Brian Rosener is the keeper of the Semoball Cup which is presented to the school with the most successful season. It is based on a formula that takes into account the combined winning percentage of all sports teams plus bonus points for advancement in postseason play for both teams and individuals. The bonus points are divided by the number of teams a school fields. Rosener has been the sports editor for the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff, Mo. since December 2001. He was born and raised in St. Louis, where he attended Lindbergh High School and Webster University. He is married to Jennifer, a Poplar Bluff native, has a son Jack and a dog named Satchel who stands in for his @semoballBrian photo.

Will the state football poll include Sikeston?

Posted Monday, October 5, 2009, at 11:36 AM

The Bulldogs will get at least one vote this week in the state football rankings -- it's mine.

As a voter on the statewide sportswriters and sportscasters poll I put Sikeston in my Class 4 rankings for the first time this week. Does that mean they'll be ranked when the poll is released Wednesday? Probably not.

Why? Because the teams in Class 4 are really good this year and Sikeston hasn't played any of them.

There are five unbeaten teams in Class 4 from last week's poll, four one-loss teams and Kearney at 4-2. Sikeston is 6-0 after beating New Madrid County Central 34-12 this week.

Sure they've given up just 26 points all season but this week was the first time the Bulldogs played a team with a winning record. Sikeston's opponents are a combined 7-26.

Why should a one-loss, or even a two-loss, team be ranked ahead of the Bulldogs, you ask?

Throw out the unbeaten teams -- Webb City, Helias, Staley, MICDS and Smith-Cotton -- that leaves five spots left in the poll. All of those unbeaten teams have played opponents with better records and all feature defenses averaging 15 points or better.

The one-loss and two-loss teams include the following:

Bolivar, lost to a ranked Class 3 team in Mountain Grove by a touchdown this week, was 9-1 and reached the quarterfinals last year.

Harrisonville, lost at Webb City, 33-7, but beat ranked Hannibal, 21-2, and opponents are a combined 24-12. Last year Harrisonville was 8-2 before losing in the sectional playoffs.

Normandy lost to Class 5 Chaminade by 5 while opponents are 21-15. They reached the playoffs last year as well with a 9-2 record.

Carthage lost to Nixa by 9 but just beat a good 4-2 Branson team that has a win over a ranked Class 3 team (42-13). They were also a playoff team last year at 8-3.

Hannibal lost to Harrisonville on the road and has a good defense that averages 11.5 points (that includes the 34 or 40 they gave up to Bluff -- more on that later this week). They were a playoff team last year at 8-3.

Grain Valley lost to No. 2 Class 3 Chillicothe.

Kearney, with two losses, fell to Class 5 No. 2 Ft. Osage (13-7) on the road and at Staley, 21-7. Their defense is averaging 8.6 points per game after reaching the state semifinals last year.

If you like more numbers-related rankings, Sikeston is 15th in Class 4 according to the Massey Rankings, which you can find here for all Missouri teams.

Here's my Class 4 poll this week:

1. Helias, first week I put them at No. 1 after beating a Class 6 team

2. Webb City, escaped Neosho 28-21, will probably play Helias in title game again.

3. Staley, moves up with Bolivar's loss

4. MICDS, same as above

5. Smith-Cotton, same as above

6. Bolivar, loss was to a ranked Class 3 team in a close game, so they don't drop far.

7. Harrisonville, same spot

8. Kearney, same spot

9. Hannibal, didn't crack top 10 last week but still a good team

10. Sikeston, no votes last week

Of course, polls don't mean anything. And starting next week, Sikeston and the rest of the teams in the state can prove just how good they are when the playoffs start.

Sikeston, Poplar Bluff, Farmington and West Plains could be an interesting district this year.

Comments

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I would think you would also include Bluff and Farmington as worthy. West plains has a few losses, but we all know that means nothing.

From what I read, there is no real way to pick a sure thing in Ditrict 1

Class 4.

Bluff is loaded, backs are great ..everyone seems to have avoided injury or illness. Farmington just seems to find a way to win. Same on injuries adn illness...none and none.

West Plains is always a tuff team. Sikeston has, as you have said, done what they are supposed to do against unranked teams.....

I imagine we can all say the district is strong.

Sikeston's focus right now, is Kennett.

-- Posted by Headhunt on Mon, Oct 5, 2009, at 11:36 AM
When does the poll come out and where can it be found?

