Aaron Snyder is a very good writer for Ashland's Daily Independent newspaper. Today's edition included a brief overview of some of the NEKY Schools starting summer practice. Snyder included 4 regional schools (Greenup County, Fairview, Raceland and Boyd Co.) . I thought that I would pass the article on and being a Raceland fanatic I will highlight the Raceland section.

 

Four-down territory: Making summer football practice pit stops » Local Sports » Daily Independent (Ashland, KY)

 

Raceland 2:40 p.m.

 

I find Michael Salmons in his office as he prepares for his first practice as Raceland’s head coach.

 

Salmons was a star fullback and defensive end for the Rams. He served as an assistant for the last seven years before he took over the top spot after T.J. Maynard departed for Russell.

 

“It’s been really exciting and our kids and coaching staff are excited," Salmons said. "Raceland is a special place. It’s a small town and people care about football here. To play here and coach here and be around these guys is special to me and I am honored to be the coach.”

 

The excitement continues to build around the Raceland program after a regional championship and a state semifinal appearance last season.

 

“There is a certain buzz around here primarily due to the success of our program in the past,” Salmons said. “Yesterday we had over 60 kids in here lifting weights and we had 30 kids for Day 1 of middle school practice. There is a lot of interest in our program and a lot of people excited to be a part of it.”

 

The Rams will likely go as far as Connor Messer will take them. Josh Young looks to take over quarterback duties. Both play key roles on defense as well.

 

“We feel like we have some good people in place but Connor is an electric playmaker,” Salmons said. “He can make plays anywhere on the field at any time. He is going to touch the ball in different situations and he is going to have to make plays to get us back to where we were a year ago.

 

“We are really excited about Josh,” he added. “He had a tremendous offseason and he has worked really hard. In a lot of ways, he has kind of groomed himself to be the quarterback at Raceland.”

 

Expectations come with the territory at Raceland and after last year’s success, they will certainly increase. It is a challenge that Salmons and his team are glad to accept.

 

“We have high expectations,” Salmons said. “The kids have really bought in going back to last year when we experienced some success. We talk about embracing them and we feel we can be right back in the same spot this season.”

From what I have heard, Josh Young, Maverick Dixon and Connor Messer will be the cover of the preview this year. Excellent DB trio.

As everyone, I am looking forward to the start of another KY. HS Football Season.

I believe that Coach Michael Salmons at Raceland will do a very good job. Qualities in his favor is being an asst. coach at Raceland for the past 7 years and their Offensive Coordinator for the last few yrs. of that tenure. Salmons is also a former Ram player, outstanding Fullback under extremely good and successful coach Randy Vanderhoof. Salmons has lived, attended school, played and still lives in the community so he is no stranger to the expectations, history of Raceland Football. One thing that some coaches at their Alma Mater run into and have trouble with is the fact that maybe too many people do know him and therefore expectations often run too high. I do not believe that will be the case with coach Salmons simply bc expectations are very high Every Season, regardless of the coach or how long that he has been at the school.

Although he has been at Raceland basically all his life I want to Welcome Coach Salmons as the New Head Coach of the RAMS !

As I always say, tell people (including myself) is let the Coaches - Coach, the Players play - and as a fan , support all 100%.

From what I have heard, Josh Young, Maverick Dixon and Connor Messer will be the cover of the preview this year. Excellent DB trio.

20 INT's over the last two years for those three (Young 2, Dixon 9, Messer 9). Young has proven himself to be a Lockdown Corner, Dixon is deceptive and many see him as the weak link until they try him, and most teams just don't throw around Messer.

20 INT's over the last two years for those three (Young 2' date=' Dixon 9, Messer 9). Young has proven himself to be a Lockdown Corner, Dixon is deceptive and many see him as the weak link until they try him, and most teams just don't throw around Messer.[/quote']

 

Seems like Messer's sophomore year they threw away from Valencourt at CB and Messer was the play maker on the other side of the field. Messer ended up getting 9 picks that year and had, correct me if I'm wrong, 3 or 4 returned for six. Then last year, they threw away from Messer and ended up throwing in the territory of Dixon and awoke a bit of a sleeping giant. Dixon got into the mix with INTs there. Later on in the year, Young arose and started in the lineup and although he isn't a interception king, he gets a hand on the ball 9 out of 10 times. One key game I remember well last year that Young played magnificent in was the Pikeville game. Pikeville avoided the long bombs in case of Messer or Dixon picking it off and tried to dump it down into a WR screen on Young, and Young allowed none of it. Locked Estep down all night. That was his best game of the year IMO.

 

Excited to see what they do this year.

I agree, Young proved himself in the Pikeville game and was MVP in that game. His play versus Estep was the big story of the game.

 

Long story, short: pass heavy teams will have a hard time avoiding Messer, Dixon AND Young.