NCPreps.com Baker's Dozen Week 8

[Deana_King_rivals106402]

2A

1. Shelby (7-0)
2. Clinton (6-0)
3. Lincolnton (6-0)
4. Reidsville (6-0)
5. East Duplin (5-1)
6. East Lincoln (5-1)
7. Monroe (4-2)
8. Northeastern (5-1)
9. Bunn (5-1)
10. Holmes (6-1)
11. West Caldwell (5-1)
12. Greene Central (5-1)
13. Mountain Heritage (6-1)

HONORABLE MENTION: Maiden (5-1); Surry Central (5-1) - open; Smoky Mountain (5-1); Roanoke Rapids (6-0);North Rowan (5-2); Hendersonville (5-2); East Davidson (5-1);

 

[maddox#1]

It must be very hard to leave out the Randleman Tigers as they are 5-1 and just knocked off previously unbeaten and defending state champ High Point Christian Academy . They were 13 point underdogs per Simmons and I thought they might get mentioned in the " others "......

 

[FBCapitolofNC]

Curious how close do you guys think the top 4 really are. I understand Shelby has earned the right to be No.1. I honestly feel the top 4 are very close. Two through four can go either spot.

 

[rambbq]

Randleman is always very good....I just have never heard of HP Christian Academy..hard to believe they were 13 point dogs....Simmons ratings have been weird the first part of the year.....he's been way off on all 6 Reidsville victories (example, we were 6 pt favorites vs. N Guilford and won by 17 and it took 2 late NG scores to make it that close)....14 point underdogs to NW Guilford and won by 10.................Reidsville was 12 pt. favorite over HP Andrews and won by 24...........that's quite a spread...Randleman should a top 10 team before season is over...................

 

[zukeridr]

Curious how close do you guys think the top 4 really are. I understand Shelby has earned the right to be No.1. I honestly feel the top 4 are very close. Two through four can go either spot.

My opinion.... Shelby is legit across the board....Clinton....well their strength of schedule is so so....I'd have them at #3 ...Lincolnton is my #2 (maybe a little biased cause my son plays...Lol) seriously their conference has 2-3 heavyweights in it alone... And Reidsvilles schedule is just .......blah like every year... And we've seen them mid playoff rounds with a better record and had to travel way up there to play the last 3 years....that's my shake up!

 

[Chute Boxe Hero]

I thought HPCA might have been a bit overrated. I can't believe News and Record had them ranked in their Top 10 for the past couple of weeks. Sure they have a few players are very good but to think they were that strong.........

 

[FBCapitolofNC]

My opinion.... Shelby is legit across the board....Clinton....well their strength of schedule is so so....I'd have them at #3 ...Lincolnton is my #2 (maybe a little biased cause my son plays...Lol) seriously their conference has 2-3 heavyweights in it alone... And Reidsvilles schedule is just .......blah like every year... And we've seen them mid playoff rounds with a better record and had to travel way up there to play the last 3 years....that's my shake up!

You're right about last year. A couple of years ago Lincoln came to Reidsville and left with a loss. The only other team that's has knocked us out was Shelby. This year's team is better than any team we've had since the 07 09 run. I think if Reidsville, Shelby and Lincolnton all wind up 2a West, it will be a shame. You have the 3 best teams beating each other in the regional quarter and semi finals. No disrespect to other teams in the West.

 

[Godevilsgo]

You're right about last year. A couple of years ago Lincoln came to Reidsville and left with a loss. The only other team that's has knocked us out was Shelby. This year's team is better than any team we've had since the 07 09 run. I think if Reidsville, Shelby and Lincolnton all wind up 2a West, it will be a shame. You have the 3 best teams beating each other in the regional quarter and semi finals. No disrespect to other teams in the West.

Is your opinion that this team is as good as 2008 and 2009 or best since those teams? That's two different type team catagories. I'm curious because if you mean this team is like 2008/2009 then that is a definite title type team.

 

[EL3]

No doubt, the 08 team to me is still the best team we faced in the state championship so far, faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaast, big and mean.

