Well now that we are half way done with the season it looks like Milton will/should win. Surprising but Northridge is the second best team? Like I said after the first week, this is a very weak conference. Northridge has been bad for the last 30 plus years they didn’t just all of a sudden figure it out. That is a very big indicator as to how bad this conference is. I know a lot of teams are down but I don’t see this conference ever being that strong. Basically the CCC with Milton in it. Miami east had a team in 2008 that went 9-1, probably one of the best teams they ever had and still lost to a 3-7 Milton team. This is just going to be a weak conference year in and year out.
Jury still out on 2nd. In 2019 Northridge beat Oakwood, Dixie, Troy Christian, West Carrollton and Bethel. 2020 they lost every game but with Covid restrictions as a Dayton type of restricted school they had a mountain of issues to contend with that other districts did not. 2018 Northridge lost to Bethel and Troy Christian, but beat Dixie, Carlisle, Oakwood, Preble Shawnee and West Carlton.
I would say they fared fairly well the last few years. 2018 they were 4-3 in their conference. 2019 they were 2-5 in conference but 3-0 OOC which included two of this new leagues opponents. They have split the last five meetings between Bethel and Troy Christian pretty evenly.
One thing to consider about Riverside vs Northridge. That was an unusual matchup for Riverside, they are not used to having to stop that much speed on the outside and I was told by a friend I talked to this morning they lost contain on the outside numerous times that went for big gains? Troy Christian and Bethel are more likely to be used to their style, as well as Milton who rarely ever loses to Ridge.
I'm not saying they are not #2, just think it's too soon to jump them up there until at least Troy Christian and Riverside play next week. A Riverside win would still not secure #2 for Northridge cause a loss to Troy Christian would potentially leave a three way tie for 2nd. I liked the Northridge win as it muddies the waters way more now having 3 teams shooting for that #2 spot.
I do think from top to bottom this conference has a chance to be very strong as relative to other conferences comprised of D5 -D7 schools. That's good news for everyone except for Milton, but a conference is not based on just one sport. This is a major step up for many of these small schools.