WHEELING – And then there were six.

The local football playoff field has been whittled to a six-pack of teams. Wheeling Central, Wheeling Park, Magnolia, Brooke, Caldwell and Steubenville now are the Ohio Valley postseason standard-bearers.

All six flexed their respective muscles this past weekend, serving notice they have what it takes to stick around a few more weeks.

Among the casualties was St. Clairsville. The Red Devils saw a brilliant campaign come to a painful end at the hands of Johnstown-Monroe at Zanesville’s Sulsberger Stadium by a 42-38 count.

The loss was just the second blemish this year for Brett McLean’s OVAC 4-A champions. It also marked the final game for a senior class which enjoyed amazing success, including a state Division IV runnerup trophy.

Other locals suffering elimination were Toronto, Bishop Donahue, Weir and Valley.

I took in Wheeling Central’s opening-round beatdown of Pendleton County at Wheeling Jesuit’s scenic facility. The Maroon Knights are cast as Class A’s No. 7 seed. That rating doesn’t do Mike Young’s team justice.

The Maroon Knights started slowly on a cold Saturday night, needing a last-second TD to knot matters at 14 at halftime. Young and his staff worked out all the kinks in the locker room as Central owned the second half, cruising to a 42-28 win over a quality Wildcat squad.

The Maroon Knights possess the firepower to score points in bunches. That was reflected in the second half against Pendleton.

Central also has a playoff pedigree that is a huge intangible. The Maroon Knights trailed for the majority of the first half, but there was no sense of despair. They simply maintained their poise and matter-of-factly took care of business during the remaining two quarters.

Coaching means a great deal in the postseason. Central is in good hands in that regard. Coach Mike Young and his staff have been through the playoff wars countless times with championships results.

I say again I will be shocked if Wheeling Central is not taking on Magnolia in the Super Six Class A championship game. The No. 1 ranked Blue Eagles beat up Van, 54-22, Saturday night.

Speaking of the WJU venue, it has ample seating on the visitors’ side and parking was not an issue. The only current drawback is a pressbox that needs enlarged.

Brooke, meanwhile, has to be the feel-good story of the season. No one saw this much success coming.

Coach Mac McLean’s team raised some eyebrows by going on the road and knocking off Morgantown, 27-14. The win got the 8-3 Bruins a date with No. 1-seeded Cabell-Midland

Wheeling Parkonce again showed why many believe, including this scribe, is the team to beat in Class AAA. The No. 3-seeded Patriots soundly handled Spring Valley, 37-14, on the Island Saturday night. Next up for Chris Daugherty’s troops is another home encounter with No. 11-seeded South Charleston. This one has the makings of another blowout.

I said at the onset of the playoffs that Park is my pick to win it all. There is no reason to change now.

BE IT regular season or postseason, it is easy to pick Steubenville to prevail. The Big Red smoked Salem, 46-7, Saturday night at Minerva.

Coach Reno Saccoccia’s charges now face Johnstown-Monroe in the regional finals. I am not going out on the limb by predicting a fourth state championship for Saccoccia come December.

BUBBA’S BITS

Westerville Central saw its banner season come to an end, falling to Euclid, 49-24, Saturday night in the Division I regionals semifinals. Coach John Magistro’s Warhawks closed out with a sparkling 10-2 mark.

Ohio State running star Ezekiel Elliott has moved past St. Clairsville legend Tim Spencer on the Buckeyes’ career rushing list. Elliott is now third all-time with 3,565 yards. Spencer is in fourth with 3,553. Elliott, Saturday, also scored his 36th rushing TD for OSU, tying him with Spencer and Champ Henson for fifth in OSU history.

The fortunes have taken a major upswing in Morgantown for WVU football. After the Mountaineers roped the Texas Longhorns Saturday, 38-20, an 8-4 season is a definite possibility. WVU visits creampuff Kansas Saturday before closing against Iowa State and Kansas State.

Kapral may be reached at bkapral@timesleaderonline.com.