Pasteurized: The Fantastic 50 not-so-fantastic for area teams

Mathematician and high school football aficionado Drew Pasteur has released his initial 2008 Fantastic 50 N.C. high school football rankings.

The news is not that great for area teams. Fike is ranked the highest, coming in at 74th in the state out of 366 teams in all four N.C. High School Athletic Association classification as well as teams in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association. The Golden Demons (2-0) are listed No. 24 among 98 NCHSAA 3-A teams, one spot ahead of archrival Hunt (1-2). The overall No. 87 Warriors lost a 14-13 overtime decision to Fike last Thursday. Beddingfield (2-1) is ranked No. 102 overall and No. 35 in the 3-A ranks.

Pasteur ranks all the teams overall and by classification as well as each's strength of schedule using a mathematical formula he developed. In his 3-A poll, he lists Greensboro Dudley No. 1 and Rocky Mount second. Other area teams are SouthWest Edgecombe (28th, 87th), Southern Nash (64th, 198th) and Charles B. Aycock (85th, 271st).

Greene Central is 56th of 91 NCHSAA 2-A teams and 263rd overall while North Johnston comes in No. 34 of 77 NCHSAA 1-A schools and 259th overall.