• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Log In
  • Membership Account
    • Your Profile
    • Membership Levels
    • Membership Invoice
    • Membership Confirmation
    • Membership Checkout
    • Membership Cancel
    • Membership Billing
Miles Vance Sports Journal

Miles Vance Sports Journal

Sports coverage done right

Ad example
  • Newsfeed
  • About Us
  • FAQs
  • Miles Vance Photography
  • Contact Us

Vance: A look at the new football playoffs

December 1, 2022 by Miles Vance 1 Comment

West Linn, Lake Oswego and Lakeridge  football teams
The West Linn and Lake Oswego football teams (above left and center) played in the Class 6A state playoffs this year, while Lakeridge competed in the first iteration of the Columbia Cup. MVSJ PHOTOS: MILES VANCE

The OSAA changed the 6A state playoffs; did it get the result it wanted?

Now, with the 2022 Class 6A state football playoffs fading into the rear view mirror, we can begin to assess the new format implemented by the Oregon School Activities Association.

So what about it? Did the new format — essentially splitting the state’s top 32 Class 6A football teams into two brackets — achieve what the OSAA wanted it to accomplish?

Before we get to the answers, let’s review what the OSAA’s Executive Committee said it wanted to achieve. The OSAA, following up on work by its state championship committee and football ad hoc committee, said that creating more competitive first-round matchups was a major reason behind the change.

MILES VANCE
MILES VANCE

To find out if it did, however, you can’t just add up the first-round scoring differentials between teams — either in the Class 6A bracket (essentially for teams ranked 1-16), the Columbia Cup (for teams ranked 17-32) or both — and compare them to years past.

Here’s why. Teams in this year’s Class 6A bracket — they’re the teams that had a chance to win the traditional state championship — played a different kind of first-round game than they played in the past.

Since 2013, first-round matchups were set up this way — the No. 1 team in the state hosted the No. 32 team, the No. 2 team hosted the No. 31 team all the way down to the No. 16 team hosting the No. 17 team.

Before that, still utilizing a 32-team bracket, the OSAA used different methodologies to give the better teams and league champions some edge over their lower-ranked/lower-placing opponents in the first round, including home-field advantage.

Whatever the methodology, the football playoffs lasted five weeks from start to finish — first round, second round, quarterfinals, semifinals and championship.

But this year, with 6A teams split into two 16-team brackets, the OSAA basically eliminated the first round of the playoffs. Teams that reached the 6A championship in 2022 played 13 total games, while in years past, those teams played 14 games.

While the OSAA’s stated goal was to get rid of first-round blowouts, what they did instead was get rid of the entire first round. So to compare apples to apples, we should compare this year’s first-round games in the Class 6A bracket (which included 16 teams total) with last year’s second-round 6A games (again, with 16 teams total).

So here’s what the numbers say. In this year’s eight Class 6A first-round games, the point differential between winners and losers was 40 points per game. In last year’s eight Class 6A second-round games, the point differential between winners and losers was just 25 points per game.

In other words, last year’s round of 16 playoff contests were actually 15 points per contest closer than they were this year.

But wait! There’s more!

I acknowledge that the change to the playoffs was designed to create closer first-round playoff games, so even though it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison, let’s compare this year’s Class 6A first-round games (eight of them) to last year’s first-round games (16 of them).

Here’s what the numbers say. Again, in this year’s 6A first-round games, the point differential between winners and losers was 40 points per game. In last year’s 6A first-round games, the point differential between winners and losers was just 26 points per game.

In other words, last year’s first-round playoff contests were — wait for it — still two touchdowns per contest closer than they were this year, even though this year’s “first-round” games were analogous to previous second-round contests.

And even if we add in the eight first-round games of the Columbia Cup — comparing this year’s 16 first-round games to last year’s 16 first-round games — the point differential between winners and losers this year was 33 points per game, while in last year’s 6A first round, the point differential between winners and losers was 26 points per game.

