It’s not a perfect system.
But it’s what we have for the football playoffs.
The computer system of determining the playoff qualifying teams in each region of seven divisions is based on your number of wins and how many wins the teams you beat racked up.
That’s the simplified version.
The bottom line is there will always be teams like Division IV Bath, which went 7-3 and missed by a fraction of one point in getting into the playoffs.
Last year, 9-1 Gibsonburg didn’t get in. It finished 10th in region 20 of Division VI.
In fact, there were 14 teams that missed the playoffs at 8-2 last year. A total of 23 went 7-3 and didn’t make it.
The Wildcats had a great year, unfortunately, but needed one more win to get in.
Ottawa-Glandorf should know how Bath feels. The Titans went 8-2 last year and didn’t get in.
Or who could forget the Shawnee Indians, under coach Dick West? All they did was go 7-3 each year from 2006 to 2009.
And how many times did Shawnee reach the Holy Grail of the playoffs in those four years, where they combined for a 28-12 record?
That would be zero.
What stings the most for these Western Buckeye League teams missing the playoffs is this: There are teams in the state getting in with .500 or losing records.
Last year, Delphos St. John’s made the playoffs at 4-6.
This year, Crestview is in at 4-6. Shadyside is also in at 4-6. That’s the same Shadyside that lost to Delphos St. John’s 77-6 in the 2010 Division VI state championship game.
Leipsic is in at 5-5. Also in at 5-5 are Arlington and Tiffin Calvert.
Shadyside, Crestview, Leipsic, Arlington and Tiffin Calvert are in Division VII. The key for the smallest-division schools is racking up wins against Division VI and Division V schools, which give them a boost in the rankings.
We also have Division I Cleveland Heights in the playoffs at 4-5. In Division III, Columbus Bishop Watterson is in at 5-4. In Division V, Richwood North Union is playoff bound at 5-5.
Coldwater extends string
Coldwater has the longest active streak of qualifying for the state playoffs with 19 straight years. The all-time record is Cleveland St. Ignatius, with 22 straight years from 1988 to 2009.
Coldwater has been to the state championship game the last six years, including win the state title the last three years.
MAC attacks non-MAC teams
When in doubt, look for the Midwest Athletic Conference teams to roll in the playoffs.
Last year, the MAC was the first league to have three members (Coldwater, Marion Local and Minster) win state titles.
The MAC is 31-7 in state semifinal games against non-MAC schools. The MAC is also 56-2 in first-round games against non-MAC teams.
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