58 Devils,

You are very well spoken, and I agree with most of what you have said, but

One thing that you must consider is how bad a team wants to win, football is a game where mistakes or big plays can give strength or break the back of a team

 

This game will have both.. Ashland is improving every week and they know Russell as well as any team that they will play all year..

 

In my opinion this game is to close to call, but if I must pick one side I have to go with the home team by 7

 

This game also has a potential of being a high scoring game, so I’m just saying Ashland by 7

 

Trimmer

Ashland 27

Russell 35

:flame: :scared: Ashland you will have your hands full.:devil:

 

:argue:

This game will be close , someone said it will come down to opportunites and what each side does with them. I couldn't agree more ...

 

For Ashland , as a team they have faced adversity and bounced back .. very important in team building. Hopefully the win over Red Army is a turning point for Ashland's entire program for years to come.

 

For the Devils , as a program they have achieved and seem positioned to stay on top ... This game is likely the only measuring stick the Devils will have until the playoffs and the kids know it ... This worries me to death about the Devils season ... Can only get fat eating cupcakes ...

 

Although to early to predict ...

Skill players ... even ... these kids all know each other ... no surprises..

Proven scheme - Russell .. much more hard nosed and steady

Momentum - Ashland .. has teamed against adversity

Lines - Russell on paper and limited action so far ...

Opportunity for greatness ... Ashland

 

Game could go either way ... that's what makes all this fun ...

If you have any football knowledge at all, then you have to take the defending state champs in this one. Even when ashland had there so-called best team in the last decade last season, they still didnt have enough for the devils. Clark and company will get it done at putnam.

 

Russell-26 Ashland-18

Too much D from Russell for Ashland to have a chance.Look for Clark to go for 120 plus yards and a couple of tds.

 

 

Russell 27

Ashland 14

I think Leon Hart and the Ashland coaching staff have made some key moves in personnel, and have the Tomcats going in the right direction. I like the fact that we just beat a sound Belfry team, coached by a legend.

I think we'll continue to get better as the season progresses.

 

All of that said, we now face another coaching legend, with an even stronger team. Clark is (in my opinion) one of the best backs Russell has ever had - and that's covering some ground. He is definitely one of the top three backs in the state this year - if not THE best. Having a strong candidate for Mr. Football in your backfield has to make Russell the team to beat in this one. Put a good line in front of him, and I think the Devils have to be the favorites.

 

I love the Tomcats, and I know we're at home, but speaking from my head and not my heart, I think Russell wins this one by a final score of 28 - 14.

 

 

Frances

 

PS - please keep in mind that I have never gotten a prediction right yet...

Frances,

That long weekend with Ernest T. Bass has done more harm than any of us expected. I do hope your streak of predictions remains intact.

I will wait until the years is over before I say Clark is one of the best from Russell.

Ashland 21

Russell 20

When I picked Ashland over Belfry and said Putnam Stadium would be the "player of the game", I didn't mean that Ashland would win because of the officiating. That old and hallowed stadium, like old Alumni Gym, is worth a few points to Ashland. It doesn't always produce, like in the Raceland game, but more often than not, that fine venue produces an extra fumble, a missed extra point, an untimely penalty, or something of a similar nature to help the home team. Maybe it is all of those old players in maroon who still "haunt" the stadium. Maybe not. But, whatever it is, it is a valuable asset to Ashland.

 

Now, having given the foundation for my prediction, I pick Ashland in a close game decided by a timely Russell mistake or two. The stadium will produce.

 

Wow, Scooterbob you are finally comin around. :thumb:

Usually no brainers are decided by more than 12 points.

 

:lol:

This game should be great! So many great players on the field for both teams (McDavid, Clark, F. Davis, Sizemore) to name a few. As usual in these games it will come down to the wire and whoever makes the fewest mistakes will win.

So do you also believe that the best team won in week one of the season against Raceland cause you didnt comment on it?

 

For my money, the best team ALWAYS wins. The only thing that matters is which team is best at the time of the game. Injuries, penalties, lucky breaks, coaching decisions, home field, height of the goal posts, season stats, size of the players, use of mud cleats, color of jersey, motivation, momentum, pre-game prayer, and post-game interviews don't really mean anything.

 

The team that puts more points on the board from the time of the opening kickoff, until the last whistle is blown is the only measure of who is the "better team".

 

The bottom line is that the better team wins every game. ALWAYS. Everything else is background noise.

 

When your team is on the short end of the scoreboard, tell the other guy "congratulations" and "good luck", mean it, and then move on.

 

 

 

Frances

Belfry beat themselves.

 

Russell 34

 

Ashland 16 :ylsuper:

 

 

:confused: Hmm, I guess they just didn't want the ball anymore "6 fumbles" and just gave it to us??? I really don't think so, Ashland showed up last night and came ready to play! And thats just what they did, knocking the ball loose 6 times!! c,mon give credit where credit is due.

:confused: Hmm, I guess they just didn't want the ball anymore "6 fumbles" and just gave it to us??? I really don't think so, Ashland showed up last and came ready to play! And thats just what they did, knocking the ball loose 6 times!! c,mon give credit where credit is due.

 

 

Not trying to start a fight here. I listened to the game while I was watching the Russell/Greenup game. Did Ashland actually knock the ball loose all 6 times or was it an occasional case of fumbilitis mixed in with some good hits?

 

I see what JFLdad is trying to say here. It could have been hits and it could have been butter fingers. If it was the latter then I'd say Belfry beat themselves if the former then it was a well deserved win by the Cats.

Dawg45

JV Player Even when ashland had there so-called best team in the last decade last season, they still didnt have enough for the devils

 

Ok, Ashland didn't have enough to pull ot the win last year. But IMO as bad as Ashland played last year Russell won by only 8 points and Ashland with the last posession inside the 5? Not a very convincing win by the eventual State champs??:sssh:

Not trying to start a fight here. I listened to the game while I was watching the Russell/Greenup game. Did Ashland actually knock the ball loose all 6 times or was it an occasional case of fumbilitis mixed in with some good hits?

 

I see what JFLdad is trying to say here. It could have been hits and it could have been butter fingers. If it was the latter then I'd say Belfry beat themselves if the former then it was a well deserved win by the Cats.

 

 

There was a couple butterfingers but there were several knocked loose. And IMO butterfingers come from someone having your number and anticipating someone right in your face!:thumb: