Playoff Football Update: London Undefeated and High Scoring

London, a city known for its historic charm, is currently buzzing with excitement surrounding high school football. The London football team, seeded fourth in Division VII, has been on a remarkable journey throughout the playoffs. Over the last three weeks, they have outscored their opponents an impressive 93-33. This outstanding performance highlights their strength on the field as they work towards their ultimate goal of a championship.

As playoff football unfolds, it’s hard not to notice the striking scores from last Friday’s regional semi-finals, which seem to paint a broader picture of competition within high school sports. With seven divisions and sixteen teams per region, there’s an effort to include more teams while ensuring competitive balance. However, recent results are stirring up discussions about whether this inclusion is truly beneficial, especially as some teams consistently dominate over others.

The playoff results showcase how some teams, despite being in the same division, can experience huge discrepancies in scores. For instance, while some teams manage to rise to the occasion, others struggle to keep up. A perfect example is Covington, which began the season with a 3-1 record but ended up losing six consecutive games. Their playoff finale was a stark reminder of the differences, as they faced a staggering 58-0 defeat against Coldwater.

Additionally, the case of Troy Christian is another noteworthy observation, where the team encountered a disheartening season, being outscored 506 to 39. Numbers don’t lie, and the reality is that many teams across various divisions are not reaching the .500 mark, raising questions about the overall competitive landscape.

Critics argue that teams need time to adjust and develop, typically suggesting this adjustment period spans just a few weeks. However, the rising trend of overwhelming defeats across a substantial number of games might indicate a more significant issue. In fact, last week’s regional semi-final scores revealed that more than half of all games were determined by margins of four touchdowns or more. This suggests a widening gap between the strongest teams and the rest.

As London celebrates its playoff success, the broader conversation about the state of high school football continues. What does this mean for the numerous teams across Ohio experiencing similar struggles? With many people recognizing the disparity, the pressing question remains: is the current structure truly fostering improvement and competition in high school sports?