I agree with Jeepman. The 5A thing is a beaten horse and the players have zero control over that. They just want to play football and win. I disagree with Midee. Mercer has a very good team and I think they will be competitive next year, even in 5A

I agree with Jeepman. The 5A thing is a beaten horse and the players have zero control over that. They just want to play football and win. I disagree with Midee. Mercer has a very good team and I think they will be competitive next year, even in 5A

 

Not saying they won't be competitive. Just saying that the playing field will be a bit more level which will get them to an average to above average team. Not the monster that they are this year.:thumb:

Not saying they won't be competitive. Just saying that the playing field will be a bit more level which will get them to an average to above average team. Not the monster that they are this year.:thumb:

 

Check

How many games have you watched Mercer? How many games have you watched Russell?

I'm sorry, I must have missed that rule. I didn't know we have to watch a team to post an opinion. That should really thin out the board. I should have ended with JMO.

And by all rights the Titans should win the state championship this year. The gods at the KHSAA handed this one to them on a silver platter. The reclassification should have been done when the new school was a bit closer to completion. It would be like Russell and Raceland combining teams and staying at the A level. That would create a powerhouse team that should roll over everyone just as Mercer has.

 

Mercer should cherish this state championship and know that it will be short lived. When they make the leap to 5A next year they will be reduced to a average team.

 

:thumb: NO its not the kids fault BUT YES like it or not its true.

 

I don't have a dog in this race but I pay my $$ to post my opinion just like everybody else. l am and will continue to read and keep up with 2A till the end. I like to know whats going on with 2A and I like to know whats going on when Im pulling for a team thats not mine. I was basically impartial. But after reading some of this crap and attitude, all I have to say is

:devil: GO RUSSELL:devil:

1. You can and we will.

2. You can, we will, and we hope you think we are an edge team...please think that...

3. You ain't playing Belfry next week.

4. You're fixing to see the best defense you've seen all year.

5. Both teams are immaculately coached.

 

Dude, you need to quit worrying about what Mercer needs to do to win, and maybe start thinking about what Russell will have to do. But keep posting....we have a big bulletin board.

 

 

If they need bulletin board stuff this time of year they may be in trouble.

I agree and do not consider Corbin a west team either. As I do not consider Mercer Co a west team. Nope you did not see a mention of 2002, that's why I added it. Danville and Mercer had some great runs. Nobody has ever doubted that. And by the way, as for you being of tired of all the talk, I didn't even mention Russell. But since you brought it up, Russell is 40-3 over the last three years, has 17 District Champiobships, 8 Regional Championships and 2 State Championships. Outside of Belfry, tell me a 2A team that can compare to that. I'm not trying to sound arrogant, those are facts. Please define elite. Tell me the elite 2A programs. Please.

 

 

First of all, you brought up 2002 but did not say it was your addition. You said:

 

Well you did leave out two issues.

 

I left out nothing. You added too what I was posting about.

 

As for Russell's history: How many were District titles in AA? How many in AAA? How many times did they make it to the State Finals in all those years? (Answer: Twice. Once in AAA and once in AA)

 

As for elite AA programs it's hard to say since that class more than any has had the greatest flux of up and down with members going up and going down. Historically speaking Danville, Mayfield, Corbin, Breathitt, and even Bardstown have more impressive histories in AA competition.

 

If we go only with the teams left in AA that are there today you have to see what they have done since they have been in AA.

 

We could go to AAA and talk about Hoptown, Highlands, CovCath and others who have produced more titles. (Even Boyle has 3 titles in AAA)

And by all rights the Titans should win the state championship this year. The gods at the KHSAA handed this one to them on a silver platter. The reclassification should have been done when the new school was a bit closer to completion. It would be like Russell and Raceland combining teams and staying at the A level. That would create a powerhouse team that should roll over everyone just as Mercer has.

 

Mercer should cherish this state championship and know that it will be short lived. When they make the leap to 5A next year they will be reduced to a average team.

 

 

Why don't they?

 

BTW, it would be Raceland absorbing Russell if they want to stay in A. That's what happened here. The Harrodsburg Schools System ceased to exist and the Mercer County School System absorbed them. That's why they are in AA not A where Harrodsburg was. It's not an ideal system but it's the one in place.

I'm sorry, I must have missed that rule. I didn't know we have to watch a team to post an opinion. That should really thin out the board. I should have ended with JMO.

 

You don't need to cop an attitude. I was just wondering if you compared the teams from first hand knowledge or if you were just throwing numbers out. I have not seen Mercer play and I just thought you may have seen both. It sounds although by your reaction that you were just giving your opinion and thats Okay. Enjoy the game.

Observations from someone who has seen both teams play. He was at the Russell-Belfry game last night.

 

1. Klark is a good running back, but he is not elusive or fast.

 

2. Russell blitzes a lot.

 

3. Russell scored on busted play.

 

4. Russell will not score until the 4th quarter vs. Mercer when the 2nd team defense takes the field.

 

My responses to his observations:

 

1. That's not good for Russell because Mercer has proven on more than 1 occasion that they can shut down a good player. You need to be exceptionally great to succeed against this Mercer County defense, not good.

