skyway

There is a Maxpreps human top 25, and a "Maxpreps" computer ratings which is actually the calpreps computer. The computer heavily favors teams from California and Texas. This also means games against those teams (and teams that play those teams) tend to give much more weight. That computer system is what will be used to determine some playoff seeding. Pretty crappy IMO.

There is a Maxpreps human top 25, and a "Maxpreps" computer ratings which is actually the calpreps computer. The computer heavily favors teams from California and Texas. This also means games against those teams (and teams that play those teams) tend to give much more weight. That computer system is what will be used to determine some playoff seeding. Pretty crappy IMO.

From those 2 convincing wins you would think AHP would be in the top 5 and their challenging schedule will give them a chance to prove it going forward.  But it goes to show you how inconsistent Maxpreps can be when Central (top 5 team) beats the #1 team IMG  and only goes to #2 in the STATE rankings behind CMD #1 .  Yet the same Maxpreps from that same showing moves Central to the #4 spot NATIONALLY and CMD to #12.  Hard to understand that logic. 

I'll take Chaminade 28-13.

I'll take Chaminade 28-13.

I agree. We have to see how Lowndes and Los Al fare the rest of the way, but at the moment AH should be very close to the top of the state rankings.

I agree. We have to see how Lowndes and Los Al fare the rest of the way, but at the moment AH should be very close to the top of the state rankings.

For the Apopka game, there was rain in the first quarter and a wet field thereafter. It did not help that this was our first game in forever when we ran no single wing plays at all.
Our receivers dropped at least 10 passes, some of which should have been caught. A wet ball and getting familiar with a new offensive playbook was too much to overcome. I suppose it will take some time for the offense to gel. 

The psychological dynamics heading into the game will have to be like they were for Central vs. IMG. Central was able to sell to their kids the idea that they were massive underdogs expected to be blown out. So, they played with their hair on fire. If Dillard is able to play convinced they are the massive underdogs expected to get blown out (like last year at STA), they likely have a chance. If they come into the game thinking they are the favorites (kids can be really silly), Central likely wipes the floor with them.

Nonetheless, Lehigh seems to have done an excellent job of marketing its program to recruits. They hauled in a great class, and have secured TV games. Looks like they will continue to be a recruiting force. Eventually, they'll become so loaded they'll be hard for anyone to beat.

I think this one went a little bit differently than I thought it would go for a couple of huge reasons: 
1. Lehigh’s transfers have not gelled at all. Adding some of the best players in Lee county to what was a very effective offense last year seems like simple math, but proved otherwise. Kelton Henderson (4 star SC commit) was targeted numerous times in the pass game but hauled in only a handful of passes and had a costly fumble on a jet sweep.
2. Richard Young (5 star Bama commit) was harassed by a very quick Naples defense and finished with 19 carries  for 75 yards and 0 tds. The bulk of his production came from a long run in the first quarter and he never got going after that. The Lehigh offensive line is very big but could not get a push going at all against Naples. 
 
3. Naples feasts on big plays. Naples RBs Kendrick Raphael (3 star Iowa commit) scored 3 tds with a long run of 65 for a final line of 5 rushes for 127 yards, while his backfield partner Isaiah Augustave (4 star Arkansas commit) scored on a 53 yard run and ended with 11 for 90 himself. Naples blocked two punts and returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a TD.
Venice is up next in what I am sure will be a very competitive game. I’d like to see Naples become a little more adventurous throwing the ball, but there’s really no arguing with production.  

Congrats to the Rockets on a great win. It was hard to assess IMG's offense because they scored so quickly and with ease vs. Venice. Once they faced a more athletic defense, their often mediocre offense showed it's head. I wonder why they played a Blair Castle clone all game, instead of the guy who played a lot vs. Venice. I guess I've never really been impressed with their offense. They just have the massive OL and awesome backs and usually walk into end zones. Failing that, it's ugly. 
I don't know about the MNW game for you guys, haven't seen any of it. Did you have a super late rally to make it look close? Venice this season seems most dangerous after they've been blown out of the water and the other team starts to relax. 

Hey @Jesse @topnotch305 @skyway since you three gentlemen  thought my comments were so funny, how’s this one for a laugh? 

Columbiafan has to be running the clock at Citizen's Field.  In all seriousness, this is some of the most egregious cheating of time I can remember seeing on the last drive of the half. And it will be available for all to review on the youtube link above.

Announcers said there's another game on that field tomorrow. It's week one of the season and it looks trashed already.

...or the witness protection program. 

If there was a Vegas betting line on this game, the clock worker would need to go into hiding 

I'm hollering at the screen, my wife comes out and gives me that look.....  

Columbiafan has to be running the clock at Citizen's Field.  In all seriousness, this is some of the most egregious cheating of time I can remember seeing on the last drive of the half. And it will be available for all to review on the youtube link above.

At this point, I really don't have a dog in the fight as far as high school football goes.  I certainly have no dog in this particular fight (i.e., whether a kid transferred to Lakeland or Osceola).    Like you, I'd love for us all to be honest about what goes on.   The way I read LakelandGator's post, he was telling the story of a QB was going to transfer and that the kid and his family were considering two possible options:  Lakeland and Osceola.  If I lived in the Lakeland/Winter Haven/Poinciana/Kissimmee area and had a kid who showed promise in football, and my kid was unhappy with his current school (for legit reasons), those two schools would certainly be high on my list as well. 
But then the post went a little further and implied that the kid and/or his family had visited both schools and spoken with both coaches.  This was done to deflect criticism that one of the schools was outwardly recruiting the kid.  But, in laying out the defense, I think LakelandGator inadvertently revealed knowledge of one of the secret truths that probably goes on every day across the state:  kids and their families privately/secretly have conversations with coaches from other schools when they are considering a transfer. 
Again, as I just said in my other post, I could make the argument that kids and their families should be allowed to reach out to coaches from other schools and discuss whether there is a mutual interest, a good fit, a similar philosophy, a need at a particular position, etc.     But, at present, that's not allowed.  The FHSAA considers this to be recruiting, just as if the coach had reached out to the kid or his parents. 
So, if this is the way it went down with this particular kid (i.e., he visited either or both schools and spoke with either or both coaches), who's going to step up and say "yeah, that's what happened" and run the risk that the kid is declared ineligible and "his team" gets hurt in the process?  Who's willing to be starkly honest about it? 
(Using my Jack Nicholson voice and paraphrasing just a bit):  "You want the truth, Skyway?  Can you handle the truth?"  

Unfortunately, you are still suffering mental loss.  Your take was Lakeland vs Lake Gibson from the jump.  Coach Castle vs Coach Pringle.  Osceola has never been charged with a recruiting violation either, so you can't even replace Osceola for Lakeland in that respect either.  Finally, the player in question is AT LAKELAND not Osceola.  A bit late for deflecting. 

Almost had MNW-Jones too! I had MNW 38-27 and they led 35-24 late, then after they scored to go up 42 Jones got down to the 1 yard line on the last play, could've been 42-31. I'm glad that wasn't a bet I lost haha.

Picks:
IMG 42, Central 13
Chaminade 22, St. Johns 21
AHP 38, Los Al 24
MNW 38, Venice 16
Cocoa 29, Jones 23
STA 27, St. Joes 12
Osceola 20, Treasure Coast 6
Seminole 27, Riverview 13
 

Almost had MNW-Jones too! I had MNW 38-27 and they led 35-24 late, then after they scored to go up 42 Jones got down to the 1 yard line on the last play, could've been 42-31. I'm glad that wasn't a bet I lost haha.

You were about spot on with that last game.