Strength of schedule means ALOT come playoff time. Look at any state Champion (not runner up) and see who they played outside of there district. using old examples mixed with new ones here, PV- Richlands, Radofrd, Lee, Gatecity. All at that time double A except Radford who was D2 A. Appy- Sulivan north, Gatecity, Daniel Boone, and others. Gatecity- Bluefield, Richlands, Sullivan South, Powell Valley.
Playing up makes your team better when you face eastcoast playoff teams. You have to play quality opponents to get better.
Another example is JJ Kelly. They always played weak teams and never did good because of that reason. JJ Kelly was 5 and 0 a couple years ago when pv went up there and beat them 12 ot 0 but JJ Kelly had beat Ryecove, castlewood, twinsprings, thomas walker, and some small ky school. You play down and beat weak teams you dont learn nothing, you play up and lose close games to good teams you learn how to win in certain situations.