It is extremely hard to win a state championship in any division. Russell may win it this year but the odds are not in there favor. It takes just one play and everything is gone. Take last year for instance. When Russell played Newport. One play in overtime goes the other way and Russell is not the state champ. I although will be at each game giving my support and hoping they win. I saw a comment on here stating that 2-a is the weakest division. I do not agree with that statement. I think that at least 10 teams could win it all. One play can make you or break you.

2A Football means each team has weaknesses just because of numbers. Last years Devils had no real weakness ( no real stars either) in it's starters but several very experienced kids had to go both ways. No playoff team wore us down. Mercer was closest. Depth was our real only weakness. This years Devils likely have more depth - but much less experience. So if heathly at playoff time and if they can find a clutch passing game , the Devils will be overall talent wise as good as any team in 2A because they will have no weak kids on the field.

But from my perspective most regular season 2A teams Russell will face have at least a couple weak kids on both sides of the ball... Just the nature of 2a football.

Mercer County may have the numbers and they may have speed but I highly doubt they warrant a pre season ranking of number 2, first they must prove they can hang with the top teams in 2a. Speed may kill, but experience is also a huge factor, and experience is something Mercer County doesn't have. Belfry, Russell, Ocath, and teams like that are who Mercer must compete with in order for them to make some noise in 2A. I am not saying they don't have the potential , because I know they do, they have the numbers thats for sure. If they gel right then its possible, I guess we will all see how they do in the upcoming season, that why they play the games.

Mercer county was one of the better teams in AA last season. So i believe they qualify with experience. They have alot of seniors on this squad. They might not be #2. That's just me having high hopes. But, they are top 4 or 5. By the time they go through the early season wars with some great teams including our neighbor boyle county. I belive they will be battle tested enough to make a run. If they can compete with boyle then that will be a measuring stick of whether they can compete with the big dogs of AA this season. I am just looking forward to some football. Good luck everybody.

If Mercer remains physical , adds some speed and upgrades positions that didn't want to hit last year ( mostly on defense ) ... They can be Top 5 ....

Ps.... Mercer also has to go into big games expecting to win ... this might take more than a season to develope ...

The RB we saw last year would deliver a blow and that's a good thing put more like him on defense ...

Well Mercer definitely has added tons of speed from the Harrodsburg kids. That running back that wasn't afraid to get physical was donald walker. He will be back for his senior year. He will be sharing the backfield with brandon ford, and corey jackson since we will run the wishbone alot this season. All 3 have great speed. Actually Mercer has added speed at all key positions. They will be alot better this season. But, we will have to wait and see. There early season schedule will tell alot.

The Fieldhouse at Mercer County is more than impressive. How did the funds get generated to accomplish that? Congrats it is beautiful.

 

Also, by seeing the story on WKYT-TV this evening, I saw all kinds of athletic kids and have to wonder if Mercer Co. may be landing themselves a state championship sooner than later.

Grit of this years Seniors will determine how far the Devils go. Difficult to repeat ,but I look for K Clark , Sizemore ,Lewis , Wills ,Beekman ,Gullet and others to step up. If this years Devils prove physical and find a passing attack , start ordering the rings. Go Devils ....

 

 

Not so fast, it will NOT be easy if it does happen, even with a passing game.. Belfry, Mercer, Newport are all capable teams.