Top 10 1A Programs

[Voice of Reason]

There was a good discussion going on this topic in a game thread so I am going to start a thread of its own.

 

What current 1A programs do you consider the best 1A programs since the 2006 reclassification?

 

This is tougher than I expected and I was surprised by some of my conclusions. I am not factoring in this year in my list. I am looking at the past five years 2007-2011. Here is my top 10:

 

1. Beechwood - Sure, homer pick, right? Not really. Look at the numbers. The only current 1A school with 2 titles in the past five years; along with Hazard, the only 1A school with at least 3 playoff wins every year; 19-3 in the playoffs is the best record in 1A. I fully expected to have Mayfield at #1 but Mayfield only has 1 title and they went 2-1 in the playoffs in both 2007 and 2008.

 

2. Hazard - Before you say I am crazy, look at the numbers. Hazard has been in 3 title games with 1 title, just like Mayfield; Hazard is tied with Beechwood for most playoff wins with a 19-4 playoff record; Hazard actually has the most wins of any school in 1A at 59 (Beechwood and Mayfield both have 58). I know I will get some grief but I have to put Hazard at #2.

 

3. Mayfield - Clearly the best team in 1A in the Jonathon Jackson era but 2007 and 2008 hurt them in this comparison. Mayfield went 2-1 in the playoffs in each of those years and only won 7 games in 2008.

 

4. Frankfort - Ten playoff wins and 46 total wins get Frankfort the #4 slot.

 

5. Pikeville - I thought for sure this would be Raceland's place but Pikeville has 10 playoff wins to Raceland's 7 and has 41 total wins to Raceland's 40.

 

6. Louisville Holy Cross - Just a notch better than Raceland and Fairview with 8 playoff wins and 42 total wins.

 

7. Raceland - This was very, very close between Raceland and Fairview. Raceland has fewer total wins and more playoff wins. It was so close I went to head to head. Raceland is 5-2 versus Fairview and Raceland has at least 1 playoff win every year, whereas Fairview was shut out in the playoffs in 2007.

 

8. Fairview - Just a hair behind Raceland.

 

9. Williamsburg - Williamsburg just edges out Bellevue with 3 more total wins and being tied with Bellevue at 5 playoff wins.

 

10. Bellevue - Five playoff wins ties Bellevue with Williamsburg and Harlan. Bellevue is the only 1A school with a playoff win over the top 4, beating Frankfort in 2009.

[Lawnboy13]

VOR, excellent thread topic and nice to see you have the facts to back it up. I was in no way trying to start and argument with you in the Beechwood/Bellevue game thread.

 

By the way your top 10 look solid how you have them. :thumb:

[san diego conquistadors]

Interesting about Mayfield. I just assumed they woud be one or two. But your logic seems correct.

[Ram]

Now we have the facts. I can live all those in that order, for the reasons given. And, I think that gives you the real picture, those teams listed are top teams in the class. At season's end, I think you will see Raceland and Fairview leap over Pikeville and Holy Cross.

[sidelinedoc]

Nice work and really, no arguments can be made.

[Geek61]

Interesting about Mayfield. I just assumed they woud be one or two. But your logic seems correct.

 

Yes and as soon as Mayfield or Hazard get to the point they can be number one, we'll change the critieria and use all-time records and number of Championships

 

Seriously VOR, geat summary.

[Oldbird]

Well done VOR.

[westsider]

Russellville belongs somewhere up on the list. The Panthers played up in 3A from 2007-10, made the semifinals once and barely lost to eventual champion Paducah Tilghman in the quarterfinals in 2009. As long as John Myers is coaching there, they will be a factor in Class A for years to come.

[Voice of Reason]

Alright, where is my Mayfield crew? I'll be interested to see if they agree also. I thought my logic was solid and am glad to see everyone so far agrees. I really was surprised by what I came up with. Pikeville has been better the past 5 years than I thought. And of course I fully expected Mayfield to be #1 like I am sure everyone else. There are some wrinkles in there. There are a couple successful 1A programs that have moved up in class in the past year or two. Lexington Christian would surely be one of the top 4 if they were still in 1A. Russellville has dropped down to 1A from 3A so they are a team to watch over the next couple years.

 

This season could be a big shakeup in these rankings. If we look at current records it looks like Mayfield could leap all the way to number 1 and Beechwood could drop to #3 if they can't get over the Mayfield hump. Pikeville and Louisville Holy Cross are both struggling, as RAM pointed out. However, I don't think there is anyone in the top 10 in jeopardy of dropping out of the top 10. Kentucky Country Day, Harlan and Campbellsville are probably the 3 closest to moving into the top 10.

[westsider]

Plus, you have Lexington Christian, which was one of the best programs in Class A from 2007-10. Just because they are in 2A now, does that mean they don't belong in these rankings?

[Geek61]

Plus, you have Lexington Christian, which was one of the best programs in Class A from 2007-10. Just because they are in 2A now, does that mean they don't belong in these rankings?

 

That's the most ridiculous thing I have read on here in quite a while. That's saying something because I read every post that UK#1FAn writes.

 

And the answer to your question is YES, it does mean they don't get in these rankings.

[Clyde]

Fully realizing I risk upsetting some folks .....

 

If Bellevue is a top 10 team that tells me there are about 4 strong A programs.

[Clyde]

Good and interesting work by VOR. One problem I have (or one change I would make) is counting playoff victories. A (like many) is so bad at the bottom that I wouldn't credit a team in this category until the third round. The first two are often against bad teams.

 

VOR, does that change anything in your rankings if you go that route?

[Ram]

Fully realizing I risk upsetting some folks .....

 

If Bellevue is a top 10 team that tells me there are about 4 strong A programs.

Yep. You're right. I'm upset. What criteria do you use to come to that outlandish decision? Let me guess, State Championships? There are several quality programs on both sides of the state, so all of them can't make it to the State Championship. Or, do you measure all the 1A programs against Beechwood? If so, that is somewhat of an unfair evaluation tool. Beechwood is able to play with bigger schools and soundly defeats most 1A schools, thusly not allowing many teams from their district to get deep in the playoffs. But, if you look at Belevue's record against other 1A schools, I think you see that they are better then most.

 

Just like every class in the state, there are a five to seven really good teams, around 10 teams that are pretty good, and the rest are often not that great. 1A is no different then any of the other classes.

[Clyde]

Yep. You're right. I'm upset. What criteria do you use to come that outlandish decision? Let me guess, State Championships? There are several quality programs on both sides of the state, so all of them can't make it to the State Championship. Or, do you measure all the 1A programs against Beechwood? If so, that is somewhat of an unfair evaluation tool. Beechwood is able to play with bigger schools and soundly defeats most 1A schools, thusly not allowing many teams from their district to get deep in the playoffs. But, if you look at Belevue's record against other 1A schools, I think you see that they are better then most.

 

Just like every class in the state, there are a five to seven really good teams, around 10 teams that are pretty good, and the rest are often not that great. 1A is no different then any of the other classes.

 

I use my eyeballs, my friend. They're local. I've seen them. I'm just saying that if there aren't 10 better programs than them then A is not competitive.

 

Maybe they're top 10. You guys would know that better than me. That doesn't change my argument.