Hurst,
Truer words were never written. The Midlands (or more specifically Columbia-area schools) are to High School soccer what Notre Dame is to collegiate athletics.
To illustrate this point, let’s use Lexington and North Augusta as examples because they are in the same region.
Last week, Lexington reentered the rankings at #14 with a 7-7 record. This included a 1-4 record against ranked teams (all classifications) and one loss to a rebuilding team with a losing record (Aiken). This week, the move up to #11 in the ranking after two wins over Orangeburg-Wilkinson and Richland Northeast (cumulative record 4-21). It should be noted that almost half their win total (4 of 9) came against these two schools. Hence, the quality win argument has little to no merit.
Conversely, North Augusta stands at 7-6 with a 3-3 record against ranked teams and all losses to teams with a win % of .560 or higher. This included a win over previously unbeaten Dutch Fork. Yet they are still conspicuously absent from the rankings. Geographically, North Augusta is located in the Midlands but RESPECT (i.e. Bias) obviously does not extend that far west. I suspect it stops at the Lexington County border.
To reiterate my Notre Dame analogy, it appears that the rankings are all style with no substance. Or more succinctly, to a large extent, it depends on who you are and not how you perform on the pitch. I’m not hating on Lexington, because all Columbia-area schools receive this same level of RESPECT (?). I’m just citing them as the most blatant example.
So which is it? Is Lexington ranked too high or is North Augusta being snubbed? Or a little of both? Personally, I think it’s a little of both.
To more accurately gauge the caliber of either team, you have to ask this question—which team would you rather play in the first round of the playoffs?
Wait, I just had an epiphany; Lexington is ranked because they beat North Augusta. The rankings in their current format are a joke; and not a very funny one at that. Teams should be ranked based on their current accomplishments, not their reputation. That does not appear to be the case.