Teams and Score: Raceland 14 Ashland 13

Year: 1991

RS or PO: Regular season opener

Location: Ashland's Putnum Stadium

Details why this game should be the "Game of the Week": For years, Ashland and Raceland opened the regular season versus each other. Ashland always won by a large margin. This was a tune up game for Ashland, pure and simple. Raceland looked at it as a game that would make them better. No one expected Raceland to win, except the Raceland players. In fact, Raceland's coach Bill Tom Ross, told a reporter in an interview that he never expected Raceland to beat Ashland, and in fact, no one was more surprised then him that Raceland won. He said that he only used the game to make the team better.

 

This game was the year after Ashland had won the State Championship and returned the leading rusher in Ashland history, at the time, Chris Hutt. This was the first time that Raceland ever beat Ashland, and now the series is very respectable, with Raceland now having 7 victories over Ashland, with three in a row at present. The '91 game was the game that proved to the Raceland faithful that Raceland could win this game. The Raceland/Ashland Rivalry now has one of the largest crowds in North-Eastern Kentucky.

What made this game great? Who were some of the players that made a difference? What were the big plays of the game? Please be specific.

If you have a nomination for the "Bluegrasspreps.com Game of the Week", please visit this link. You can nominate more then one game. Your nomination does not have to be a playoff or Championship game, just a great game that exemplifies Kentucky High School Football.

I remember this game and the pride I felt when the Rams finally got past Ashland. You are correct Ram, absolutely no one expected it (including myself) at that time. For Raceland to beat a Vic Marsh coached Tomcat team was huge for the school and community.

I personally believe that game was a turning point in that Raceland, although the Rams already with a winning tradition, from that point on went into any and all games no matter the opponet "expecting" to win instead of hoping they would win. I feel that is when that same feeling really went through the fans as well.

No, Raceland has not and is not going to win every game they play from now on but I can honestly say that now we expect to win any game that may be before us.

Oldrambler you are right, Raceland was always seen as an underdog in this game, but after the '91 game, I think this game took on a new face. After this win, the Raceland fans then expected Raceland to win against anyone.

 

In my mind this game was one of the most important wins in Raceland history. Raceland was always strong in play against similar sized schools, but after this game, Raceland has been strong against schools of all size. Definitely a page in Raceland history.

 

I'm proud to say that I was on the '91 Raceland team, my senior year. At the time, I was glad to be on the first team to beat Ashland, but later in life, it took on a new meaning. After getting older, I now see the '91 Ashland game as a pivotal game in Raceland history.

The Raceland offensive starters:

Center: Marty Johnson

Guards: Bo McDanials, Mike Danials

Tackles: Jamie Newman, Phillip Kearns

Ends: Mike Logston, Robbie Pence

QB: Sam Frazier

FB: Greg Taylor

HB: Mike Stewart, J.B. Newman

K: Bo McDaniels

 

Defensive starters:

NT: Greg Taylor

DT: Jamie Newman, Phillip Kearns

DE: Marty Johnson, Mike Daniels

LB: Shane Bishop, Bo McDaniels

CB: Kyle Ross, Mike Stewart

S: Mike Logston, J.B. Newman

P: Shane Bishop

Jimmy Music wasn't listed as a starter, but didn't he play significant minutes? I believe he was a Junior in 1991 season.

Jimmy Music wasn't listed as a starter, but didn't he play significant minutes? I believe he was a Junior in 1991 season.

That is correct, he was a junior, and did get quite a bit of playing time at DT. He may have even worked into the starting lineup as the season went on.

It is funny to listen to how Jimmy became a player for the Rams the year before in 1990. He didn't even know how to get into a stance. They even had to show him how to get into the huddle. But, in true Raceland Ram fashion, he absorbed everything that he was taught and became an important piece of the puzzle. Just think if Bryan Newman and Shane Bishop and the rest of that team had not begged Jimmy's parents to let him play. Who knew he coud turn into such a player.

Jimmy became a nice player in short order. The best way to get players on the field is to send some players to his house. It was funny thought watching Jimmy trying to learn how to play football, he would get so frustrated because we would laugh at him. But, he focused and became a very good OL/DL.

 

Just think if we could have gotten his brother to play several years earlier. Chuck was a big boy.

Proud to call them my brothers-in-law.

I'll never forget the final seconds of this game. Raceland had the ball, and we were just taking knees to run the clock out. As we would come to the line, one of the Ashland defensive linemen said, "I can't believe you guys beat us", then the next time we came to the line, he said, "You have a great team".

 

Ashland's line dwarfed us, our line was small, but fast, we beat them to our blocking assignments and they were just frustrated. It was truly a great game.

From what I have been told, the celebration by the Raceland crowd and team was legendary as for how we celebrate today.

From what I have been told, the celebration by the Raceland crowd and team was legendary as for how we celebrate today.

The team and fans were on the field at Putnum for quite some time. The coaches had to come and get all the players to get on the bus. Everyone had left, except the Raceland fans and players. We were there for a long time.:banana:

We sang "The Song" in the middle of the field.

The team and fans were on the field at Putnum for quite some time. The coaches had to come and get all the players to get on the bus. Everyone had left, except the Raceland fans and players. We were there for a long time.:banana:

We sang "The Song" in the middle of the field.

 

Awesome!!!!!!!!