In London, the high school football playoffs have generated excitement as the undefeated team, a Division VII #4 seed, has made quite the impression. Over the past three weeks, they have outscored their opponents an impressive 93-33. This winning streak showcases their dominance in the field as they advance deeper into the postseason.
However, the conversation around high school sports in the area is evolving. Advocates for inclusion and competitive balance are increasingly questioning whether having so many divisions truly enhances the quality of the games. The recent regional semi-finals highlighted the disparities in skill levels among teams, as many matches ended with shocking scores, raising eyebrows and stirring debate.
For instance, in just last week’s playoffs, a staggering number of games saw margins of victory by four touchdowns or more. This trend has led to discussions about the effectiveness of the current structure. Critics point out that it often feels like there aren’t enough athletes to fill all these divisions, mastering the sport when the playing field is not level.
Various teams, like Covington and Troy Christian, struggled throughout the season, with scores reflecting the challenges they faced when matched against stronger competition. A recent playoff game saw a team suffer a 58-0 defeat, while another ended their season struggling to score a mere 39 points over an entire season.
Many wonder how fair this system truly is. The hope was that more structure would lead to more competitive balance, but instead, some teams are consistently left behind. As London celebrates its success, questions hang in the air about the state of high school football in the region, and whether the current approach can continue to foster growth and improvement for all teams involved.