 

2. Better not blitz too much, once Corey, Brandon, Donald or Nathan get past the initial push(which they will) how many defenders will be left for them to escape from? Too much blitzing is dangerous against this type of team. I'm warning you.

 

3. No such luck will happen versus Mercer. A busted play against this defense will be a loss of yards, not a touchdown.

 

4. This game, IMHO, will be no different than any of the other games that Mercer has played. You add in the personal factor that Russell is the last team that Mercer lost to and the fact that they can not only beat Russell but destroy Russell, I predict we will see the best effort from Mercer County that we have seen all year.

 

I see where people post that Russell is well coached and that they have 20+ seniors. Mercer is well coached as well. The team is disciplined and have remained focused throughout the year when many wondered how they could. They have almost completed their goal of being state champions and I don't see Russell stopping them.

 

And to the 5A playing in 2A comments.... When the school merged in May/June, what exactly where they supposed to do? How could they just jump up to 3A? What district would they be in? What region would they be in? What schedule would they play? It was too late for any of that so the best thing was to keep it as it was and move up the following year. There was no way around it. It is impossible to move up a month before conditioning starts and get a full 3A schedule completed in time for the season when everyone else's schedule is done. Is this wrong? Maybe, but it is what it is. And yeah, that may be the reason why Russell will get manhandled next week, but there is nothing anyone can do about it. Nobody seems to mind when these games are scheduled during the regular season. These are the games we want to see. The Lex. Cath's vs. Danville, Highlands vs. Danville, etc. We want to see the small school play the big school and see what the outcome is. Now we can see one where the state title is on the line. Unfortunately this will play out like Trinity vs. Raceland, IMHO.

 

Good luck to Russell. I hope I am wrong, I would like to see a good game since I have to take off from work early to be there.

 

Good luck to the Titans. I work and play in your backyard so I would love to see you guys get a title before you come play with the big boys next year. I hope I can talk coach Smith into trying to schedule Bowling Green. That's what I really want to see. Good luck though, can't wait to see that stable of running backs on the carpet.

:flame: :flame: :flame:

Good luck to the Titans. I work and play in your backyard so I would love to see you guys get a title before you come play with the big boys next year. I hope I can talk coach Smith into trying to schedule Bowling Green. That's what I really want to see. Good luck though, can't wait to see that stable of running backs on the carpet.

 

The twist I see in this is that you think this is Mercer's best chance to get a ring. Because next year when they play with "the big boys" they will be an average to above average team. Not the beast that they are in AA this year.

This is no doubt Mercer's best chance to get a ring. I truly feel that this very well could be their last chance for a football ring, and they better take advantage of it. I work in Harrodsburg and have let the Mercer faithful know how I feel. While they may not win a ring in 5A, but they will be better than people think. I think they will be above average, not just average. They will have to play versus the Highlands, Cov. Catholics, Bowling Green's, Hopkinsville's of the world now and that is a lot different than Russell, Belfry, OC, etc. They'll be competitive.

Mercer will win this game. I think they'll win to the fashion of...

 

35-7

I relish this underdog role for my Devils. Ivan and staff will go to work this week and prepare a gameplan to win. Our kids will put on pads and take the field just like the Mercer kids do next Friday. This is still a game that comes down to good coaching, execution and a desire to win. The Russell Red Devils will show up and play a football game. It may or may not be enough, but they will represent. For this Russell team, they have the expereince of playing and winning a state title game. Mercer does not. I know the Mercer Co. uniforms are quite nice, but thery're still just football uniforms, not "super hero" outfits. The proverbial monkey on this Mercer Co. team's back will be a 300 pound gorilla by the time this one gets to kickoff. That kind of pressure can cause mistakes to be made. Hopefully, our kids can capitalize on a few of those miscues. We have to play a mistake free game and not give Mercer Co. anything they didn't earn. Can't wait to watch this drama unfold. Clearly the best David and Goliath storyline in quite some time for high school football in KY.

 

Go Devils!!! :fire:

Why don't they?

 

BTW, it would be Raceland absorbing Russell if they want to stay in A. That's what happened here. The Harrodsburg Schools System ceased to exist and the Mercer County School System absorbed them. That's why they are in AA not A where Harrodsburg was. It's not an ideal system but it's the one in place.

 

But don't they still each attend the same schools they attended last year, do everything separate like last year, except for athletics? Or have they combined their academic's teams as well? Just Curious. This is something that I heard new last night. I had thought that they consolidated so late in the summer and with this being the last year for 4 classes , the KHSAA allowed them to stay at 2A. Or am I off-base or mis-informed.

 

When the school merged in May/June, what exactly where they supposed to do? How could they just jump up to 3A?

 

How could they merge if they still attend their same schools? IMO, if they new consolidated school is not ready yet, and since they are still attending their own schools, you don't have a true consolidation, but exactly what you called it and that is a "merger". Just doesn't sound right to me, to allow them to do everything separate from athletics, but like I said earlier I am picking this information up in pieces on BGP and don't know the reasons why KHSAA allowed this to happen.

 

But I guess all that's is already said and done. No use beating a dead horse, again.

 

While the polls and the pickers may and should favor Mercer since they are rated #1 and undefeated, I sincerely believe after watching Russell all year and after last night's shutout at Belfry, it will be a heck of a game.