Jackson (7-2) at Zanesville (8-1)

[wowhesfast]

Thanks for the info Zane-Vegas. I think you and your friend are largely right. There needs to be a greater focus on the L1 points. The most important thing in gauging how good a team is is how many wins are in the column. It would also be nice to see a provision for style points.

Let me ask you. As a Zanesville fan, and with their 9-1 or 8-2 performance this year, do they deserve to make the playoffs? Same question to any Jackson fan regarding their team.

My answer? Zanesville yes at 9-1, 8-2 is borderline but they should absolutely be in top 10. Jackson 8-2 yes, 7-3 no.

Also what's the highest region ranking Zanesville can get with a win? Standing at 18th, it looks like on that list you got, Zanesville could very well be the lowest ranked ever.

[val13]

24-14 Zanesville

[Zanes-Vegas]

wowhesfast ... I know we're at least as good as Tri-Valley. At least. And we've already beaten St. Charles. So, yes, I believe we should be in. From a math standpoint, I think the best we could do is finish 8th. But the key to that is a whole lot of planets and stars would have to align for it to happen. Joe Eitel is right -- MATHEMATICALLY we're still in it. But LOGICALLY is another story.

[Zanes-Vegas]

http://www.zanesville.k12.oh.us/5062085 ... =0&C=52564

That is a link to a "directions to ZHS" page for Jackson fans planning the trip. The easiest access is via I-70 as you don't have to negotiate through the city itself. Also note the "parking map" (PDF) for your use. Yes, we do charge for parking. I believe it's $2.

Our new HS remains under construction, which has eaten up some of the parking we used in the past.

Have a safe trip up.

[M0TIVAT0R]

If you put too much emphasis on L1 points teams will not be punished for scheduling other teams that traditionally win no games. There has to be some credit for beating teams that beat a lot of other teams. IMO of course.

[Paladin]

I expect Zanesville to win and don't expect it to be a close game. I also don't think either will make the playoffs. Jackson's schedule is too easy, as usual, and doesn't produce points, but avoids risks. Shame because they are in a weak region. ZHS plays a decent schedule that was unlucky in several teams having a bad season. ZHS could fix that by playing Steubenville. Lots of points !!

[wowhesfast]

I can't really imagine Zanesville beating Steubenville this season, I think they'd be Logan's best match. But that's very much off topic. Jackson does have a weak schedule. Zanesvilles schedule is very strong any other year they just have a few downers.

I'm not saying that L2s shouldn't count, but wins losses are the most important thing in determining how good a team is. Or maybe a style point system would help. With the exception of Chillicothe, Zanesville beat all the bad teams on their schedule exactly the way they should. I know the system is not going to be changed anytime soon, but I would like to hear someone else complain about it every once in a while.

[loganlocos]

I can't really imagine Zanesville beating Steubenville this season, I think they'd be Logan's best match. But that's very much off topic. Jackson does have a weak schedule. Zanesvilles schedule is very strong any other year they just have a few downers.

I'm not saying that L2s shouldn't count, but wins losses are the most important thing in determining how good a team is. Or maybe a style point system would help. With the exception of Chillicothe, Zanesville beat all the bad teams on their schedule exactly the way they should. I know the system is not going to be changed anytime soon, but I would like to hear someone else complain about it every once in a while.

A "style" points system would only result in a ton of coaches running up the score. Not a good thing IMO.

Personally, I think the Harbin System works pretty darn well. Are there exceptions? Absolutely. NO system will ever be perfect.

The only change I could see would be a small bonus for "each win" - like an additional .10 of a point for each win, so in essence Zanesville could get an extra .9 added to their total.

It would move ZHS to 15th in the region and probably still wouldn't be enough to get them in, but it would be a reasonable change IMO.

[wowhesfast]

I don't think you should have a style system in that way. Give 'em a point if the win by 10 or more give 'em 2 if they win by 20 or more and let that be the end of it. That wouldn't put an emphasis on blowing people out. And maybe its a good thing to run up the score on somebody every once in a while. What are we, a bunch of commies?

JK. Those extra .1 points would help the situation. If the system is not perfect, we shouldn't settle on it, we should experiment and find something better, use it for a few years, then move on. Our kids deserve it. That's the God-fearing Football playing American way to do it!

[Orange and Brown]

144 teams make the playoffs in the state of Ohio every year!
Sometimes you are going to have a good year and not get in!!! There is no need to tweek the points system. It works really well. No matter how you do it some one is going to be upset because they feel like they should have made the playoffs.

