Final

Congratulations to Central.

Final

 

Is score correct? KHSAA has it 20-0 Central.

26-0 is the final.

Also a big Congratulations to the Devils and coaching staff on a great turn around after starting 0-3. I will miss watching the seniors and good luck in the future. I hope the Russell returners get in the weight room and work hard over the off season.

26-0 is the final.

 

I'm not surprised that the KHSAA got it wrong. lol

Good luck to Central next week.

Actually looks like a decent defensive showing by Russell. Central's runners are really hard to stop.

Impressive win for the Jackets.

Russell really improved on the defensive side the last few games after starting 0-3.

Early in the season this would have been a running clock game.

So, so proud of the effort displayed tonight by this Russell squad. The outlook was pretty grim following the virtual no-show against Ashland. The seniors did what you expect seniors to do and stepped up to hold it all together. They've grown so much in the past two months, especially on defense. Unfortunately, they continue to struggle to put points on the board against great teams.

 

Russell suffered two first quarter turnovers. The second one, in particular, hurt the Red Devils as it set Central up just outside Russell's twenty and they promptly put it in the endzone. You can't make mistakes like that if you're trying to spring an upset over a team like Central.

 

Russell was only down two scores at halftime. I'm sure the message in the locker room included, 'let's go out and get a defensive stop on their first series and make something happen. We're in this game.’ Instead, Central came out and completed an 82 yard touchdown pass on the first play of the half. Ukrari Baker went up to make the grab and Jacob Thompson hit the deck, leaving Baker with a straight shot to the endzone. That was a crusher.

 

Russell's last shot to at least make things interesting ended with a great defensive stand by the Jackets. Following a Charlie Jachimczuk interception return inside Central's 10 midway through the fourth, Central slammed the door shut on Russell's best scoring opportunity by pushing the Red Devils backwards. Not even a pass interference call in the endzone could save them. And that was more or less the ball game. Central tacked on a late touchdown to set the final score.

 

After that terrible start to the year, I never would have pegged this team as a regional finalist capable of battling Central as hard as they did tonight. Carry this over into the off-season and use it as a springboard into 2019.

 

Congratulations to Central. Very, very fast and well coached team. Pretty much what I expected them to be.

Early in the season this would have been a running clock game.

 

Absolutely. Maybe even in the first half. This team grew more from Week 1 to the region finals than any Russell team I've seen in recent memory.

 

There's a lot to look forward to next year.

Russell returns several key players from this year and lost a few as well, but they should have a good season in 2019.

Russell could have a great season if they hit the weights hard in the off season.