Ram's North-Eastern Kentucky Notebook (10/7)

[Ram]

Ram is 24-6 on the season after a tough group of picks last week. This week should be a little easier with one "toss up" game with Boyd County traveling to Magoffin County and the "game of the week" District showdown between Raceland and Fairview. The rest of the field should be a little easier picking. But, with District Championships and play off positions on the line, anything can happen. Read on.

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 (6-1) at Fairview (7-0)

Game of the week in the area this week, without question. The District title will likely be decided by the outcome of this game which will put the winner in the driver’s seat for the playoffs with home games through the semi-finals. Raceland wins the strength of schedule comparison with opponents records totaling 21-31 while Fairview’s opponents totaled 12-40. Comparison of “like opponents” yields little useful information given that both opponents have combined records of 1-14. Greenup County is 0-7 with Raceland beating them 59-15 and Fairview beating them 72-0. East Carter has a record of 1-7 with Raceland beating them 38-6 and Fairview beating them 32-17. With so much on the line, records of opponents and “like opponents” are really a non-factor. This will be a great high school game with a small margin of victory no matter the winner.

 

Raceland 35 Fairview 34

Russell (4-3) at Lewis County (2-5)

Russell coming off a big loss to district foe Mason County will be looking to get back in the win column this week. Likewise, Lewis, after getting a big win last week, would like to stay there. Russell, with their talented running game will be too much for the Lions this week. I expect for Russell to come with something to prove and look to establish their running attack early. Lewis will be a formidable opponent for the Red Devils and will not go away early. Russell has faired better agains the two like opponents: Fleming County and Mason County. With Lewis going 0-2 versus those two teams, while Russell has went 1-1.

 

Russell 35 Lewis County 14

Greenup County (0-7) at Ashland (7-1)

Two teams in dramatically different places. Ashland is a top 10 team in 4A, while Greenup County will go two consecutive years without a win at the season’s conclusion. Ashland will rest some injured players and work on building some depth heading into the playoffs. Greenup County will work to put any points up on the Tomcats.

 

Ashland 56 Greenup County 7

Boyd County (2-5) at Magoffin County (4-3)

With Boyd County being a better team then their record indicates and Magoffin County’s struggle to beat a winless West Carter leads one to think Boyd County comes out of this game with another win. Of course, one could argue these two teams are pretty close in ability and with Magoffin County being home, one may see Magoffin getting the win. Expect this game to be a hard fought victory for who ever wins.

 

Boyd County 28 Magoffin County 21

West Carter (0-7) at Mason County (4-4)

Winless West Carter will have a hard time knocking Mason County off their high after a barn burner of a win over Russell last week. Mason County is in charge of the District race and that will not change this week. The Royals will lock up a home game for the first round of the playoffs this week.

 

Mason County 42 West Carter 14

Lawrence County (3-5) vs. Belfry (5-2)

Lawrence County has had some bright spots this season, this game will not be one of those. Belfry is a top 10 team in 3A and is pretty unhappy about their loss to Ashland last week. Belfry will be hungry to wipe that loss from memory and will likely take some of that frustration out on the Dawgs. Lawrence County will have to wait until next week to do the same to East Ridge.

 

Belfry 56 Lawrence County 14

East Carter (1-7) -- Open

Edited October 7, 2012 by Ram

[Ram]

The Ram Rankings:

1. Ashland…….…………(7-1)……..#4 4A

2. Raceland………….…(6-1)……...#5 1A

3. Fairview………….….(7-0)……..#6 1A

4. Russell…………..…..(4-3)

5. Lawrence County.(3-5)

6. Boyd County……...(2-5)

7. Lewis County……..(2-5)

8. East Carter………..(1-7)

9. Greenup County...(0-7)

10. West Carter……..(0-7)

[Ram]

Ram went 5 for 6 this week with some really close to final score predictions.

Ram is now 29-7 for the season.

 

 

Ram's Predictions…………………………………Game Results

Raceland 35 Fairview 34…………………………Raceland 27 Fairview 40

Russell 35 Lewis County 14…………………….Russell 33 Lewis County 18

Ashland 56 Greenup County 7………………… Ashland 56 Greenup County 8

Boyd County 28 Magoffin County 21………….Boyd County 35 Magoffin County 8

Mason County 42 West Carter 14………………Mason County 49 West Carter 0

Belfry 56 Lawrence County 14………………….Belfry 41 Lawrence County 6