I live in Largo Florida (Tampa Bay area) and In 94' I was living in Bradenton Florida. I watched that yr Bradenton SouthEast, Manatee, Lakeland, Apopka, Plant, Southridge, Bolles, Jefferson, St Thomas Aquinas along with many many others during the season and in the FHSAA Playoffs. And in that yr Bradenton South East was ranked very high nationally I think like 8th or so finished lower in the top 25 though.
Anyway their coach stopped in my center and I had the 94' 'Boardman Vs Big Red game playing (thanks to ManO'War

He asked what college game was playing and I told him it was high school game in Ohio. We talked more and he could not believe that we were not a larger school. He stayed and watched the entire game. He could not get over the stadium/horse and how many fans were at the game etc.
I asked him how we compared to Florida schools...Right at the top he said. no question.
But the same thing that is said about a big red schedule, I could say about some of the Nations Top 25 Teams regular season opponents.....Let's take Aquinas schedule for example....Unless you know who the Boyd Andersons, Novas, McArthur's, Cardinal Gibbons', South Broward's, Coral Springs', Cypress Bay's and the Upper Arlington's are, then you can't say they are the "TOP" Teams in the nation. Take Highlands, Ky for another example ranked 3rd in the nation in 09'.
I've attended Lakeland, FL games in 05' and 06' and the Red could play with them. 07' Booker T. Washington, FL we could play wit'em. 08' Armwood, FL play wit'em. 09' Miramar, FL as well. These were all top 25 teams in those yrs. and I bet 25 other schools could have beat them as well. It's all popularity and not familiarity.
RRR