I am interested in what you posted here (at the end)— I don’t have the time to do the investigative ground work you prescribe here— so can you elaborate on the differences you see between the rural/farm communities in West Central Ohio, and the areas in north and/or east of Cincinnati? I really am interested in what differences you have observed in those areas (and perhaps other areas of the state)... Clearly, there is a difference in their respective levels of HS football success— to what do you attribute that?
First, just so it is understood why I have spent so much time analyzing the communities, I market and sell a quality product that many used to make at home, but now generally purchase in stores, so I spend alot of time analyzing things such as median income, disposable income and social structure for many communities and cities.
South of I -70 along the corridor and between I-71 and I-75 there are many high earning communities (Oakeood, Centerville, Beavercreek, Springboro, Mason, Indian Hill etc.) and the small rural communities located near these economic hubs tend to feed off of these successful suburbs. The focus on daily living is a bit more economically driven as a higher percentage of homes have two family incomes than you find north of I-70 statistically. They will purchase their products from the store while many in the north may create or build their products for personal consumption.
This is likely the simplest explanation for social difference. The communities of the south are a busy people with not quite the "simple" social construct of the northern (Mac and area surrounding) peoples. I use the word simple here in a fond and good way. Life in "MAC land" tends to be traditional in the sense of faith, education , occupation and then rearing of children to complete one cycle and begin the next. MAC communities tend to worship together at one central church, while the affluent southerners will change where they worship every few years it seems, not building the same bond of community.
I have never successfully marketed my product to Mercer or similar counties, and the reasons become clear once you realize that as a group these communities know how to protect their resources and are rather a frugal group.
It is the value placed on the development of their youth that causes such things as $11,000 50/50 pots to occur at a contest between to "rival" MAC communities. I really think of the three components that others have mentioned (talent , applied knowledge through coaching and community support) , community support is the one you find replicated most often in communities located all throughout Ohio. There are many great communities out there that never will sniff the success of MAC schools in football for lack of available talent or coaching.
I've rambled enough, time to be like a MAC worker and get going while the day is still young.