In other words, this year’s first-round losers lost their games by a touchdown more than they did a year ago, even with the two-bracket split.

Over the past decade, the first-round point differentials look like this (with totals rounded to the nearest whole numer): 2022 – 40, 2021 – 26, 2020 – canceled, 2019 – 26, 2018 – 28, 2017 – 37, 2016 – 22, 2015 – 27, 2014 – 27, 2013 – 22. That means, with the new playoff format in place, this year’s first-round games in the championship bracket saw the biggest group of blowouts in a decade, with only 2017 close in the past 10 years.

So what’s the bottom line here? Unfortunately, it’s this — the new format shortened the seasons of every team in the 6A bracket (essentially the state’s best teams and league champions) by one game. At the same time, it extended the seasons of every team in the Columbia Cup — teams that likely would have been eliminated in the first round under the previous playoff format — by one or more games.

So the state’s best teams saw their seasons cut short by a game and — at least for this year — gave us bigger first-round blowouts than we had before the change.

To buy prints or digital downloads from West Linn, Lake Oswego or Lakeridge, go to milesvance.smugmug.com.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

Related

Filed Under: Featured, Opinion Tagged With: Lake Oswego football, Lakeridge football, Miles Vance column, state football playoffs, West Linn football

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Peter Hamper says

    December 4, 2022 at 6:02 am

    If student athlete safety is primary the playoffs are still to long. As pointed out first round games are still mismatche
    s. A player can be injured in a blow out. High School players shouldn’t have to play four playoff games to win a championship.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Weekly Sports Update

Your email will remain private. You can unsubscribe at any time.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Search for your sport, team or athlete

More to See

milesvance.smugmug.com

Buy sports pix from my photo website

October 12, 2022 By Miles Vance

Three Rivers League boys ski

Laker boys ski to second again, closer in Week Two

January 30, 2023 By Miles Vance

Lakeridge girls ski

Pacer girls ski to victory again

January 30, 2023 By Miles Vance

West Linn's Destiny Rodriguez, Lake Oswego's Tylor Kim and LO's Riley Ha

ICYMI Monday: Destiny Rodriguez ready to make history

January 30, 2023 By Miles Vance

Lake Oswego's Aengus Sutherland, West Linn's Ben Winjum and LO's Annie Sale

Photos of the Day: Jan. 23-29

January 29, 2023 By Miles Vance

Categories

  • Events/News (221)
  • Featured (130)
  • Opinion (6)
  • Photo of the Day (31)
  • Play of the Day (20)
  • Uncategorized (7)
  • Weekly Summary (14)

Footer

CONTACT

Email: miles@milesvancesportsjournal.com

Phone: 503-330-0127

Post Categories

  • Events/News (221)
  • Featured (130)
  • Opinion (6)
  • Photo of the Day (31)
  • Play of the Day (20)
  • Uncategorized (7)
  • Weekly Summary (14)

Recent Posts

  • Laker boys ski to second again, closer in Week Two
  • Pacer girls ski to victory again
  • ICYMI Monday: Destiny Rodriguez ready to make history
  • Photos of the Day: Jan. 23-29
  • West Linn girls survive Lake Oswego upset bid 48-40
  • Slideshow: West Linn-Lake Oswego Girls Hoop
  • Lake Oswego swimmers sweep past Tigard

