Ok, Doug, I couldn't stand it anymore, I had to join so I could post. I still can't talk about the game. Not going to slam Mercer, but it still hurts.

 

One thing no one has talked about, was the play calling. Why did we go to the air way too soon ? Plenty of time, 3 timeouts, and the football looked like a kid's balloon everytime it was thrown up in that wind. Oh well, a topic for another day.

 

I think we should already have our special teams out in the cold practicing for next season. Here's a disturbing trend for the Devils with special teams' play in big games, in recent memory:

 

2000 Lexington Catholic AA playoffs, missed XP in OT, lost game

 

2002 @ Breathitt County AA semis, missed XP in OT, cost us the game, and most likely the 2002 title, as Breathitt won by 50+ the next week over Corbin.

 

then the game against Mercer, missed XP, then MC bobble their's, kid bails them out with a sweet run on a busted play and all of a sudden we're down 2. how can you consistently miss XP's ? missed at Belfry the week prior also.

 

:devil:

Ok, Doug, I couldn't stand it anymore, I had to join so I could post. I still can't talk about the game. Not going to slam Mercer, but it still hurts.

 

One thing no one has talked about, was the play calling. Why did we go to the air way too soon ? Plenty of time, 3 timeouts, and the football looked like a kid's balloon everytime it was thrown up in that wind. Oh well, a topic for another day.

 

I think we should already have our special teams out in the cold practicing for next season. Here's a disturbing trend for the Devils with special teams' play in big games, in recent memory:

 

2000 Lexington Catholic AA playoffs, missed XP in OT, lost game

 

2002 @ Breathitt County AA semis, missed XP in OT, cost us the game, and most likely the 2002 title, as Breathitt won by 50+ the next week over Corbin.

 

then the game against Mercer, missed XP, then MC bobble their's, kid bails them out with a sweet run on a busted play and all of a sudden we're down 2. how can you consistently miss XP's ? missed at Belfry the week prior also.

 

:devil:

 

The land of "ifs and buts" is not a friendly place.

 

It's tough for any team when the difference in a game is XP and 2-point conversion execution... Prestonsburg has had bitter doses of that in the '93 Final (vs. Mayfield) and '03 Regional semi (vs. Belfry).

 

:creepy:

We share the frustration of giving this game away ....

 

The long standing winning program on Red Devil Lane ( from JFL to Varsity ) will be just fine ...

 

I cannot be critical of this program which has all the elements to consistently produce winning results in the proper manner for our kids ...

 

Last 10 years has been a heck of a ride for Devil fans ... let's keep it going .. This program and feeders - powered by countless players , quality coaches , supporting parents, school system and fans is on cruise control ... let's not hit the brake

Lets not forget that was an awfully tough day for the special teams. Mercer got the 2pt conversion on a bobbled snap and the XP that was made was one of the uglier makes you will ever see. Russell's missed XP was into that brutal wind and the 2pt conversion was just inches short due to a great play by Chris Lewis to get Tyler Jones down on the ground. Had Jones gone high instead of low he gets in.

 

That game was a battle between two of the better defenses in the state regardless of class.

 

I also think Russell may have gone to the pass to much in the 4th quarter but I understand the logic. Russell has had success throwing the ball up and letting Clark and Frazier go and get it. With the wind behind them I think the staff thought they could pass effectively in this fashion. Jones, though it looks like he is just throwing it up and hoping, has become very good at throwing it up and having it come down where the recievers could make the play. The wind just kept carrying the ball.

 

Sometimes the breaks just don't go your way.

The QB throwing it up for grabs with 1-2-3 defenders in the neighborhood. I agree...lack of execution on ST and abandonment of the ground game were costly...it also looked like Mercer had figured things out (as did RHS vs MC O).

 

As a D guy..it was a GREAT game! Well worth the price of admission.:banana:

If you all new the whole facts about the kicking game. You would understand that it takes three. A good snap, a good hold, and a good kick. Russell kicker had 7 PAT's that he actually missed when he put a foot on it. The other where due to a bad snap or a dropped hold. Plus you can not mess with a kickers head when one time he kicks and the other time he dont ????????

