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November 17, 2009

Dallas Jackson
Rivals High Senior Analyst

MORE: Louisiana battles South Carolina | Pennsylvania takes on Virginia

Dallas Jackson is the high school sports expert for RivalsHigh.com. Send him a question or comment at DallasJ@Yahoo-Inc.com and follow him at twitter.com/rivalshigh.

It's one of the biggest debates in high school sports: Which state plays the best High School Football? RivalsHigh is determined to figure it out.

But how? Should we use stats - or analysis? Actually, we're going to use both.

Here's how today's RivalsHigh Greatest State Debate matchup between Ohio and Mississippi will be decided.

Step One: Raw numbers (The winning side gets a field goal)

  • Most teams in the Top 25: There has to be a reward for having some truly great teams. If the state's have the same number in the group, the state with the highest-ranked team will get the field goal. If neither has a ranked team, no points will be awarded.
  • Most teams in the Top 100: Quantity counts as much as quality. Depth helps. The state with more teams wins. Should the teams tie, the state with the most teams in the Top 50 will get the points.
  • Top recruits: How many players does the state have in the Rivals 250? Ties will be broken by number of players in the Rivals 100.

    Step Two: Analysis (The winning side gets a touchdown)

  • Depth of quality: Having good teams in your largest class is one thing, but how is the football that is played in the lower divisions?
  • Out-of-state schedule: This is a key indicator. We'll look at the state's record. But more than that, their willingness to take on the best.
  • History/intangibles: Call it the 'it' factor. Call it a gut feeling. Comparing states that don't' go head-to-head is hard, so we'll bring in all the outside information and influences we can with a special eye on past performances.

    There's 30 points on the board to be had - and it's mathematically impossible for there to be a tie. So enjoy the game and then join the debate. The competition runs through Friday.

    No. 7 Ohio HS Football
    No. 10 Mississippi HS Football
    Teams in the Top 25
    Teams in the Top 25
    Total Teams: 1
    Top Team: No. 13 Glenville Tarblooders
    Glenville, on the heels of a huge win over local rival St. Ignatius, jumped into the Top 15 nationally. Glenville has been prone to make mistakes that cost it games, but this season it seems to be getting past that and playing very good football. If it is indeed the best team in Ohio, a Top 10 finish may be coming as Ohio is traditionally one of the best states for HS football in the country.
    Total Teams: 1
    Top Team: No. 21 Madison Central Jaguars
    Madison Central has been our No. 1 team in Mississippi all season, even sneaking into the Top 10 nationally at one point. Mississippi is an underrated state in terms of national perception; it is much more than South Panola and everyone else. There is still plenty of time, and playoff games, to find out who truly is the best in the Magnolia State, but we like the talent on Madison County for 2009.
    This would be a tremendous game, but we have to give a slight edge to Ohio, 3-0.
    Teams in the RivalsHigh 100
    Teams in the RivalsHigh 100
    Total teams ranked: 5
    It would generally be considered a "down year" in Ohio with only five teams ranked at this point. However, from what we have seen, there may not be a dominant team in the state. St. X played the hardest schedule in the country, but it is already eliminated from the playoffs. Moeller also was out early. Depending on how the next round goes, there may not be enough strength of schedule to keep more than five in the rankings.
    Total teams ranked: 3
    Mississippi's top-ranked teams fell victim to injuries. Oak Grove figured to be very good but lost some talent early. Olive Branch and South Panola had a different type of loss - to Memphis University School on the field, defeats that hurt the state's perception. Overall, the state is down. And it is still anyone's game in Class 6A as the playoffs wind down.
    With five teams in the RivalsHigh 100, Ohio extends the lead to 6-0.
    Players in the Rivals 250
    Players in the Rivals 250
    Total in Rivals 250: 10
    Highest: No. 12 Jordan Hicks
    Ohio has been a football hotbed for defensive talent and skill-position players for the better part of the last decade. This season is no different with Jordan Hicks leading the Ohio state rankings as the No. 12 player in the nation. Rivals.com compares Hicks to Baltimore Ravens linebacker Tavares Gooden and has very high praise. Barry Every says: "Hicks may be the best pass-rushing linebacker in the country."
    Total in Rivals 250: 7
    Highest: No. 76 Shon Coleman
    Coleman is a big and physical offensive tackle who checks in at No. 76 nationally. This is a slight down year for high-end talent in Mississippi as there are no five-star candidates. Rivals.com analyst Barton Simmons has seen Coleman numerous times this season and thinks that he is a top-flight player. "He can run-block and pass-block with a physical mindset. He has all the tools you need to play at the next level."
    Ohio is all over this matchup and races to the first 9-0 lead of the tournament.
    Depth in-state
    Depth in-state
    Ohio, like many other states, is starting to see a watered-down mid-level class system. Having six classes is simply not needed for most states. That is why Ohio, in our opinion, needs to merge down. The depth of this state is hardly in question, but some may argue that having so many classes gives a false sense of just who is a power. The Division I section of Ohio is top notch and can play anywhere. Division II does not have much outside of Winton Woods and would benefit from a merger with Division III with Cardinal Mooney, Stuebenville, and St. Francis de Sales. The same can be said for Divsions IV and V. Combining the two would have Alter, Ursuline and Coldwater battling it out. Mississippi is similar to Ohio - six classes is simply too many. It waters down state titles and creates teams who "think they are good" when they really are average, but beat other average competition. That's a shame because Mississippi has plenty of talent, especially in 6A, where it can battle Ohio. It's biggest edge is in depth. At 5A, West Point, West Jones and Wayne County are all playing very good ball this season. Class 4A is highlighted by Noxubee County and St. Stanislaus. There is not much to speak of in Class 2A or A, but that is the case in many other states. With that in mind, Mississippi should go back to five classes and make those state quarterfinals interesting.
    This is close, but the edge goes to Mississippi, which finally gets on the board, 9-7.
    Out-of-state competition
    Out-of-state competition
    2009 Record for OOS games: 88-62
    Ohio has one of the best reputations in the nation for tough football. The Herbstreit Classic always pits teams from all over the country against Ohio - and Ohio always does well. This season, Ohio is almost 30 games over .500 in out-of-state competition. The Buckeye State was 18-9 against Kentucky and 9-2 against Pennsylvania.
    2009 Record for OOS games: 104-94
    Mississippi, once again, is underrated for their ability to play out of state teams and win. They have gone to many other "power states" and won. This season Mississippi was barely above .500 - and used Tennessee to get there - as the state was 26-15 against its neighbors. The problem: The top teams in state have not held up their end this season.
    Ohio has a reputation for a reason, 16-7.
    Intangibles
    Intangibles
    While there has been plenty of turnover atop the Ohio standings, all the teams that were there (Elder, Moeller, St. Ignatius, Glenville) are top-notch teams. Winning the Ohio Division I playoffs always is an honor. This year it seems as challenging and unpredicatble as ever. Had South Panola or Olive Branch been able to get a win over Memphis University there would not be as much doubt cast on the state. But that is what out-of-state games are used for; those games are remembered all season. It's a shame because Mississippi has depth; it just caught in a bad matchup.
    Ohio is playing better football this season and it shows, 23-7.

    Ohio takes this first-round contest 23-7.

    Now comes a big test. Ohio advances to a quarterfinal matchup against No. 2 Florida tomorrow.

    TAKE IT TO THE BOARDS: Talk about the Greatest State Debate on the national message board!




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