Ram is 18-3 on the season and is starting to believe that he knows what he is talking about. Will he be able to keep that record going this week? He has his doubts, there are several games that have very similar level teams playing against each other. It will be difficult to pick all those games without someone getting an upset. Who wins those games? You will have to read and see what Ram thinks.

Ram'sNotebook will look at match-ups for the North-Eastern Kentucky area, which includes the following teams: Ashland, Boyd County, East Carter, Fairview, Greenup County, Lawrence County, Lewis County, Raceland, Russell, and West Carter.

Raceland (5-1) at Nicholas County (5-1)

Both teams are coming to this game hot with identical records of 5-1. Both teams are in the top ten in Class 1A (Raceland #5 and Nicholas County at #9). Both teams have won in this series with some great games going both ways. What does all that mean? That means this is going to be a great high school football game. No matter what the final score of the game, if you are there you are going to be treated some great football and come away thinking this was a great time. These two teams come in to this game with different offenses. Raceland is scoring a lot of points and not allowing many. With a balanced attack. Nicholas is run heavy and allowed more points.

 

Raceland 45 Nicholas 14

Russell (4-2) at Mason County (3-4)

Russell has surprised some people this year, me included. They are, as always, a run first team and they are spreading that duty around quite evenly. Russell has used the forward pass a little more this year with the addition of a true passer. They have used the pass sparely, but when utilized, it has been devastating. Mason County is allowing quite a few rushing yards, which is a bad combination for the Royals - allowing rushing yards against a team that is very successful at running the ball. Mason County has proven they can run as well, but they are depending mainly on one person to do that. That makes Mason County’s offense easier to contain. This year goes to the Red Devils

 

Russell 35 Mason County 14

Greenup County (0-6) at Johnson Central (5-1)

Greenup County doesn’t report stats, and everyone knows Johnson Central doesn’t report stats, neither team wants to reveal much but for different reasons. One stat Greenup doesn’t want people to know is, they have scored 61 total points while giving up 261. Johnson Central has scored 239 points while giving up 131. Those numbers may tell the tale. Johnson Central is coming off a big home win against Ironton and they are back at home this week. Greenup County is in a slump, and that will not change this week.

 

Greenup County 7 Johnson Central 62

Ashland (6-1) vs. Belfry (5-1)

This may be the game of the week in the east. But, I think Belfry may be a little of an unknown with their schedule. They have won their games by large margins, but the competition has been quite a bit below what Ashland will bring to the table. Ashland has a balanced offense that runs a little more then passes, they have a freshman running back that will probably be the best back Belfry has seen. Freshman? Yes. But not your average freshman. Belfry has allowed more passing yards then rushing yards, so Ashland may utilize the pass a little more. Belfry will play their ball control offense and will have to be successful doing it to keep the game within reach. Should be a great one.

Ashland 35 Belfry 28

Boyd County (2-4) at Rowan County (3-4)

Tough to call. Both teams are having trouble with similar loosing records. I think Boyd County is better then they have been in recent years and win the strength of schedule battle between these two teams. Rowan struggled with a weak Greenup County team. I think Boyd pulls the win out in this one.

 

Boyd County 21 Rowan County 14

West Carter (0-6) vs. Fleming County (4-3)

Two teams heading in different directions. West Carter will not win in 2012, low numbers and young players will continue to cause trouble for the Comets this week. Fleming County has beaten the teams they should have beaten and lost to the teams they should have lost to. I think Fleming County’s starting quarterback will still be out this week, but I look for the Panthers over come that and put up the win.

 

West Carter 14 Fleming County 35

East Carter (1-6) vs. Lewis County (1-5)

Another tough one. Both teams have only one win and gave up a lot of points. But in comparing like opponents, East has done better agains Mason County and Fleming County. I think East Carter can score points, but they are going to have to find a way to stop some drives. Lewis has not had an offense that is as productive. I think East Carter gets two in a row after their first win last week agains cross-county rival West Carter.

 

East Carter 28 Lewis County 21

Fairview (6-0) at Paintsville (1-5)

Paintsville has an up hill battle this year with very low numbers and only one win thus far. Fairview is undefeated and has an offense that has proven to be powerful behind a strong running game. Paintsville will be outmatched from the opening kick off. Fairview rolls.

 

Fairview 62 Paintsville 0

Lawrence County (3-4) vs. Pike County Central (5-1)

Lawrence County, after coming off a big win last week, will have much more trouble this week. Pike County Central has lost one game and has put up some big points on offense. Lawrence County will have to play above their ability to cover the Pike County Central weapons. The Hawks beat the Dawgs.

 

Lawrence County 21 Pike County Central 42

I thought you knew football until that last game! Kidding... all very astute and accurate observations. My only change is a Belfry "upset" of Ashland.

I thought you knew football until that last game! Kidding... all very astute and accurate observations. My only change is a Belfry "upset" of Ashland.

I hate picking against the Dawgs, I hope they prove me wrong.

 

I went back and forth on the Ashland/Belfry game. I just think in the end Ashland has more weapons. I guess we will see.

Referring to yourself in 3rd person?????? Wow, teaching college courses is going to your head.

Sidelinedoc agrees with Ram with the exception of the Belfry and Lawrence Co. games. Also, sidelinedoc feels that Johnson Central will pitch a shut-out against GC.

Referring to yourself in 3rd person?????? Wow, teaching college courses is going to your head.

Ram thinks it's appropriate to refer to one's self in the third person when taking on such a literary project. As opposed to just referring to one's self randomly in the third person, which is an obvious sign of mental instability.

 

Which am Ram? I know not. But stay tuned to the local news to find out.

