Crossing Divisional Lines

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I noticed that for the last regular season game Hilliard Davidson is scheduled to play Millersport. Why would schools from completely different sized divisions want to play each other? I know some would think that playing a larger stronger opponent helps make you stronger but what if all it does is get your heinnies kicked. Now I mean no disrespect to Millersport in any way but statistically speaking when you have a team the size of Davidson playing a small school like Millersport the outcome isn't likely to be in favor of the small school.

 

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I noticed that for the last regular season game Hilliard Davidson is scheduled to play Millersport. Why would schools from completely different sized divisions want to play each other? I know some would think that playing a larger stronger opponent helps make you stronger but what if all it does is get your heinnies kicked. Now I mean no disrespect to Millersport in any way but statistically speaking when you have a team the size of Davidson playing a small school like Millersport the outcome isn't likely to be in favor of the small school.

I am glad no one told David he could not kick Goliath's butt....sometimes that is what makes life interesting especially in the sports world.

 

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Since its the last game and all teams make the state playoffs it could be a scrimmage type game for the larger school and a chance for the smaller to play a good team and see how they stack up. Kind of like 12u playing up to 14u

 

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Since its the last game and all teams make the state playoffs it could be a scrimmage type game for the larger school and a chance for the smaller to play a good team and see how they stack up. Kind of like 12u playing up to 14u

Or like the Slammers playing up at 18U?

 

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The problem is that this is normally a good test for the lower divison school but unless the D1 school is just being nice there is no real upside for them. If the beat the lower division school, well they should have. If they lose to them, well they shouldn't have.

 

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Millersport will give Davidson a run for their money. They have a good team there....

 

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Our dd's school ( D-4) last year, played all d-1s , d-2s a few d-3s and played only one d-4 school. With that also the d-2 prior state champ, and the d-3 state champ. Lets just say it was not a good year. Its hard to play schools with 12 good players with a team that only has 3 or 4 good players.

But when your a d-3 or d-4 school you would have to travel all over the state to play the other d-3 or d-4 schools.

 

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good is good, regardless of school size.

 

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good is good, regardless of school size.

wildfire that is generaly true and I have seen a handfull of D3 and D4 schools over the years who could and did play with anyone in the state at any level. The point is that its the exception and not the rule. Of course there are many D1 schools that are not very good and would struggle with a few good Jr High teams. Both of these extremes are on the edges but for the most part I have found it hard for D4 and D3 teams to hang with average and above D1 schools just because of sheer numbers.

Now I also agree that if a good D3 or D4 school can get a scrimmage or regular season game scheduled with a good D1 or D2 school then they should. It would help them a ton no question about it, but like I said for the D1 team there is often no real benefit.

 

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Ok, so Ohio State shouldn't play Troy then right? There are some very good D-3, D-4 teams and it is one way those smaller schools can test themselves to see where they can improve to if they need to. Knowing Millersport's coach, he won't have them stay on the bus and will have them focused and ready to play any day regardless of who they are playing. As far as D-1's being good or bad for them? only bad if they take it lightly on any given day....

 

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Hilliarddad3 I think we were talking about high school here (at least I was) its pretty clear that there is way more then one senario here. I stated that there would be exceptions. By thw way, I am in no way saying that it is a bad thing or that it should not happen. For the record I say more power to any team that plays up and challenges their players. I see nothing wrong with that at all. I was just stating the situation from the D1 teams point of view and I feel the same way. Lets say they play a D4 team well it should be expected that they should win. If in fact they do OK, but if they lose then its a negative for the team because they really should not have lost. On the other hand for the D4 team if they win well then its a huge morale booster, but the same could be true if they just compete well and lose. Then if they get blown out well, it was a D1 team after all. I guess thats just my point of view.

 

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While I generally agree that numbers can make a difference, I try not to get too caught up in the "they've got more kids" point of view. Around my neck of the woods a little school won a title in football with an enrollment of less than 70 boys. They've been a mainstay in the playoffs over the last 16 years with a title, a runner-up, and a bunch of regional final appearances.

for what it's worth:

At Akron
the game score
Triad 2
Mentor 0

the enrollment score
Mentor 1127
Triad 130