 

[rams10]

My opinion.... Shelby is legit across the board....Clinton....well their strength of schedule is so so....I'd have them at #3 ...Lincolnton is my #2 (maybe a little biased cause my son plays...Lol) seriously their conference has 2-3 heavyweights in it alone... And Reidsvilles schedule is just .......blah like every year... And we've seen them mid playoff rounds with a better record and had to travel way up there to play the last 3 years....that's my shake up!

Reidsville schedule isn't really blah every year, last year I thought it was pretty tough, rams just weren't very good. I really don't see L towns schedule being that much tougher. I don't really feel like digging up stats, but the rams try and schedule as best as they can. But of course we know Linclonton is a very good team.

 

[LTown Wolves]

Reidsville plays some tough games early in non-conference, while Lincolnton plays most of their tough games late in conference play, with the exception of South Point, who is down this year. Reidsville deserves credit for playing the directional Guilford schools. They're usually pretty tough.

 

[FBCapitolofNC]

Those were three very good teams. I always hate to compare, what did vs what could. This year's team is very good. I was reserving judgement until we played NW. I was very proud of the way we controlled the second half. I've heard about the QB not playing second half. The reason he didn't play was the defense put him out.
If everything remains as it seems the 2a West playoffs are going to be very good

 

[Lion Attack]

Reidsville plays some tough games early in non-conference

Those were three very good teams.

Really? Reidsville's game last week was their first game versus a team with a winning record, and that was Northwest Guilford at 4-2.
High Point Andrews is 2-4
Northern Guilford is 0-6.

Like Zuke said, their schedule is blah, a bunch of tomato cans.

 

[freshdl3]

When you schedule these teams who are normally winners that's what you expect. How do you know that they will be on a down year. You don't. Just know that this is one of our better teams. The senoirs juniors and sophomore classes never lost in middle school. This combination of middle school wins has always proven to pan out pretty well for Reidsville in high school.

 

[LTown Wolves]

Really? Reidsville's game last week was their first game versus a team with a winning record, and that was Northwest Guilford at 4-2.
High Point Andrews is 2-4
Northern Guilford is 0-6.

Like Zuke said, their schedule is blah, a bunch of tomato cans.

I said they're usually pretty tough. I didn't say they are world beaters this year.

 

[SHS LION]

I sure would hate for Shelby to have to play Lincolnton and Reidsville to have a chance to get to the finals.

 

[rambbq]

anyone gonna start speculating about admin. numbers of the schools??....I don't have a clue where anybody is

 

[Lion Attack]

I sure would hate for Shelby to have to play Lincolnton and Reidsville to have a chance to get to the finals.

Wow, really? Who'd you rather play, then? Christ the King, Highland Tech? I wouldn't want it any other way.

 

[Wizard of the East]

My opinion.... Shelby is legit across the board....Clinton....well their strength of schedule is so so....I'd have them at #3 ...Lincolnton is my #2 (maybe a little biased cause my son plays...Lol) seriously their conference has 2-3 heavyweights in it alone... And Reidsvilles schedule is just .......blah like every year... And we've seen them mid playoff rounds with a better record and had to travel way up there to play the last 3 years....that's my shake up!

zukeridr, you don't know anything about Clinton's strength of schedule because you haven't seen any of those teams play. Clinton did defeat at the time #6 Northside and they've played a few larger classification schools but I understand your admitted bias with your son playing for the Wolves. I tell you what I don't know wheather it's going to be 2A or 2AA depending on ADM shakeout but I think Clinton will be playing in a state championship game. Now I know I'm a little biased too and I've see several state champions play. I too had a son that played for the DarkHorses in 2005 and well you know the rest of the story, Clinton defeated Lincolnton for the 2A State Championship. This year 2016? At this point the DarkHorses are very deserving of their ranking. Who knows they may see you guys again. Wouldn't that be something!

