I know that its over and all but just gathered a bit of interesting data.
To win a state championship, you must play the best.
On the way to their first State Championship, Sugar not only defeated 3 of the 4 other district champs but they also played a schedule that included 3 other 2018 State Champions.
Sugar challenged and held their own against 4A State Champions Hillcrest in a pre-season scrimmage. Then in the first week of the season came close to beating 2A State Champions Declo in their annual matchup. Lastly, in week 3, Sugar dominated 3A (4A equivalent) Wyoming State Champions Star Valley.
I see all this hype on 5A State Champions Rocky Mountain on their perfect and "uncommon" season. I don't want to take anything away from them and their success. I mean they did beat the #1 and #2 teams in the state on the way to their championship glory, but to me, nothing compares to Sugars road to their state title. I think Sugars 10-1 season with victories over #1, #3 and #4 teams in the state during the playoffs and playing 3 state champions during the season is nothing less than perfect and out shines even the 5A champs.
???? Now we are taking it too far. I was even giving props to Sugar last week. haha. Sugar is the second best 2A team in the state! Period. 3A was down from past Championship seasons so to compare this team's victories to what 5A Rocky did or to say they held their own with Hillcrest in a scrimmage is completely over the top. Shelley held their own with Hillcrest too, for a half and look how that game ended up. 4A and 5A is a complete different animal than 3A and 2A. Declo would have been a mid to lower tier 4A team. Sugar a half a step below that. Good for Sugar on their first blue football trophy, end of story.
Haha I would expect nothing more from a Russet.
Alright Kanye..."I'ma let you finish Hillcrest...but Sugar Salem had the best championship of all time."
I would say 3A was about like usual. Very good teams at the top, a few middle teams and quite a few poor teams. Shelley going to 4A hurt the quality in 3A some. Sugar, Homedale, Kimberly, Gooding, Fruitland, Marsh Valley, Timberlake, SF, Weiser were solid. I don't think it was much more different than in the past. Meaning a few real solid teams. Last Year, Fruitland, Snake, Shelley, Sugar, Gooding, SF, Kimberly were very good.
Declo was great this year, yes they beat Sugar, it has happened before when a lower class State Champion beat an upper class State Champion. Not much difference between real good 2A's and 3A's teams. I see more difference between 4A and 5A.
I wouldn't say Declo is a step above Sugar, Sugar improved a great deal as well as Declo. Declo was fortunate to beat Sugar, but they won, which counts for bragging rights.. Great teams win games they could've lost.