, after the regular season had concluded.
All 112 member schools in the WVSSAC competed in the 2024 regular football season, assuming the ranking points distribution method communicated to them before the season would be used.
The Wood County Order granting injunctive relief completely changed the rules at the last minute, resulting in Westside losing a playoff spot they had rightfully earned.
The Office of the Wyoming County Prosecuting Attorney intervened on behalf of the Wyoming County Board of Education. Assistant Prosecutors Joshua Miller and Derek Laxton drafted the Petition for Injunctive Relief for the Board to require the WVSSAC to apply the points ranking system intended for the entire 2024 season and allow Westside to participate in the 2024 AA playoffs.
A hearing on this Petition will be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at 1:00 PM at the Wyoming County Courthouse in Pineville.
This hearing is open to the public.