[boilermaker]

Go Ironmen! Just win and let the chips fall were they may.

[wowhesfast]

I don't think I'm going to find any sympathizers on preps...

[FANOSPORTS]

144 teams make the playoffs in the state of Ohio every year!
Sometimes you are going to have a good year and not get in!!! There is no need to tweek the points system. It works really well. No matter how you do it some one is going to be upset because they feel like they should have made the playoffs.

O & B, will you be mad if N-Y wins this weekend and is left out of the playoffs depending on what the other teams do of course ?

[Orange and Brown]

144 teams make the playoffs in the state of Ohio every year!
Sometimes you are going to have a good year and not get in!!! There is no need to tweek the points system. It works really well. No matter how you do it some one is going to be upset because they feel like they should have made the playoffs.

O & B, will you be mad if N-Y wins this weekend and is left out of the playoffs depending on what the other teams do of course ?

No I won't be mad if NY doesn't get in.
The way I see it is are schedule just wasn't that strong this year and we really needed to beat Ironton to get in. We didn't do that so if we don't get in you won't see me crying about it.

[FANOSPORTS]

144 teams make the playoffs in the state of Ohio every year!
Sometimes you are going to have a good year and not get in!!! There is no need to tweek the points system. It works really well. No matter how you do it some one is going to be upset because they feel like they should have made the playoffs.

O & B, will you be mad if N-Y wins this weekend and is left out of the playoffs depending on what the other teams do of course ?

No I won't be mad if NY doesn't get in.
The way I see it is are schedule just wasn't that strong this year and we really needed to beat Ironton to get in. We didn't do that so if we don't get in you won't see me crying about it.

Very well said, so you and I do agree on a few things. Good post

[zbd]

I expect Zanesville to win and don't expect it to be a close game. I also don't think either will make the playoffs. Jackson's schedule is too easy, as usual, and doesn't produce points, but avoids risks. Shame because they are in a weak region. ZHS plays a decent schedule that was unlucky in several teams having a bad season. ZHS could fix that by playing Steubenville. Lots of points !!

Hey I will say this Zville was the last team to beat Big Red at home!!!! I would love to see Logan put Big Red on the schedule and see how they would do LOL!!!!!!

[wowhesfast]

I expect Zanesville to win and don't expect it to be a close game. I also don't think either will make the playoffs. Jackson's schedule is too easy, as usual, and doesn't produce points, but avoids risks. Shame because they are in a weak region. ZHS plays a decent schedule that was unlucky in several teams having a bad season. ZHS could fix that by playing Steubenville. Lots of points !!

Hey I will say this Zville was the last team to beat Big Red at home!!!! I would love to see Logan put Big Red on the schedule and see how they would do LOL!!!!!!

I'd be a good game. Too bad its three hours away, and Logan would probably get picked on because Steubenville's D3.

[Zanes-Vegas]

I don't think some of you "get" Steubenville. But we'd play them. That was always a fun game because they play with class even if they're whompin' on ya.

As for the L2s vs. L1s, my point is that it almost seems like the L2s might be too important. In our case, our kids went out and did what they were supposed to do, save for one game thus far. It's not their fault so many of their opponents took the year off. I agree that your strength of schedule should be important. Just how important is the question.

And no on the "style points." I think we all know how well that kind of judgment system works in things like gymnastics, figure skating and diving. Installing something like that into the formula would do way too much harm than good.

I agree that the Harbin system is the best possible scenario available. Every system has its weaknesses, and our case (and that of 20 others before us in the 11 seasons since the number of qualifying teams was raised to eight per region) is truly more of an anomaly than a trend, IMO.

It just stinks when it happens to YOU.

[loganlocos]

Hey ZV -

I "get" Steubenville. And anyone who thinks they "want" a piece of them is crazy! Haha

And I get what you're saying about the Harbin Points. And everything is always worse when it happens to "you." Can you imagine if Logan had lost to Zanesville and were on the outside looking in? It would be meltdown on here.

[Paladin]

I get to see some regular Steubenville starting next year as Warren Harding has a new multi-year contract with the Big Red. With that, Iggy, Mooney, Massillon and a new league featuring Mentor, great games are going to continue.

For those in the know, it pays to schedule up. For a loss here & there, your competitve level increases, making you tougher.

Besides, ZV. Steubenville isn't all that far away for you. Strap em on !!