milesvancesports

You'll need a subscription to see it, so sign up f You'll need a subscription to see it, so sign up for Miles Vance Sports Journal here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/.../membership.../Laker boys ski to second again, closer in Week Two; Lake Oswego cuts into Lincoln’s lead, while Lakeridge is fourth and West Linn is fifth. Read it here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/laker-boys-ski-to.../ @lakerskiing @lakeridgeski westlinnskiteam
Pacer girls ski to victory again; Lakeridge girls Pacer girls ski to victory again; Lakeridge girls win for the third time in three races on Saturday. Read it here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/pacer-girls-ski-to.../
You'll need a subscription to see it, so sign up for Miles Vance Sports Journal here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/.../membership-levels/ @lakerskiing @lakeridgeski westlinnskiteam
It's time to subscribe to Miles Vance Sports Journ It's time to subscribe to Miles Vance Sports Journal. Here's where you do it — https://bit.ly/3dyi4Bm
And in case you didn't know, you can buy prints or digital downloads of my images at milesvance.smugmug.com. They're affordable and all your Lakers, Pacers and Lions are there. @wlhs_athletics @wlboyshoops @westlinnhighschool @wllionsbasketball @lakeridgegirlsbb @lakeridgehighschool @wearelakeridge @peopleoflakeridge lakeridge.pace.her @pacer_parent_club @pacer.athletics @lakeridge_pacers @westlinnwbb @westlinnhighschool @westlinnbsb @lakeoswegosports @lakerarmy2.0 @wlhs_athletics @wlboyshoops @westlinnhighschool @wllionsbasketball @lakeowrestling @lakeoswegosports @lakerarmy2.0 @westlinnwrestling @westlinnhighschool
ICYMI Monday: Destiny Rodriguez ready to make hist ICYMI Monday: Destiny Rodriguez ready to make history. Check out everything posted to MVSJ over the past week here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/icymi-monday-destiny.../
You'll need a subscription to see it, so sign up for Miles Vance Sports Journal here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/.../membership-levels/ @wlhs_athletics @wlboyshoops @westlinnhighschool @wllionsbasketball @lakeridgegirlsbb @lakeridgehighschool @wearelakeridge @peopleoflakeridge lakeridge.pace.her @pacer_parent_club @pacer.athletics @lakeridge_pacers @westlinnwbb @westlinnhighschool @westlinnbsb @lakeoswegosports @lakerarmy2.0 @wlhs_athletics @wlboyshoops @westlinnhighschool @wllionsbasketball @lakeowrestling @lakeoswegosports @lakerarmy2.0 @westlinnwrestling @westlinnhighschool
Photos of the Day: Jan. 23-29 — Check out the be Photos of the Day: Jan. 23-29 — Check out the best winter season photos from last week. See them here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/photos-of-the-day.../
You'll need a subscription to see it, so sign up for Miles Vance Sports Journal here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/.../membership-levels/
You can buy digital downloads and prints from this match at my photo website here — https://milesvance.smugmug.com/2022-23/Winter-2022-23 @wlhs_athletics @wlboyshoops @westlinnhighschool @wllionsbasketball @lakeridgegirlsbb @lakeridgehighschool @wearelakeridge @peopleoflakeridge lakeridge.pace.her @pacer_parent_club @pacer.athletics @lakeridge_pacers @westlinnwbb @westlinnhighschool @westlinnbsb @lakeoswegosports @lakerarmy2.0 @wlhs_athletics @wlboyshoops @westlinnhighschool @wllionsbasketball @lakeowrestling @lakeoswegosports @lakerarmy2.0 @westlinnwrestling @westlinnhighschool
West Linn girls survive Lake Oswego upset bid 48-4 West Linn girls survive Lake Oswego upset bid 48-40; Lakers lead until the end of the third quarter before the Lions pull away. Read it here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/west-linn-girls.../
You'll need a subscription to see it, so sign up for Miles Vance Sports Journal here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/.../membership-levels/
