Memphis University School captured its second state title in Division II-AAA, triumphing in the finals with a revenge-laden, 31-27 victory over archrival Christian Brothers. The victory and state championship give the Owls back-to-back 11-1 records and two gold balls in the highly competitive "Super 7" (nominations still being taken to account for the addition of Briarcrest in 2005) since 2004.
However, detractors still exist, questioning the "validity" of a state title earned in a league of only eight teams.
Yet, a closer look at league data suggests that Division II-AAA, while short in numbers, is long in talent and parity, and, despite a relatively short road to championship glory, is no laughing stock.
During the past four years, the Division II-AAA champion has suffered at least one regular season loss, compared to the first five years of the league, when four of the five champs finished with undefeated records. While some may point to a deterioration in the quality of the league, others will point out the league is becoming much more balanced, with the perennial leaders coming back to the pack a notch, and the teams annually near the bottom of the pack stepping up their level of play. And all the while, the teams are still keeping pace - and then some - with their Division I counterparts.
Father Ryan, which has struggled since capturing the inaugural "Super 7" title in 1997, is showing signs of improvement, and with former Oak Ridge coach Bruce Lussier now at the helm, the Fighting Irish, despite going winless in Division II-AAA in 2005, still managed some quality non-league wins, including an impressive victory against defending Division I-5A runner-up Franklin. Baylor, the only member of the original "Super 7" not to have appeared in a "Super 7" championship game, flexed its muscles in the 2005 playoffs, avenging a Week 10 loss to five-time champion MBA with a 16-7 win in the 2005 quarterfinals over the Big Red.
On the top end of the league, MUS became the ninth state champion in nine years of the league to sweep its Division I opponents. Overall, the league has performed admirably against its upper level Division I brethren, winning over 75% of its games versus opponents from Division I-5A and Division I-4A. The list of opponents defeated include three Division I-5A champions and one Division I-4A champion - and all by "Super 7" teams which did not win the title in that given year.
All said, despite the emergence of an undefeated champion since 2001, Division II-AAA is still holding its own. And while the road to the Division II-AAA state championship is still a short one - there are only so many bracket possibilities with only eight teams - the quality of the teams in the league is measured by its results on the field, and those results continue to be impressive.
Read this commentary and more at HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL DATABASE.
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