Area coaches discuss new district format

High school football teams in Missouri will have a better opportunity to earn a state-playoff berth this season because of a new playoff format that allows two teams from each district to qualify for the postseason.

Still, some local coaches prefer the one-team system that previously was in place.

Proponents of the new format argue it is better because not only do more teams make the playoffs, but also more deserving teams will earn state postseason berths since many districts deep with talent and multiple state-ranked teams exist statewide.

St. Vincent coach Keith Winkler prefers the one-team system. He, along with some other coaches, pointed out the playoff bracket primarily is organized so that the two teams representing a particular district would just meet again a couple weeks later in the second round of the state tournament in sort of a district rematch. That could spell trouble if the district runner-up were to win the second meeting.

"Let's say we face the [team we beat] in the next round within a couple of weeks, and the other team wins," Winkler said. "Well, now we've both got one loss. Which one was really the better team? You might as well just settle it on the field the first time and bring your 'A' game and go."

With football district play beginning tonight -- and all six local teams in action -- Southeast Missouri coaches have conflicting opinions on the new system.

Winkler sees no positives in the format. Jackson's Van Hitt and Central's Rich Payne prefer the old system, but see some benefits in the new one: It makes more room for error during district play and will keep postseason hope alive for most high school teams.

Scott City's Ronnie Jones said he likes the system because it encourages more participation and will increase excitement among more teams across the state.

Chaffee's Charlie Vickery and Perryville's Jim May are undecided. May said he will wait to see how the system works before deciding which one he likes more.

Deep districts

History has shown that top teams in a class often reside in the same district.

Both Jackson and Eureka are in Class 5 District 1. In 2007, they entered their district game with identical 7-0 records and ranked in the top five in Class 5.

This year, Class 5 District 8 includes No. 1 Raymore-Peculiar (6-1) and No. 3 Lee's Summit West (5-2), which started the year as the top ranked team in the class.

Or how about the depth of Class 3 District 13? It includes No. 3 Pleasant Hill (6-1), No. 4 Holden (7-0) and No. 7 Oak Grove (6-1).

A total of 83 districts exist among the state's six classes. Nine districts include two or more state-ranked teams.

"A lot of times you end up with two of the premier teams in the state coming into the same district together," May said. "A lot of times the state title game is played in districts for the most part. And that's something they're trying to avoid. But in order to do what they're trying to do, you'd have to cross-bracket the whole state to where your No. 1 in your district, and your No. 2 in your district, couldn't meet each other again until the state championship game."

The playoff bracket in each class is set up so that if any two district representatives were to meet in the state playoffs, it would be in the second round.

Class 5 -- which has an odd number of districts (11) -- is the only class that has a different style bracket. In Class 5, eight of the 11 possible district rematches would occur by the quarterfinals, two potentially would happen during the semfinals and one -- District 6 -- would be in the title game.

So out of the 83 districts, just one district has the potential for its two teams to meet in a state title game.

"So it really hasn't helped," said Winkler, who noted that all other Missouri high school sports qualify only one district team for the playoffs.

Winkler cited boys basketball, where Notre Dame and Sikeston were two of the best teams in Class 4 during the 2007-08 season. But because they were in the same district, only one -- Notre Dame -- qualified for the state tournament.

Payne said facing an opponent twice in one season is difficult because the teams become familiar with one another's plays.

"Another thing is that the game of football is a very emotional game," Payne said. "Let's say you beat me [in districts] and then I turn around and play you 10 days later [in state]. If [both teams have equal talent] and we get a little bit more emotional this next time, it could turn the tide.

"And with turnovers and the ups and downs that happen in a football game, the ball might bounce differently the next time."

Winkler said the second-best team in a district should not be given a chance to redeem itself.

"The state playoffs is to find out who the state champion is," Winkler said. "If you've already beaten a team, why should you have to play them again to get down that road?"

Within a class, which is based on enrollment, district are formed by grouping schools in proximity to one another.

The state playoff bracket is organized in a similar fashion, as teams face closer schools in the earlier rounds.

By seeding district champions and district runners-up in opposing brackets -- so they would not meet until the championship game -- means teams often would have to travel longer distances in the early rounds of the playoff. May said added travel puts a financial burden on schools.

MSHSAA members decide

Missouri State High School Athletic Association communications director Jason West said the format of playoff brackets can be changed after a season, and the football advisory committee determines whether the playoff system worked or whether the formation of a new bracket would be best.

West added that MSHSAA is the governing body and the new playoff system was decided on by member schools, including coaches who make up an advisory committee that makes recommendations to the MSHSAA board of directors, which votes to approve the recommendations.

West added that some other states cross-bracket during the state playoffs so that if a section of the state is stronger and produces better teams, those teams potentially could meet in the title game.

Weak districts

With the old playoff system, some top teams were eliminated during district play because they were beaten by superior teams in their districts. Likewise, weak districts existed that allowed teams with losing records to reach the playoffs. Ten of the 80 teams that made the playoffs last year finished with a losing record.

While the new system will allow for more good teams to extend their season, it will also reward more teams for less than stellar seasons.

Take Class 2 District 2 for instance. It includes Scott City (2-4), Crystal City (1-6), Grandview Hillsboro (0-7) and St. Pius Festus (0-7). The four teams have combined for just three wins this year, yet two will make the playoffs.

All 10 of the below-.500 teams to make the playoffs were eliminated in the first round last year.

"They've talked about good teams being let in," Winkler said. "What about some teams that maybe have one or two wins within their district altogether, and their going to make it into the playoffs? You really haven't separated anything.

"They say that more teams are going to experience the playoffs," Winkler added. "But do they really get to experience it in one game? I don't know."

West said the new system benefits the players, allowing more athletes to experience the state tournament.

"I think the biggest benefit is that it allows more student-athletes to compete for a state championship," West said. "That's one of the fundamental values that we try to promote is participation. It allows for more kids to have that opportunity to say that their team made it to the state playoffs and competed for a state championship."

West added that he has not heard of any discussions about the new format in other team sports in Missouri.

Hitt said he prefers the old system, but he does see a benefit in the new format in that allows a team to advance after a tough loss.

"If you happen to have an off-night offensively or defensively and lose, you're still not out of it," Hitt said. "A lot of things determine a ballgame. It could be a wet night. It could be a fumble or a pass interception or something like that that could change a ballgame around. This will give you an opportunity to still stay in it."

Payne said the system will allow many teams to remain mathematically alive until the final game of the season.

"You've got a chance every week," Payne said. "And in theory, let's say one team wins the district 3-0, and then the other three teams split. Everyone could go 1-2 and it could come down to the point system. That scenario could play out in any district across the state of Missouri. That also gives everybody a hope going into every contest."

Jones said he likes the new format because it should generate more excitement for more teams. He also said it helps coaches who are trying to build programs, as players might be more motivated and positive during the offseason because of the increased chances at the postseason.

"I think if we're trying to promote football, and that's what the football association is trying to do in Missouri," Jones said, "the format has to be that we try to get more kids involved. ... If they do get into the playoffs, that's a big thing, and it just makes for an exciting time of year."