You can buy digital downloads and prints from this match at my photo website here — https://milesvance.smugmug.com/.../West-Linn-Lake-Oswego.../ @westlinnwbb @westlinnhighschool @lakeoswegosports @lakerarmy2.0 @annie.saleee @morgan_hoover5 @madisondouglasssoftball2024 @giapacioni @rileyha__
Check out this slideshow of the best images from t Check out this slideshow of the best images from the West Linn girls basketball team’s 48-40 win over Lake Oswego at Lake Oswego High School on Friday, Jan. 27. See it here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/slideshow-west-linn.../
You'll need a subscription to see it, so sign up for Miles Vance Sports Journal here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/.../membership-levels/
You can buy digital downloads and prints from this game at my photo website here — https://milesvance.smugmug.com/.../West-Linn-Lake-Oswego.../ @westlinnwbb @westlinnhighschool @lakeoswegosports @lakerarmy2.0 @annie.saleee @morgan_hoover5 @madisondouglasssoftball2024 @giapacioni @rileyha__
Instagram post 17872517603824572 Instagram post 17872517603824572
Lake Oswego swimmers sweep past Tigard; Laker boys Lake Oswego swimmers sweep past Tigard; Laker boys win 136-34, while the LO girls top the Tigers 91-79. Read all about it here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/lake-oswego-swimmers.../
You'll need a subscription to see it, so sign up for Miles Vance Sports Journal here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/.../membership-levels/
You can buy digital downloads and prints from this match at my photo website here — https://milesvance.smugmug.com/2022-23/Winter-2022-23 @annemarievlaic @dylngustaff @lakerswimming @lakeoswegosports @lakerarmy2.0
Hey Lake Oswego and West Linn girls basketball fan Hey Lake Oswego and West Linn girls basketball fans. I'm coming out to cover tonight's game at LOHS for Miles Vance Sports Journal. You should subscribe here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/membership-account/membership-levels/
By the end of the night, you'll see a complete game story with quotes from some of your favorite Lions and Lakers, lots of game details and an expansive slideshow. It's coverage you won't find anywhere else but Miles Vance Sports Journal. @westlinnwbb @westlinnhighschool
Check out this slideshow of the best images from t Check out this slideshow of the best images from the Lake Oswego girls swim team’s 91-79 win over Tigard at Tigard Swim Center on Thursday, Jan. 26. See it here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/slideshow-lake.../
You'll need a subscription to see it, so sign up for Miles Vance Sports Journal here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/.../membership-levels/
You can buy digital downloads and prints from this match at my photo website here — https://milesvance.smugmug.com/.../Lake-Oswego-Tigard.../ @annemarievlaic @dylngustaff @lakerswimming @lakeoswegosports @lakerarmy2.0
Check out this slideshow of the best images from t Check out this slideshow of the best images from the Lake Oswego boys swim team’s 136-34 win over Tigard at Tigard Swim Center on Thursday, Jan. 26. See it here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/slideshow-lake.../
You'll need a subscription to see it, so sign up for Miles Vance Sports Journal here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/.../membership-levels/
You can buy digital downloads and prints from this match at my photo website here — https://milesvance.smugmug.com/.../Lake-Oswego-Tigard.../ @lakerswimming @lakeoswegosports @lakerarmy2.0
West Linn senior wrestlers finish strong; Lions po West Linn senior wrestlers finish strong; Lions power past Tigard 63-15 on Senior Night at West Linn High School. Read it here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/west-linn-senior.../
You'll need a subscription to see it, so sign up for Miles Vance Sports Journal here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/.../membership-levels/
You can buy digital downloads and prints from this match at my photo website here — https://milesvance.smugmug.com/.../West-Linn-Tigard.../ @westlinnwrestling @westlinnhighschool @wlhs_athletics @earlingle4 @destiny.r04 @benjamin_winjum @henry__dillingham @charlie_spinning
