Just now, Ram said:

Pre-Game coverage has started.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4SKGm1mc3E

All they have to do is click the play button on the the link I embedded now that the  broadcast has started.

7 minutes ago, GOREDDEVILS said:

All they have to do is click the play button on the the link I embedded now that the  broadcast has started.

This is a quality broadcast with great pre-game discussion.  This is nice. 

Key talking points thus far:

1.  The offensive line is the catalyst being physical but quick up-front. 

2.  The defense:  Top rushing defense in Class 1A, Top 10 in the state regardless of class. 

3. Noah Wallace, leading the rushing game. 

4.  Black jerseys on Black Friday. 

No matter what game you want to watch tonight, I urge you to start watching this pre-game show now, it's pretty good. 

12 minutes ago, Ram said:

This is a quality broadcast with great pre-game discussion.  This is nice. 

Yes when I embedded the link earllier today it said it due to start at 5:45.  You can prepost links for youtube and  when you click play they will start at set time of 5:45 or whatever time they set them to go live, no matter how early you embed the link.

Further coverage:

1.  Kicker Payton Ison - straight-on kicker.  Showed his flat-toe shoe.  Great weapon. 

2.  Holy Cross likes the swing routes, wheel routes, quick and short passes.  Something Raceland has defended well this season.  Missed tackles lead to a big play.

3.  Raceland's secondary - 22 interceptions.  Lead by Jules Farrow.  D-line does a good job of forcing bad passes.  The secondary is good at running to the ball. 

4.  Holy Cross's Perry is great at forcing teams to commit to him on the run and then throwing passes and catching a team off-guard. 

5.  Discussion of a previous talk with DC Mark Lewis and is thoughts.  "no secrets this time of year, you are what you are" - Mark Lewis. 

Mark Lewis

Two-time state champion coach at Ironton, Ohio (4 final appearances).  50th year of coaching football:  33 at Ironton, Ohio, 17 at Raceland (1 final appearance). 

"You have to stop the run first" - Mark Lewis

"It's a helpless feeling when a team is running the ball down your throat" - Mark Lewis

"This team has a hunger, you don't have to yell at them.  They want to win" - Mark Lewis

Mark Lewis will be retiring, for the second time, at the conclusion of this season and will be missed. 

1.  Holy Cross has a lot of sacks this season.  Will Raceland's OL be able to slow their rush?  

2.  Will Raceland's spread offense change how Holy Cross will be able to pressure the QB on defense?  Raceland runs a lot of 12 personal, 21 personal, 22 personal. 

3.  Luke LeMaster hiting the FG that sent Raceland to it's first State Final in 2017.

4.  Special segment on Raceland's kicker, Peyton Ison coming up. 

Peton Ison, Kicker/Punter, Raceland

1.  Ison is regimented and follows the same schedule and process.

2.  Two other elements in the process:  the holder and the snapper. 

3.  Holder, Conner Hughes - A big part of the offense and a key component in the kicking game.  

4.  Peyton Ison's first challenge was at the age of 2 years old when he was diagnosed with an aortic valve disfunction.  After surgery, he wasn't allowed to play sports.  At the age of 12, he started playing sports.  Coach Sammons asked him to maybe try to be a kicker on the football team after seeing him just playing around and kicking a football for fun.  He found his nitch and has been the team kicker and punter since.  

5.  Could hit his 150th PAT tonight.  Something that hasn't been done at Raceland. 

6.  Ison was sitting under the goal post, at age of 12 when Luke LeMaster hit the field goal to send the Rams to the State Championship game in 2017. 

1.  The importance of the kicking game. 

2.  Only 16 punts this season with an average of 41 yards per punt.  Mason Lykins, is the primary punter. 

3.  Holy Cross's kicker is 90% on PATs. 

Live stats, box score and play-by-play:

Holy Cross Cougars at Raceland Worthington Rams Football | 11/25/2022 7:30:00 PM | Digital Scout live sports scores and stats

Both teams on the field.  Crowd is filling the stands.  

At the start of the season, the expectation at Raceland was not about making it to the State Championship game, but to win it.  They expect to be there and now they expect to win it. 

The community is heavily involved.  

Comparing Raceland to West Virginia football.  One of the commentators used to coach at a large school in WV.  He said he thought Raceland would be in the top tier team in the WV 3A, which is the next to largest class in WV. 

Thanksgiving Breakfast at Raceland.  Big community attendance.  Chairs were in the end zone by 8am, people holding their spot.  

The crowd was the definition of "Community" - Bobby Hall, Greenup County Judge Executive (elect) 

"We don't want to ever be guilty of taking this for granted" - Mike Salmons, Raceland Head Coach. 

"In a world of consolidation, big schools, big cities, Raceland is a small community that is close knit and who sticks together" - Mike Salmons. 

Keys to the game:

Raceland has impose the run.  Come out and show their strength and dominance. 

Again, if you are a football junky, tune in on the youtube link and watch this pre-game show, great insight of the game and Raceland Football. 

Interview with Holy Cross's Head Coach Eric Dick

1.  What has been the catalyst of Holy Cross:  The running game with Perry.  Passing game has been successful as well.  Speaking the ball out to as many players as possible. 

2.  Chris Perry, everything goes through him.  Started as a WR as a freshman and sophomore.  Took over as QB as a junior.  1000 yards rushing with 23 TD.  Thrown for 13 TD and 1300 yards.  

3.  Tyler Ballard, RB - 5'10" 205, hard nosed runner, tough to arm tackle.  Hard runner.  

4.  The one thing that led you to success defensively? Collective unity.  Buy-in. Play sound defense.  Bend not bread defense.  Balanced.  Leader of sacks in the state. 

5.  About Raceland O and D.  D - Raceland's front 7 is one of the biggest and fastest front 7 He has seen.  The D attacks the ball.  Good size and speed.  On the O - OL is very good, moves well.  Big guys.  The QB is an unbelievable athlete.  Raceland is a solid group.  He thinks Raceland is probably the highest scoring team in 1A.  Definitely a contender 

6.  What does this team have to accomplish to be at Kroger Field?  Raceland wins the 3rd down contest, we have to get them off the field on 3rd down.