-- Posted by pigdog on Mon, Oct 5, 2009, at 11:54 AM

Brian Rosener's response:
It comes out Wednesday and runs in newspapers statewide. It is usually posted on semoball.com.
Sikeston has had a good year, but it's hard to rank them over powerhouses such as Kearney, even if they have two losses.

-- Posted by semohoops on Mon, Oct 5, 2009, at 2:19 PM
Great read, Brian. I definitely learned some things. I post the new state rankings every Wednesday on the front page, but you can find them every day on the high school home page here: http://semoball.com/highschool/

It's on the left, just below the state volleyball rankings.

-- Posted by Rachel Crader on Mon, Oct 5, 2009, at 4:02 PM
I can't wait for the new playoff system to begin. I wish other sports would adopt a similiar playoff system. I would love to see this system used in baseball.

-- Posted by drawmules on Mon, Oct 5, 2009, at 7:04 PM
Help me out with this "new playoff system"??

Is it not the same as last year?

-- Posted by Headhunt on Tue, Oct 6, 2009, at 1:54 AM

Brian Rosener's response:
Same as last year, top two teams advance to playoffs.
Brian,

Good read as usual. You should consider doing this every week with your whole ballot. Just curious as to where you're putting the other "area" teams in the poll: Potosi and Valle.

-- Posted by MU_Tigers on Tue, Oct 6, 2009, at 11:41 PM

Brian Rosener's response:
Thanks, however, I spend too much time doing that.
I didn't give Potosi a first-place vote this week. I had them at No. 3. I saw Cardinal Ritter at the jamboree and they're a playoff team from last year, so I'll probably rank them above Potosi unless something happens. Monett got my No. 1 vote even though they only won 14-7 last week at a 1-5 team.
Valle is in a tough class, lots of unbeaten teams that were in the poll early in the season based on what they had coming back. I think I put them at No. 4 and they've been climbing all season.
Wow, really good read. I like how you broke every teams schedule down in your explanation. I would love to see Sikeston ranked, I don't remember the last time I saw that and that's in the last 10 years since I graduated.

-- Posted by sbulldog4life on Wed, Oct 7, 2009, at 9:00 AM
Hey, Brian. Looks like you were the only writer to vote for Sikeston. Keep the faith! Others will come around. You are a trailblazer. A forward thinker among men.

-- Posted by pigdog on Wed, Oct 7, 2009, at 12:08 PM
I examined last year's playoff bracket on the MSHSAA website today. The playoff format is not the same as last year. Take a look at the brackets from last year on this link http://www.mshsaa.org/Activities/Info/11ManFootball.aspx

-- Posted by drawmules on Wed, Oct 7, 2009, at 6:09 PM
Click on the arrow under brackets to view 2008 brackets.

-- Posted by drawmules on Wed, Oct 7, 2009, at 6:13 PM
drawmules,

If you don't mind, explain how it's different. I don't see it.

-- Posted by pigdog on Wed, Oct 7, 2009, at 6:44 PM
This year the top two teams in each district make the state playoffs. Last year the top team in each district made the playoffs. Therefore, there are five rounds instead of four rounds in the state playoffs. It also open up the possibility that two teams from the same district could play each other again in the Sweet 16. It allows more students to enjoy the state playoff experience.

-- Posted by drawmules on Wed, Oct 7, 2009, at 6:57 PM
I stand corrected. My brower was not displaying the entire bracket for 2008. I did not have my browser in the full screen mode. Therefore, I was only seeing four rounds of the 2008 playoffs. Mr. Rosener is correct. The playoff system is exactly the same as last year.

Nevertheless, the playoff system is different from basketball, baseball and volleyball. I would like other sports to adopt this format. I think the format should definitely be considered for baseball. It seems so unfair that a dominanting start from one pitcher in one game can eliminate a team's state final four dreams.

-- Posted by drawmules on Wed, Oct 7, 2009, at 7:08 PM
I like the playoff system from last year I just wish they would tweek it a little. Example Hayti and St. Vincent or whoever. They could finish 1 and 2 in district. If they both win the first playoff game they play again. I would like to see teams have a possible rematch in the semis. That way teams could see how they really compare.

-- Posted by buck on Wed, Oct 7, 2009, at 7:35 PM
I agree that sounds like a great idea buck. I'm sure MSHSAA's response would be tweaking the system farther would require teams to travel unrealistic distances in early rounds of the postseason. However, I think it sounds like a great idea if you can ensure the students get home at a reasonable time if the game takes place on a school night.

-- Posted by drawmules on Wed, Oct 7, 2009, at 8:06 PM

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