The FG was called with over 8 min left in the 3rd Qtr. This game was lost due to the terrible play calling by the coaches ?????????????

The special tems need a lot of work...I saw them in the Corbin game, and for such a good program with good coaches; I was less than impressed with the special teams...There must be emphasis placed on them...Russell gives up way too much field position because of them.

If you all new the whole facts about the kicking game. You would understand that it takes three. A good snap, a good hold, and a good kick. Russell kicker had 7 PAT's that he actually missed when he put a foot on it. The other where due to a bad snap or a dropped hold. Plus you can not mess with a kickers head when one time he kicks and the other time he dont ????????

The FG was called with over 8 min left in the 3rd Qtr. This game was lost due to the terrible play calling by the coaches ?????????????

 

Mercer fans, could not understand why Russell did not run #24 at us all day.

I would have.

Mercer could have picked 2 more passes.

Jaggers outcoached McGlone in this matchup. Jaggers knew not to put the ball in the air due to the high winds. Too many interceptions could happen. As was the case for Russell! Jaggers was content on letting his offense just run the ball and play ball protection the second half with no fumbles. Mercer running backs did a good job of ball protection. They might not have had the rushing numbers in this game, but they had no fumbles. This was a great accomplishment for the running backs - considering the hits they were taking from the Russell defense.

 

Mercer's defense was asked to win the game in the second half for the Titans - they did just that! What a great day that was!

Mercer fans, could not understand why Russell did not run #24 at us all day.

I would have.

Mercer could have picked 2 more passes.

Clark has been injured and has not run the ball as much. Mercer was bring alot of pressure from the ends. Running between the tackles appeared to be the best bet, be it Clark, Wells, Beekman or Jones.

 

Mercer could have picked two more off but Russell had three ligitamate scoring opportunities in the second half. I guess neither team took advantage of the opportunities given to them.

Jaggers outcoached McGlone in this matchup. Jaggers knew not to put the ball in the air due to the high winds. Too many interceptions could happen. As was the case for Russell! Jaggers was content on letting his offense just run the ball and play ball protection the second half with no fumbles. Mercer running backs did a good job of ball protection. They might not have had the rushing numbers in this game, but they had no fumbles. This was a great accomplishment for the running backs - considering the hits they were taking from the Russell defense.

 

Mercer's defense was asked to win the game in the second half for the Titans - they did just that! What a great day that was!

 

I have a hard time saying either one outcoached the other. It was a game in which each team scored two TD's with the XP's being the difference. While I didn't agree with passing that much in the 4th quarter I do understand the thinking. Russell had the wind at their backs and two recievers who are very good at making plays on the ball. The decision to pass backfired. But Jaggers decision to take the wind instead of that ball backfired on him as well. It was a hard fought game between two great teams. In the end Mercer got more good breaks and made enough plays to eek out the win.

Special Teams are HUGE in H.S. Without field position it puts your team in a tough spot. Your offense can't score consistently when starting a drive on the 20 or worse on offense. And if you can't get a good punt your defense suffers aswell.

 

Look at Trinity,Bowling Green and Cov Cath. All three of them had great special team play, kickers,coverage ect.. All three made it to the finals.

 

A huge asset for H.S fball

Russell won't be anything next yr. without Kasey Clark. He was their whole team.

Russell won't be anything next yr. without Kasey Clark. He was their whole team.

 

:laugh: :laugh: I think there will be several people step in and do a fine job of RB by commitee. Tyler Jones comes to mind. Drew Abrams and David Bailey should contribute as well. Good to see people think that 1 player makes a whole team. There are 10 other guys on the field that would probably have a different opinion. But oh well that's just my opinion.

The special tems need a lot of work...I saw them in the Corbin game, and for such a good program with good coaches; I was less than impressed with the special teams...There must be emphasis placed on them...Russell gives up way too much field position because of them.

 

I totally agree. Special teams can make a big difference in a game but when your coach wants you to squibb kick the ball and drop it around the 30 to 35 to prevent the run back ??????????? Don't understand it either. When #23 would kick it. The run back was normally around 6 - 12 yrds. So that would mean a kick dropped on the 6 to 15 and the ball would be run back to the around the 18 to 25. You figure the math instead of the 30 to 35. You figure the math.