Few people can truly understand how hard it is to predict high school football games when you haven’t even seen the team yet. I mean, who really would have picked Bunker Hill to beat state-ranked Brown County back in Week 1?

So now that everyone has had the chance to watch a few games and look at a few box scores, I think it’s time to do a little re-evaluating. Here’s what I think of our local teams just before the halfway mark in the season.

Best teams — Routt/Triopia-Meredosia

We’ll really know who the best team is after these two teams play Friday night, but until then it’s a toss up. Triopia has the better rushing attack, but Routt throws the ball a little better. The defenses are about even.

This Friday’s game will probably be the biggest small-school game of the year in this area. Get there early!

Biggest surprise — Bunker Hill/Pleasant Hill

After four games, who would have thought Bunker Hill and Pleasant Hill would both be 3-1? Bunker Hill hadn’t won a game in three years, and Pleasant Hill hasn’t won more than three since 1998. I’m looking forward to their Week 7 showdown in Bunker Hill.

Biggest disappointment — Calhoun

I don’t know who could have predicted that Calhoun would be 0-4. The Warriors have scored only six points this season, and their streak of 17 straight playoff appearances appears to be over.

Best player — Taylor Joehl (Triopia-Meredosia)

It’s hard for a Triopia running back to stand out simply because the team uses so many, but Joehl has been impressive this season. He already has 605 rushing yards, which is almost 200 more than next person in line. He has an area-high nine TDs.

Best coach — Dan Bowman (Greenfield-Northwestern)

This one is tough considering the excellent jobs being done by Rich Thompson (at Triopia) and Barry Creviston (at Routt), but nobody does it quite like the legendary Bowman. He earned his 250th career win earlier this season, and got his 200th at Greenfield Friday night.

Predicted playoff teams — Routt (9-0), Greenfield-Northwestern (9-0), Triopia-Meredosia (8-1), Rushville-Industry (6-3), Pittsfield/Griggsville-Perry (6-3), Carrollton (5-4), New Berlin-Franklin-Waverly (5-4), Virginia/A-C Central (5-4), Pleasant Hill/Barry-West Pike (5-4)

Predicted non-playoff teams — Brown County (4-5), Beardstown (2-7), West Central (2-7), North Greene (1-8), ISD (0-9), Calhoun (0-9)