Why is Mallard Creek so low? The played a brutal schedule and beat good teams
MC has played a very tough schedule but that doesn't really matter. Rolesville is ranked #8 in 8A has played a tough schedule too but they are 1-2 and Maury who is ranked #2 in Virginia is also 1-2. MP is ranked #5 in 8A is 2-2 and Buford is ranked #1 in Georgia is 4-0. That is a total of 8-6 record.
Compare that to Green Hope who is 4-1 and is sitting at #5 in the RPI. They have beaten the #30 ranked 6A team, the #56 ranked 6A team, the #28 ranked 8A team, the #52 ranked 6A team and they lost to the #12 ranked 8A team. Their opp record is 12-8.
MC SOS is the most difficult in 8A and GH is the 3rd easiest. The RPI system really doesn't take that into their calculations. OWP and OOWP can be deceiving. I have no problem with the use of computer but computers have GH ranked higher than MC. If the playoffs started this week and GH and MC were both in the West, GH would have the home field advantage.
As for RPI ratings, schedule smaller teams that usually have good winning percentage and you will be near the top every year. For example, Hoggard could play WRH, E. Duplin, James Kenan, Whiteville as their non conference opponents and usually beat all those teams with talent, depth and size. There would be no downside to playing them on the RPI calculations. It wouldn't help Hoggard down the road as much as playing RC and Clayton but their RPI would be very high.