A: Beechwood

AA: Mayfield

AAA: Belfry

AAAA: Johnson Central

AAAAA: Highlands

AAAAAA: Trinity

 

I think the gap between my picks and the next best teams is paper thin in all classes except A & AAAAAA.

Only one flaw in that...

 

From the eyes of the unbiased fan DeSales appeared the much better team last year. Mayfield could be better and DeSales the same and I could still see a DeSales win if we are judging by what we saw in November.

 

Personally, I think we need to leave last year in the past because right now I think these are two very good teams who are about stride for stride.

 

I really thought DeSales would be 1-2 at this point with new starters at EVERY skill position except QB, and the loss of Pirtle on defense. But the current juniors have patiently waited their turn, and they have shone brightly. The Butler game was eye-opening and the Ballard game left nearly all of us with jaws on the ground. If they stay healthy, I think DeSales will be better than last year's team by the end of the season. The defense is simply smothering.

I definitely think Desales looked more impressive than Mayfield did in the Title game. However, last year was supposed to be a rebuilding year that they came into the season with a lot of question marks and I think most Cardinal fans were less confident about a title than the prior 2 years. While they didn't look all that impressive, I give an inspired Williamsburg team a lot of credit for that. They basically returned everyone from the 13 runner-up team, were undefeated and played with a large chip on their shoulder. As for Desales, I don't think anyone from the east side of 2a was very good. NCC has a great tradition and have had some great past teams, but, let's be realistic, the 2014 version wasn't one of their best and it's easy to look impressive when you're clearly the more talented team. IMO, there were at least 4-5 1a teams better than NCC was last year.

 

I do feel this years Mayfield team is considerably better than last years. The offense is much more efficient, they have more playmakers at RB and WR and Arnett is clearly stronger and running the team with a lot more confidence. They also look better defensively, especially at LB and in the secondary. They also have more depth as only 2-3 players go both ways, and, outside of Kennemore, the other 2 only play part time on both sides.

 

Whether that's enough to get over the hump against an outstanding Desales team is yet to be determined, but, I do like this team a lot and their chances. With that said, Desales needs to concern themselves with CAL, Monroe and Glasgow and Mayfield needs to concern themselves with Murray, Butler Co and OB Catholic. It'll be challenging enough to get by those teams and if both are fortunate enough to do so, then, we'll see what happens.

 

NCC was not NEARLY as good as either CAL or Murray last year. I truly think CAL and DeSales were the two best teams in 2-A, and I'm not convinced that CAL wasn't the best team (as evidenced by their 17-0 dominance of the Colts in the regular season). The west is loaded again this year, but my eyes are not on Maywood. They're on CAL. DeSales is 26-0 against the rest of the state the past two years, and they're 2-2 against CAL.

NCC was not NEARLY as good as either CAL or Murray last year. I truly think CAL and DeSales were the two best teams in 2-A, and I'm not convinced that CAL wasn't the best team (as evidenced by their 17-0 dominance of the Colts in the regular season). The west is loaded again this year, but my eyes are not on Maywood. They're on CAL. DeSales is 26-0 against the rest of the state the past two years, and they're 2-2 against CAL.

 

It's hard to have your eyes on something that doesn't exist.

 

J/K, good luck to all this week!!