Some Games Are Bigger Than Others

Tomorrow night's battle with Hertford County is just another football game.

If you believe then that what have you been drinking?

Even though this is still a non-conference game, it is more important to Rocky Mount than Hertford County and I will tell you why.

Both teams this year played endowment games. So that means they are able to give up a loss during the season and still have a 10-0 record according to the NCHSAA.

Since we had to forfeit a game ,we already have our loss. So in order to reach a possible top seeding, we cannot afford to lose any more games.

If at the end of the season there are three teams that have undefeated records, they will be put in a hat and a drawing will be held for the top three seeds.

Now let me throw another wrinkle at you....

Let's say we beat Hertford County tomorrow night and that is the only loss they have all year their record would be 10-0 according to the NCHSAA.

If Rocky Mount doesn't lose another game all year they would also show a 10-0 record.

If Hertford is 10-0 and we the same should we not get the seeding ahead of them?

Not so fast my friends.

If two teams or three teams are 10-0 in the eyes of the NCHSAA no one has beaten any of those teams they are all equal.

All equal teams are put in a hat and the seeding fall as they may.

That could mean Hertford County could get the No. 1 seed and another team could get No. 2 and Rocky Mount get No. 3 just by the luck of the draw.

If everyone remembers Nash County has never done well in drawings just ask Jim Brett and his 9-1 team at Northern Nash that failed to make the playoffs because of a drawing a few years back.

That fiasco is why almost every team in the state makes the playoffs now. The state association did not want a 3rd place team Like Northern Nash not make the playoffs when they had a 9-1 record.

So it is possible that Rocky Mount could have to go to Hertford County in the playoffs even though they might beat them Friday night.

If Hertford County wins then Rocky Mount has 2 losses and can only be at best 9-1 and all this what iffing is down the drain.

How important is seeding?

The No. 1 seed could possibly get four home games. Number two three home games and the Number three seed two home games and a possible third game at No. 2 and a fourth game at the No .4.

This is, of course, only occurs if the top seeds win all games as expected.

If I have totally confused you, join the crowd. The NCHSAA has tried to make seeding as fair as they can. Regardless of what system they use there is always someone who gets bit by the system and this year it could be Rocky Mount.