C+

 

 

The Panthers averaged 44 points on offense during their undefeated regular season, and their average margin of victory was 41 points. However, Russellville only faced two teams with winning records during the regular season, and only managed to beat one of them.

 

Their offensive prowess certainly stands for something, though. They can also take pride in the fact that although they lost 35-0 to the eventual 1A champion Beechwood Tigers in the state semifinals, they sill managed to hold the high-powered Tiger offense to a lower score than two-thirds of the other teams Beechwood played in 2016.

 

 

Do you agree with a C+ for Russellville? What grade do you give the Panthers?

B- is my take. Which is about what they always do.

B, actually was a darn good year

Well considering they were 12-2 (85% grade)...

 

And considering their two losses were to Franklin Simpson (14-1) & Beechwood (14-1), I think I may give them a few points to round their grade to at least a B+/A-...

 

When a 12 win season gets a grade of a C+ (average), then I would sure hate to see the grades of many other schools...

Well considering they were 12-2 (85% grade)...

 

And considering their two losses were to Franklin Simpson (14-1) & Beechwood (14-1), I think I may give them a few points to round their grade to at least a B+/A-...

 

When a 12 win season gets a grade of a C+ (average), then I would sure hate to see the grades of many other schools...

 

Franklin-Simpson and Beechwood beat Russellville by a combined score of 69-7. Are you saying Franklin-Simpson and Beechwood are THAT much better than an above average team?

One won a state championship... The other was state runner up. So those two teams are better than above average.

Depends on your standards. B-

One won a state championship... The other was state runner up. So those two teams are better than above average.

 

Obviously they're better. But what about the fact that Russellville was only able to put the ball in the end zone once total against both teams, while they managed to do it 10 times. Are FS and BW that much superior over all the other above average programs?

Yes. There should be no reason Russellville competes with Franklin Simpson. Franklin has the same type of athletes that R-ville has. Plus Franklin has linemen.

 

Beechwood was really good this year as obviously they won the state championship in their respective class.

 

I'm not saying Russellville had an A+ year. But to say they are an average team is something I can't agree with. Remember, they are a Class A school. Very limited in some things they can do. They are not Trinity, Bowling Green, Mayfield, etc. But Russellville had a really good year. Played a 4A team they don't HAVE TO play. Got matched up against the eventual Class A state champions and played a horrible game after a 4+ bus ride...

Their game with Franklin-Simpson was an all out battle for a half. I think it was maybe 7-0 at half? FS just wore them down...skill, linemen and depth took over.

Awful harsh. Especially seeing the other grades, like a four loss St. X team getting an A-.

Awful harsh. Especially seeing the other grades, like a four loss St. X team getting an A-.

 

So no regard for strength of schedule?

Russellville is an interesting team to grade.

Anticipation was VERY high for this past season.

During the season, they only lost to 4A runner-up Franklin Simpson, but as @Harry Doyle mentioned above - that was a tight game into the second half.

 

Then they laid an egg after a 4+ hour bus ride to Beechwood in the 1A SEMI-FINAL when all knowledgeable fans knew that would be a tough game for Russellville to win. You will note that Beechwood also did that to everyone but Hazard after September 23rd.

 

I wanted to get on here and bash Russellville's schedule, but then reigned in the venom as this is a 1A Public School with limited resources, so WHO would I want them to play that would have better prepared them for the Beechwood game?

Russellville is in arguably 1 of, if not, the weakest district in the state with the Fultons. So quality out of district opponents are at a premium to try to find "nearby" to help them.

They did schedule and beat the following out of District:

3A - 3 Win Trigg County

3A - 2 Win Fort Campbell

2A - 8 Win Butler County (with King Rex Henderson) Solid Win here!

4A - 1 Win Logan County

2A - 0 Win Todd County Central

2A - 4 Win Murray

 

SO, who else should they have scheduled? The only teams that seemed to make sense for me were Caldwell County and maybe Paducah Tilghman, as ALL of those schools above are larger than Russellville (albeit not really football wise).

 

So to finish up here, I would give them a solid B, B+ as only 3 other 1A schools accomplished at least what they did. They played the 4A runner-up tooth and nail till they just ran out of gas and crushed all the teams they were supposed to. No shame there for a 1A squad. Go Panthers!

I am going with a solid B.

A solid B sounds good to me

 

No shame in their loss to the 4A Runner-Up and they lost to the eventual 1A Champs.

 

The rest of the schedule was weak, but they dominated as they should.

 

The only thing keeping them from B- or A- territory was the fact Beechwood dominated them badly.

 

Most though Russellville as a Top 3 team all season and they lived up to the hype until that beat down. Beechwood was the best 1A team..but IMHO Hazard, Paintsville, and Raceland all would have competed a little better which took some luster off. Since this was a Senior Heavy team I think that has to be a deduction.