Three or four?

Over the past month, that's become the hot debate among soccer enthusiasts in the newly sanctioned 2A classification.

Some believe it's three.

Others will tell you it's four.

Their debate centers on the number of legitimate contenders for the 2A state crown.

Waterford, St. Joseph and Rowland Hall — each from Region 14 — had varying degrees of success in boys soccer before the 2A league came into existence, and virtually everyone in the state recognizes those three as major players in the race for the championship.

Some also think Christian Heritage should also be regarded as a title contender, while others scoff at the notion.

We'll find out who's right as the Class 2A state tournament unfolds during the next two weeks.

Don't count Christian Heritage coach Rob McGill among the non-believers.

"I plan on getting to the finals, but from what I understand it's going to be a knock-down, drag-out fight," he said. " ... I truly believe we're as good as those other teams."

Six first-round games will be held Wednesday, and the quarterfinals follow on Saturday

The fascinating thing about Christian Heritage, which went 13-0 and finished ranked No. 1, is that nobody knows how they actually stack up with Region 14's big three. Nobody.

Some have repeatedly knocked the Crusaders' schedule, but that isn't necessarily fair. Though Christian Heritage obviously didn't have any top-level teams to contend with in Region 17, it whipped each league opponent twice.

And it won its lone nonregion game — a 1-0 victory over Ben Lomond. That's the same Ben Lomond outfit that knocked off St. Joseph last weekend.

So we await the state tournament to determine Christian Heritage's validity. We should find that out when Rowland Hall travels to Christian Heritage in the quarterfinals.

Overall, Waterford has to be considered the heavy favorite to win 2A. The Ravens, who will move up to 3A next year, have a lengthy soccer pedigree and possess — by far — the deepest team in 2A.

But Rowland Hall and St. Joseph both gave Waterford all it could handle in the regular season, and both believe they could beat the talented Ravens in the state final.

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E-mail: drasmussen@desnews.com