Check out this slideshow of the best images from t Check out this slideshow of the best images from the West Linn wrestling team’s 63-15 win over Tigard at West Linn High School on Thursday, Jan. 26. See it here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/slideshow-west-linn.../
You'll need a subscription to see it, so sign up for Miles Vance Sports Journal here — https://milesvancesportsjournal.com/.../membership-levels/
You can buy digital downloads and prints from this match at my photo website here — https://milesvance.smugmug.com/.../West-Linn-Tigard.../ @westlinnwrestling @westlinnhighschool @wlhs_athletics @earlingle4 @destiny.r04 @benjamin_winjum @henry__dillingham @charlie_spinning
Hey West Linn wrestling fans. You should subscribe Hey West Linn wrestling fans. You should subscribe to Miles Vance Sports Journal. Click here to see why — http://bit.ly/3Jrgnmq
 It’s $9.99 a month or $99.99 for a full year. @westlinnwrestling @westlinnhighschool @wlhs_athletics @earlingle4 @destiny.r04 @benjamin_winjum @henry__dillingham @charlie_spinning
Hey West Linn girls basketball fans. You should su Hey West Linn girls basketball fans. You should subscribe to Miles Vance Sports Journal. Click here to see why — http://bit.ly/3Dili5E
 It’s $9.99 a month or $99.99 for a full year. @westlinnwbb @westlinnhighschool @westlinnbsb
Hey Lakeridge girls basketball fans. You should su Hey Lakeridge girls basketball fans. You should subscribe to Miles Vance Sports Journal. Click here to see why — http://bit.ly/3XCrL3g It’s $9.99 a month or $99.99 for a full year. @karmenperry1 @lakeridgegirlsbb @lakeridgehighschool @wearelakeridge @peopleoflakeridge lakeridge.pace.her @pacer_parent_club @pacer.athletics @lakeridge_pacers @keelieohollaren13 @zoey___davis
Hey Lake Oswego girls basketball fans. You should Hey Lake Oswego girls basketball fans. You should subscribe to Miles Vance Sports Journal. Click here to see why — http://bit.ly/3XRBC54 It’s $9.99 a month or $99.99 for a full year. @lakeoswegosports @lakerarmy2.0 @annie.saleee @morgan_hoover5 @madisondouglasssoftball2024 @giapacioni @rileyha__
Hey Lakeridge boys basketball fans. You should sub Hey Lakeridge boys basketball fans. You should subscribe to Miles Vance Sports Journal. Click here to see why — http://bit.ly/3wzRoWs It’s $9.99 a month or $99.99 for a full year. @coleholum @ghetiedavid @_j_r_l_ @jace.swygard @patricknapierala @wearelakeridge @peopleoflakeridge @pacer_parent_club @pacer.athletics @lakeridge_pacers
Hey West Linn boys basketball fans. You should sub Hey West Linn boys basketball fans. You should subscribe to Miles Vance Sports Journal. Click here to see why — http://bit.ly/3RbzGCr It’s $9.99 a month or $99.99 for a full year. @wlhs_athletics @markhamper24 @jake34holmes @wlboyshoops @westlinnhighschool @wllionsbasketball @jacksonshelstad @_adrianmosley_ @drake_gabel2 @maxjuhala
Load More Follow on Instagram

Search for your sport or team

Tags

Addie Hoover Adrian Mosley Amyah Semau Earl Ingle high school sports Jackson Shelstad Lake Oswego Lake Oswego boys basketball Lake Oswego boys cross country Lake Oswego boys soccer Lake Oswego boys water polo Lake Oswego football Lake Oswego girls basketball Lake Oswego girls cross country Lake Oswego girls soccer Lake Oswego girls water polo Lake Oswego volleyball Lakeridge Lakeridge boys basketball Lakeridge boys cross country Lakeridge boys soccer Lakeridge boys water polo Lakeridge football Lakeridge girls basketball Lakeridge girls cross country Lakeridge girls soccer Lakeridge girls water polo Lakeridge volleyball Mark Hamper Megan Ko Miles Vance Sports Journal Photo of the Day Play of the Day Ryan Oliver Sam Leavitt West Linn West Linn boys basketball West Linn boys cross country West Linn boys soccer West Linn football West Linn girls basketball West Linn girls cross country West Linn girls soccer West Linn volleyball West Linn wrestling

Copyright © 2023 · Website by Waterlink Web // connecting your customers with you · Log in