 

[Lion Attack]

anyone gonna start speculating about admin. numbers of the schools??....I don't have a clue where anybody is

All I know is there is a strong possibility that Reidsville, Shelby, and Lincolnton will finish the season undefeated, placed in the same division, and that freaking coin toss decides the no.1 seed. You guys, in that scenario and benefitting from playing a weak schedule, seemingly always get the number 1 seed, and have never had to come to Shelby or Lincolnton. The Mule rubs his lucky rabbit's foot. Here's to hoping you guys have to travel this post season for a change.

 

[Lion Attack]

zukeridr, you don't know anything about Clinton's strength of schedule because you haven't seen any of those teams play. Clinton did defeat at the time #6 Northside and they've played a few larger classification schools but I understand your admitted bias with your son playing for the Wolves. I tell you what I don't know wheather it's going to be 2A or 2AA depending on ADM shakeout but I think Clinton will be playing in a state championship game. Now I know I'm a little biased too and I've see several state champions play. I too had a son that played for the DarkHorses in 2005 and well you know the rest of the story, Clinton defeated Lincolnton for the 2A State Championship. This year 2016? At this point the DarkHorses are very deserving of their ranking. Who knows they may see you guys again. Wouldn't that be something!

Your schedule is so so like the man said. When we played y'all in the 2014 state championship, I told you and your fellow Dark Horse posters then that we were going to beat y'all by 21 plus. You guys laughed and thought I was talking out my ***. I saw your weak schedule and knew y'all hadn't played anyone, same scenario this year, you have not played anyone but a mediocre Northside team.

 

[Wizard of the East]

Your schedule is so so like the man said. When we played y'all in the 2014 state championship, I told you and your fellow Dark Horse posters that we were going to beat y'all by 21 plus. You guys laughed and thought I was talking out my ***. I saw your weak schedule and knew y'all hadn't played anyone, same scenario this year, you have not played anyone but a mediocre Northside team.

Oh so Lion Attack you know all about those teams too without seeing them nor the DarkHorses. Hey Shelby had a great team in 2014. Several of that DarkHorse team are now seniors on a much better more diversified 2016 team which has some non-DarkHorse fans say the best defense they've seen in 20 years. That's when the DarkHorsed beat your Hopper lead team and y'all were saying it couldn't be done. I bet you remember Willie Parker now. Look I'm not going to diminish your team this year , in my 67 years I'm a little wiser not to do that. I know the Golden Lions play in a hotbed if HS football but other good teams do too. That's why they're good but I can tell you this , there's two games Clinton followers want this year and it will depend on the ADM classification 2AA or 2A. Clinton can go either way because they're in about the middle of the ADM but the 2 games everyone wants is Bunn in the east and Shelby for a championship game. I think it's a good chance it will happen!

 

[BuckSweepSports910]

Schedule wise like a previous post said schedule these teams you dont know if they are down or not besides Smithfield-Selma i think our non conf schedule was decent....SWO seems to have tuened a corner switching back to their power running game and is now 4-2 guess we will see how improved they are when they play East Duplin tonight.....Hoggard was a few point from being undefeated until we blew em out....Northside Jax is a very solid team only losing games to us and 3A Havelock is not bad....mediocre????....yea ok they will probably win the ECC between them and East Duplin.....as far as conference goes cant help it we play in a split 2A/1A conf but we do have Wallace Rose-Hill and East Bladen to keep it competitive......we would love to play the big boys in cumberland county but they have no desire to play us when we are good.....funny how the only times we were invited to play in the Cumberland County jamboree was when we had average to below average teams.....only 4A schools that will play us and is decent traveling distance is the teams in Wilmington............but strength of schedule who cares this is not College Football and its not the BCS......Lewis knows how to get this team peaking at the right time no matter who we played previously

 

[BuckSweepSports910]

And unlike some we do not worship the ground on which Shelby walks....they are good realy good respect there program and what they have done but we are in no way scared to play em.....heard they may go 2AA they may go 2A whatever if the match up happens so be it.....had to laugh to myself when someone said no team can run the ball against Shelbys defense.....Well besides a healthy Ryheem Skinner we have 255 pound reason why i think we could have some success.....and some of you old school Shelby guys should be familiar with his dad....and he is a chip off the old block......see ya in December

 

[Godevilsgo]

Some of these games won look different different now but as already said, two years ago when when scheduled looked like games of the week in NC. All three teams have went out and scheduled traditionally great teams. That's a testament to these schools coaches/ADs who understand you have to schedule well to improve your team for a chance at a title.

