Honaker traditionally plays a tough out of district schedule. That has actually kept them from making the playoffs under the old system. This year is no different with games against Lebanon, Central-Wise, and Clintwood, all wins. John Battle was also on the schedule and they were fair to middling last year. Those may not be contenders but they are solid teams.
Aside from their annual rivalry game against Clintwood, Haysi's schedule looks pretty soft. That may be a reason why they lost to Honaker. Had they faced stronger opponents, they may have been better prepared.