If I’m scheduling games I’m doing it with playoff seeding in mind.
For a team like Ridgeview (just using them as an example) I would schedule every out of district game with a 1A team on the level of Rural Retreat, Chilhowie, Honaker, etc.
You’re going to get tested in the regular season by Abingdon, Union & GC. You’re going to beat Lee, Central & John Battle and even though those teams are usually a points drain they will cancel out with the other teams.
Beating a 1a team that is going to win 6-8 games is a great points haul. Hopefully you luck up and beat 2/3 of your harder games and now you’re sitting somewhere in the #1 - #3 spot in the playoff and hosting games.
I get the old adage of “schedule better competition because it makes you better” but if you lose to Graham in week 2 and then you have to travel to them in the first round of the playoffs what good is that doing you?