All three of these teams have defeated higher classications. All would be ranked in the top ten of 3A in my opinion.

 

[FOOTBALLFANTIC_rivals]

The ADM for Clinton is 966, so they should solidly be in 2AA.

 

[TheMule_rivals384855]

Not to provide any kind of objective analysis to strength of schedule arguments here, but this is how Simmons rates strength of schedule now:

Shelby #5
Clinton #38
Reidsville #53
Lincolnton #55

Of course Reidsville has covered Simmons point spread by 14+ points every game this year so I'm having less and less confidence in his system as each week goes by. Or more realistically, he probably just started Reidsville out with a power rating that was just too low and his system doesn't adjust fast enough.

One thing for sure, anyone that thinks the Golden Lions aren't the prohibitive favorite to win a fourth straight state championship this year probably is living in la la land.

 

[Darkhorse04]

Clintons strength of schedule is what it is. We play who we are scheduled to play and hopefully just keep winning. Shelby is a great team and program, they play who they are scheduled to play and for them and their fans they hope to keep winning. The path either team takes to reach its ultimate goal is moot if the ultimate goal is achieved. No one is gonna say Clinton doesn't deserve a title because of their weak schedule, just like no one would say Shelby should get more than a trophy for having such a tough schedule. In the end, best of luck to both schools, maybe we will meet up, maybe we won't either way, we both control our own destiny regardless of who is next on our "weak/strong" schedules

 

[Wizard of the East]

Well stated 04

 

[zukeridr]

zukeridr, you don't know anything about Clinton's strength of schedule because you haven't seen any of those teams play. Clinton did defeat at the time #6 Northside and they've played a few larger classification schools but I understand your admitted bias with your son playing for the Wolves. I tell you what I don't know wheather it's going to be 2A or 2AA depending on ADM shakeout but I think Clinton will be playing in a state championship game. Now I know I'm a little biased too and I've see several state champions play. I too had a son that played for the DarkHorses in 2005 and well you know the rest of the story, Clinton defeated Lincolnton for the 2A State Championship. This year 2016? At this point the DarkHorses are very deserving of their ranking. Who knows they may see you guys again. Wouldn't that be something!

Ummmm excuse me ....but before you go barking up my tree ...KNOW THIS FACT....I TOO HAD A SON ON THAT TEAM IN 2005 FOR THE WOLVES. ..our oldest son Demery Brewer caught the only touchdown in that game and yes you guys won 13-7 another quick fact our current OC was the QB in that game as well ...so before you bark gather some info...and I was only stating my opinion on Clinton's schedule. ...maybe we will meet up again 2 times the charm...lol

 

[Wizard of the East]

Ummmm excuse me ....but before you go barking up my tree ...KNOW THIS FACT....I TOO HAD A SON ON THAT TEAM IN 2005 FOR THE WOLVES. ..our oldest son Demery Brewer caught the only touchdown in that game and yes you guys won 13-7 another quick fact our current OC was the QB in that game as well ...so before you bark gather some info...and I was only stating my opinion on Clinton's schedule. ...maybe we will meet up again 2 times the charm...lol

Our current fullback who is a great fullback is the son of the fullback on the 1997 championship team against Shelby. 0ur son sacked that QB on the Wolves's first possession. We have a prize photo of it in his jersey box!

 

[Chopper747]

Monroe will still have a lot to say in the post season as they will be a solid 2AA.
I think they had the 2nd toughest schedule if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Wizard of the East]

Actually according to Simmons Poll Monroe has played the hardest schedule in 2A