Port - If you would like to see the NH-Hoggard game played the last week of the season (like it should be) then make your feelings known to the "administration" at Hoggard. At the scheduling meeting to set the 2015 and 2016 conference schedules, NH wanted the NH-Hoggard game moved back to the last week of the season where it has traditionally been played and Hoggard did not. That is coming from well connected sources at several MEC schools.
It is also interesting to note that for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, Hoggard is scheduled to play SB in game 1 and then they play LHS, WB, AHS and THS the week after all of those teams play NH. This means that Hoggard gets NH game tape from every conference game NH plays except the NH-SB game because they get the game tape from the prior game of their opponent. NH does not get any game tape of Hoggard after the NH-Hoggard game but Hoggard gets 4 NH game tapes. That is a big advantage for Hoggard if NH and Hoggard meet in the playoffs. I realize that there are few secretes between NH and Hoggard but the Hoggard coaches will study NH weekly after the NH-Hoggard game in preparing to game plan against LHS, WB, AHS and THS. That matters and is an advantage for Hoggard.
It also means that Hoggard gets to play LHS, WB, AHS and THS the week after those teams play a physical NH team. For example, Hoggard played Laney with the Bucs missing 3-4 starters who were banged up in the Laney-NH game including Watkins who is one of the best backs in the MEC. It makes a difference.
On the other hand, every NH conference opponent (obviously with the exception of SB) plays SB the week before they play NH. This means that teams like Hoggard and Laney can sit out or limit starters who are banged up the week before they play NH. It makes a difference and is an advantage for those teams.
I do give a 'tip of the cap" to Hoggard for getting the schedule exactly how they wanted it. Well played. Unfortunately for the Vikings, it is not going to be enough to keep NH from winning the MEC title tonight. Maybe Hoggard can continue studying the abundance of NH tape they have been given and be better prepared for a rematch in the playoffs. We shall see.
