[WestCoast]

Definitely see the argument there. I think that speaks a lot on how weak 1A has been though beyond 3 or maybe 4 teams in the current alignment. Being one dimensional has been enough. Be it with the run or the pass. Pikeville went on their run and really didn’t have to throw the ball. Raceland made it to the title game without needing to the last few years. Last year, Sayre won the title without needing to run the ball and when they did, They weren’t successful doing so against better teams. So again, they were one dimensional on the other side. It’s been awhile since a balanced attack was needed to be successful in 1A it seems. That being said, had Raceland not abandoned the passing game last year in the title game, Who knows what could have happened. Waller only had 2 incompletions in the title game. I’d say 75% of those were screens, but it goes to show that the ability was there. Pikeville struggled to get the ball in the end zone after moving the ball well between the 20s in the regional title game. Campbellsville was arguably the most balanced team in the playoffs last year and still got knocked out by a one dimensional Sayre team. So the argument, I understand, but it’s hard to validate it when the successful teams in the last 10 years have been able to line up and run the ball 80% of the time or line up and throw the ball 75% of the time and still be successful. Idk for me that’s a hard thing to figure. I agree though, that if Raceland would have remained more balanced their chance of winning a title the last two years would have increased.

Agree on everything you said. Only thing I want to add is that when Campbellsville played Sayre, Sayre had 20 pass attempts and 21 rush attempts. So they were really balanced that game. Raceland against KCD had 58 rush attempts (my GOD) and 10 pass attempts. That should be a criminal charge in 2025. They are VERY lucky to win that game. If KCD had not been running an even MORE ugly offense than Raceland (hard to believe) they could have won that game.
I believe a big reason Sayre went undeated last year was because their offense. You had an NFL QB running an offense that high school defenses had ZERO answer for. Multiple formations, sets, motions, play action....it was a crazy fun offense to watch for a high school team. Coffman was phenomenal, but other than him most of the other players seemed pretty equal to the talent on other 1A championship caliber teams (Raceland, Campbellsville, KCD, Pikeville)
I think their offense was just so creative coaches had zero idea for how to prepare for it.