Make sure you are rooting for right team

Who should you root for?

That seems a silly question.

From a standpoint of your team getting the maximum possible computer points, you should always root for your team to win, as well as for any team which your team has defeated.

For instance, three weeks from now, Celina plays Kenton. Coldwater fans should be pulling hard for Kenton, while St. Marys fans ought to be cheering on Celina.

However, for some fans, the choice may not be so clear.

For instance, Defiance defeated Napoleon in week one. So Defiance gains points whenever Napoleon wins. But since Napoleon is in Defiance's region, if the Wildcats win too many games, they might pass Defiance and take the Bulldogs' playoff spot.

This comes more into play with the Midwest Athletic Conference teams this year.

A prime example is Minster. The Wildcats defeated teams from their region in the first two weeks of the season. At first glance, it appeared to be bad news for Minster when Fort Loramie lost to Dixie by just one point last week. But looking closer, a Redskin win would not only have given Minster a few extra points, it would have also allowed Fort Loramie to move ahead of Minster in the computer points rankings. Fort Recovery may have a similar predicament regarding Ansonia later in the season.

The same thing can occur between conference opponents. Fort Recovery plays Minster this week. If Fort Recovery wins, it will want the Wildcats to win most of the rest of their games on the season.

But not all of them. A Minster upset of a team like Coldwater later in the season would gain a few points for the Indians, but could give Minster enough points to vault back over them in the hunt for a playoff spot.

So then who to root for?

Always root for someone who your team has defeated to win their other game, with the possible exception of when that team is in the same region as yours. Even then, you usually still want them to win, but maybe the occasional loss when playing a team which would be worth a lot of points to them is not a total catastrophe.

Starting next week, we will start to keep an eye on the other teams in each region who will be competing with area teams for one of those coveted eight playoff spots.

Here is a listing of how all the MAC and Western Buckeye League teams stand in the computer rankings after the second week. As always, the computer points for the five regions involving Mercer, Auglaize and Shelby county teams can be found at http://www.bright.net/~monninb/football.htm

Team - Ranking (Computer Points)
Region 6:
Wapakoneta - 24th (1.83)
Celina - 27th (0.00)

Celina is one of only three teams still winless in this region. At 1-2 with no secondary points, Wapakoneta's outlook does not look much better at the present. Strangely enough, I wrote those same words last year.

Region 10:
St. Marys - 3rd (6.72)
Defiance - 4th (6.50)
Van Wert - 12th (3.52)
Lima Shawnee - 16th (3.33)
Elida - 23rd (0.00)
Kenton - 23rd (0.00)

St. Marys and Defiance face off this week in a game which should greatly bolster the playoff hopes of the winner. The loser will likely fall just out of the top eight near Van Wert and Lima Shawnee. Kenton and Elida may be out of contention already. This may be the only region where the WBL picks up playoff berths.

Region 14:
Ottawa-Glandorf - 18th (1.67)
Lima Bath - 21st (1.57)

Ottawa Glandorf has two losses, but both to undefeated teams. With only 14 teams 2-1 or better in this region, the Titans might be able to sneak in with a 7-3 record. Lima Bath only has two teams remaining on its schedule that currently have a winning record, so the Wildcats better win them all.

Region 16:
Coldwater - 2nd (6.77)

Coldwater and Kettering Alter are already looking like the class of this region. The Cavaliers are already raking in big points from their win last week over Kokomo. The road ahead is tough, but full of computer points, as four of Coldwater's next five opponents are currently undefeated.

Region 20:
St. Henry - 1st (6.03)
Anna - 3rd (5.50)
Marion Local - 5th (4.87)
Parkway - 17th (2.68)
Versailles - 19th (1.83)

All five of these MAC teams may be among the top eight teams in this region. However, since these teams all play each other (with the exception of St. Henry and Parkway), the playoff spots will probably go to the 2-3 teams who come out on top of the round-robin competition among these five teams. Versailles has the toughest schedule as its remaining seven opponents have a combined record of 18-3 to date. St. Henry is close behind with opponents who have a 17-4 record.

Region 22:
Delphos St. John's - 2nd (5.33)

Delphos St. John's started last year 0-3 and were already out of contention. This year the Blue Jays are one of five 3-0 teams and looking like a favorite for a playoff spot.

Region 24:
Minster - 7th (3.58)
Fort Recovery - 12th (3.08)
New Bremen - 19th (1.92)

A big game this week, as the winner of the Fort Recovery vs. Minster game will have the best chance of earning a playoff spot in this region. Minster has the early lead on the three wins compiled by Fort Loramie and Springfield Catholic Catholic, while Fort Recovery is getting little from 0-3 Cardinal Stritch. New Bremen is likewise benefiting from its sole win over 2-1 Covington.