STEVE GOLDMAN
For the second consecutive week, football teams in the coverage area went 5-5, with a 3-3 record against schools from the outside.
Don McCormack already gave you a rundown of the standing of all 10 squads in the computer-point standings.
Looking at the playoff races this early is fine, but it might help to understand just what they mean at this stage of the campaign. In short, they certainly tell you something, but are based on only a small percentage of the games that could ultimately figure into the results.
Consider the case of a team that plays a full slate of 10 games against schools that also have 10-game schedules. For that school, at least on a hypothetical basis, there are 100 games that could ultimately impact its playoff chances. Ten, of course, are the games that that team will play. The other 90 are the other games that the team’s 10 opponents will play.
After two weeks, exactly four of those 100 games have been played. A team’s computer points after two weeks will be based on these four games, and no more.
Now, having said that, I should add one qualification, and explain what I meant by “on a hypothetical basis.” In reality, a team will almost always play some games against opponents that will face each other at some point during the season. In general, this is especially true for teams that play in conferences. Therefore, usually the actual number of games that could ultimately affect a team’s playoff chances is less than 100. However, it will still be high enough to make the four that have taken place comprise a low percentage.
Now, keeping in mind that all 10 teams are still in playoff contention, let’s take a look at the three that are undefeated:
n EDGEWOOD — The Warriors have certainly improved after enduring a year in which they did not win a game. As Don told you, they currently stand in sixth place in Division III, Region 9.
It bodes well for Edgewood that its 28-19 win over Berkshire came against a team that has had a consistent tendency to win most of its games. It also has several opponents remaining that have the potential to be strong, including Lakeside, which it plays tonight. Playing potentially strong teams generally means playing teams that have a good chance to win a lot of games, which means the potential to accumulate many second-level points.
n PERRY — The Pirates lead Division IV, Region 13. What has helped them greatly is the fact they have defeated two larger schools. Also, Harvey won its other game, providing some second-level points. (It should be noted that Berkshire also won its first game, thus giving Edgewood second-level points.)
Playing in the tough Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division gives Perry plenty of opportunities to accumulate computer points. This is something that the Pirates already know very well.
n GENEVA — The Eagles are in 10th place in Division II, Region 5. The fact that one of its wins came against a Division V school (Kirtland) helped to put them behind some others, but we are talking fractions of a point. Geneva also has a second-level win, as Kirtland beat Jefferson last week.
Both of the Eagles’ victories have come against programs that have been strong in recent years, and they also have several more games against teams of which the same can be said. They have been impressive so far, and that alone bodes watching them in the playoff chase.
Goldman is a freelance writer from South Euclid. Reach him at steve558@roadrunner.com.
