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WVSSAC Super Six Football Championships

The WVSSAC Super Six Football Championships was a series of high school football games, typically held on the first weekend of December, that determined the high school champions of the U.S. state of West Virginia. The tournaments that lead to the championship games, as well as regular-season competition, are governed by the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC). The games were named "Super Six" because six teams played in the state's three championship games. However, beginning in 2024, the WVSSAC began dividing football into four classes, and no new name other than "State Football Championships" has yet benn announced. The Championship games were held at Wheeling Island Stadium in Wheeling, a two-day affair, with one game on Friday and two on Saturday, but they will return to Laidley Field in Charleston beginning in 2024 through at least 2026. The WVSSAC chose Charleston over bids from Wheeling, Bluefield, and a joint bid to split the four games between Marshall University and West Virginia University.

History

The WVSSAC began conducting state football championships in 1937. Throughout its history, the competition has been divided into classes based on enrollment. The history of classifications is as follows:

  • 1903–1936: Prior to WVSSAC or sportswriter involvement: Single-class system, games arranged by individual teams, 1903 & 1907 Fairmont Senior
  • 1916–1956: Colored School State Champions. Before the historic Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling, schools, and football games, were segregated. African-Americans were forced to play in their own league. The West Virginia Athletic Union governed African-American athletics during this time.
  • 1937–1946: Single-class system. Champion was named by the West Virginia Sportswriters Association.
  • 1947–1954: Two-class system. Schools were placed in Class A or B based on enrollment.
  • 1955–1957: Three-class system, based on enrollment, with Class B, Class A or AA based on enrollment
  • 1958–2023: Three-class system, based on enrollment, with Classes A, AA and AAA
  • 2024-: Four-class system based on an algorithm using enrollment, distance from a large town, and economic health of the community

In 1947 in Class B, 1947 and 1948 in Class A, and 1955 and 1956 in Class AA, there were no actual championship games. Those championships was awarded based on ratings. Class B was only in use from 1947 through 1957.

From 1947 to 1954, there were only two classes: Class A (big schools) and Class B (small schools). From 1955 to 1957, there were three classes; Class AA (big schools), Class A (medium sized schools) and Class B (small schools). From 1958 to 2023 there were three classes as well, but the names were changed to Class AAA (big schools), Class AA (medium sized schools) and Class A (small schools). From 2024, the terms AAAA, AAA, AA, and A are used, with AAAA being the highest classification.

WV champions by popular acclaim

Single class

WV Colored State Football Champions

Not that many years ago, African-American students were barred from playing football with White Americans. This changed in 1954 with the Supreme Court decision Brown vs. Board of Education which overturned school segregation. Black schools were governed by the WV Athletic Union, but did not receive as consistent media attention as their white counterparts. This makes research difficult.

Single class

WV Catholic Schools State Football Champions

Prior to 1977, private schools were not allowed to compete in post-season play-offs.

Single class

WV Sportswriters vote

Single class

Two class system (A, B) 1947–1954 / WVSSAC ratings

Class A (two classes A, B, 1947–1954)

Class B (two classes A, B, 1947–1954)

Three class system (AA, A, B) 1955–1957 / WVSSAC ratings

Class AA (three classes AA, A, B, 1955–1957)

Class A (three classes AA, A, B, 1955–1957)

Class B (three classes AA, A, B, 1955–1957)

Three class system (AAA, AA, A) 1958–present / WVSSAC ratings

Class A (three classes AAA, AA, A, 1958–present)

Class AA (three classes AAA, AA, A, 1958–present)

Class AAA (three classes AAA, AA, A, 1958–present)

Schools with multiple championships

59 schools have won multiple football championships, 30 of which have since been consolidated. Parkersburg High School and Wheeling Central Catholic High School are tied with the most titles, with 16.

See also

External links