Ram thinks it's appropriate to refer to one's self in the third person when taking on such a literary project. As opposed to just referring to one's self randomly in the third person, which is an obvious sign of mental instability.

 

Which am Ram? I know not. But stay tuned to the local news to find out.

 

Sidelinedoc opines that Ram meant to write, "Which is Ram?"

 

Sidelinedoc opines that Ram meant to write, "Which is Ram?"

Nooooooo. Ram made an intentional grammatical error in an attempt to relay the obvious - that Ram was substituting "Ram" for "I". But, alas, the effort was wasted.

I agree with you on almost everything listed wth a couple of exceptions.

 

I think you have it wrong on Lawrence Co/Pike Central. I don't think either of those teams will win by 3 touchdowns. I can't help but believe the combined score will be at least 80. I can see it being a 41-40 type game and with Lawrence at home, I'd give them the nod.

 

On Belfry/Ashland, I think you are dead on that it will be close, probably decided by a touchdown or less, but it won't be as high scoring as you have it. The last 4 meetings have been an average score of 23-19 in favor of the Tomcats. Although the Pirates have had a tough time in Putnam over the years, I have to go with my heart and predict Belfry makes it two in a row by a score of Belfry 26, Ashland 20.

I agree with you on almost everything listed wth a couple of exceptions.

 

I think you have it wrong on Lawrence Co/Pike Central. I don't think either of those teams will win by 3 touchdowns. I can't help but believe the combined score will be at least 80. I can see it being a 41-40 type game and with Lawrence at home, I'd give them the nod.

 

On Belfry/Ashland, I think you are dead on that it will be close, probably decided by a touchdown or less, but it won't be as high scoring as you have it. The last 4 meetings have been an average score of 23-19 in favor of the Tomcats. Although the Pirates have had a tough time in Putnam over the years, I have to go with my heart and predict Belfry makes it two in a row by a score of Belfry 26, Ashland 20.

 

I would have agreed with you on the Lawrence/Pike Central game earlier in the season. Both have defense issues and allow a lot of points. I think Lawrence's defense has improved, I'm not sure how they will do with Pike Central's passing game, but the Lawrence defense has improved somewhat. I was also relying on the fact that Pike Centrals defense may have improved somewhat. Lawrence had quite a bit of trouble moving the ball agains Raceland and I'm not sure if they will too much success against Pike Central. Pike Central can score the points, but can they stop Lawrence, that will be the deciding factor. That game is really a toss up on what will happen.

 

The Belfry/Ashland game could go either way, I'm aware that it is usually a low scoring affair, and it may be that way again this year, and with Belfry's style of offense that may keep the score low. But, I expect Ashland to give up a few long runs in this game which will give Belfry more points and cause Ashland to score more as well. Likewise, I expect Belfry to give us some big runs By Quinten Baker. He is too good of an athlete to not break one loose every once in a while. I think the outcome of the game could go either way, it may be one of those "Who has the ball last" type situations.

With a, less then perfect, 6-3 record this week Ram improves to a 24-6 record on the season.

 

I give accolades to Mason County, they had, what I think, is a big upset in their win over Russell. I think most that know a lot about area football would have picked Russell to win that game, but someone forgot to tell Mason County. Big win for Coach B's team. There were two other minor upsets, from my standpoint: Rowan County over Boyd County and Lewis County over East Carter. I would have conceded that these two games could have went either way, but I called them the way I thought they would end up. Lewis must have had a very good game in holding East Carter to seven points. I would have expected East Carter to score more points no matter who won. Rowan County stepped up to beat Boyd County by three points with Boyd missing a late field goal to tie the ball game up and send it to overtime. Good win for Rowan County.

 

Ram's Prediction……………………………………Game Results

Raceland 45 Nicholas County 14……………………...Raceland 60 Nicholas County 12

Russell 35 Mason County 14……………………..………Russell 28 Mason County 32

Greenup County 7 Johnson Central 62…………....Greenup County 12 Johnson Central 59

Ashland 35 Belfry 28…………………………………….....Ashland 35 Belfry 20

Boyd County 21 Rowan County 14……………...…..Boyd County 25 Rowan County 28

West Carter 14 Fleming County 35………………..…West Carter 7 Fleming County 18

East Carter 28 Lewis County 21…………………..…..East Carter 7 Lewis County 25

Fairview 62 Paintsville 0……………………………..……Fairview 68 Paintsville 20

Lawrence County 21 Pike County Central 42……Lawrence County 14 Pike County Central 29

I agree with you on almost everything listed wth a couple of exceptions.

 

I think you have it wrong on Lawrence Co/Pike Central. I don't think either of those teams will win by 3 touchdowns. I can't help but believe the combined score will be at least 80. I can see it being a 41-40 type game and with Lawrence at home, I'd give them the nod.

 

Well, we were both partially correct on this on. Neither team won by three scores, but Pike County Central did win, and did so by 15 points. A little more then you predicted, and a little less then I predicted. It appears that both team's defenses stepped up in holding the total points to 43.

 

On Belfry/Ashland, I think you are dead on that it will be close, probably decided by a touchdown or less, but it won't be as high scoring as you have it. The last 4 meetings have been an average score of 23-19 in favor of the Tomcats. Although the Pirates have had a tough time in Putnam over the years, I have to go with my heart and predict Belfry makes it two in a row by a score of Belfry 26, Ashland 20.

I have to call this one a win for me. I called it to be an Ashland win 35-28, you called it a lower scoring affair at 23-19, with the final score being 35-20. I'll give you, that it looked as if you were going to be correct late in the fourth quarter, but the final score tells the tail.