I agree that Russell is the team of this decade. But, this thread is about Friday night and stats and past championships are out the window. I cannot predict a score but I imagine that Ironton will have their way. That is not a slam to Russell, Ironton is just that good. I think they are the dominant team in the area, better than Ashland. I am friends with staff at Ironton and I have seen them and Ashland. I think Ashland is the best KY school in the area but they won't beat Ironton, either. JMO.

 

If Russell gets destroyed Friday night, it won't be the first time this decade they've been destroyed. Ashland did it to them last year. Simon Kenton did it to them last year. Belfry did it to them last year. However, last year's Russell team seemed to have some "quit" in them that I hadn't seen from a Russell team in a long time, excluding the Raceland game, of course, where they clearly came to play.

 

I just want them to give 4 quarters of all out effort. Combine that with the good game plan that their coaching staff consistently delivers and good things will have a chance to happen.

Sometimes it is hard for others to take that the Devils have been the dominant program of this decade on this side of the Ohio River. Back-to-back title games speaks volumes.

 

Graybeard. I beleive Russell has a winning record over Blazer ... I would also like to know if not Russell who is the team of the decade?

 

By claiming to be the “team of the decade” I assume you mean the current decade (2001-2010). Russell did have a couple of extra special years this decade.

 

Regardless of which years you are counting as “the decade” Russell and Ashland split about even (depending on how you limit the years for consideration of course). There is no “decade of dominance” by Russell.

 

Russell certainly did not “dominate” last year.

 

History is good. Ashland has a lot of history and tradition too. I’m just not too impressed by it.

 

If you’re going to claim to be the “dominant team” you better be able to keep it up, IMO.

 

Good luck Friday – you’re going to need it.

 

I hope none of your players get hurt. We want them all healthy for our game next week.

If Russell gets destroyed Friday night, it won't be the first time this decade they've been destroyed. Ashland did it to them last year. Simon Kenton did it to them last year. Belfry did it to them last year. However, last year's Russell team seemed to have some "quit" in them that I hadn't seen from a Russell team in a long time, excluding the Raceland game, of course, where they clearly came to play.

 

I just want them to give 4 quarters of all out effort. Combine that with the good game plan that their coaching staff consistently delivers and good things will have a chance to happen.

 

 

Well, I hope that "quit" has been fixed. Because you are right - they sure had it last year.

 

 

 

 

I do think playing strong teams make you stronger. I think the strong teams show the weaker teams what it takes to be good. Many years I have watched the Tomcats step-up their game after playing Ironton. They learn from the experience – they were taken to school.

 

So, I am glad to see Russell play Ironton. I think it will make the devils better for the play-offs.

 

Graybeard, you make a very good point. Playing better competition will make a team play harder and get better. Yes, alot of times that team will take a beating whether it be by a small margin or blowout but they will learn much more from a game like that as opposed to blowing out a "Sisters of the Poor" school. Playing better teams imo exposes you and lets you know what you need to work on.

"the way that you get better is to play teams that can beat you"

I won't list a bunch of stats again, but I will simply say that Russell is 4 wins away from their 100th win of this decade (2000-2009). There aren't any other teams in our area even close, so it's not really worth listing. ...

 

Come on Ryan. Russell's cupcake district has a little something to do with that record. Do you really need to brag about all of your wins ove Estill Co.? For several years Mason Co. was in Ashalnd's district and without them, it was just a bunch of easy wins for Russell. But I can see you're proud of them.

Look, I think our area has three good football programs: Russell, Ashland, and Raceland. On any given year, any of these three programs has the possibility of making some noise on the statewide level. I am a fan of Russell more than the others because it's where I went to school, it's where I live, and it's where my children go to school.

 

However, I am also a fan of the others when they are playing bigger, better teams from outside of our area. I want to see them do well because it brings excitement to our area and because I have all sorts of friends associated with each of the schools. Heck, I'd like to see Greenup County, Boyd County, and Fairview build up their programs to be able to compete with some of the teams that are heralded as statewide powerhouses. Fairview and Boyd County have made progress with their programs lately and Greenup County is certainly trying.

 

I enjoy the lighthearted smack talk, but when it all comes down to it...can't we all just get along? :confused:

Edited September 1, 200917 yr by ryanparker

Russell plays in the district assigned by the KHSAA. If you go by sheer numbers 5A Ashland should never lose to 3A Russell or 1A Raceland yet they are 5-6 last 11 years vs Russell and 1-3 vs Racleand the last four. I guess playing a big, bad schedule does not mean a whole lot.

Come on Ryan. Russell's cupcake district has a little something to do with that record. Do you really need to brag about all of your wins ove Estill Co.? For several years Mason Co. was in Ashalnd's district and without them, it was just a bunch of easy wins for Russell. But I can see you're proud of them.

 

Well, for comparison's sake, I figure Russell's wins over Estill County and the like were balanced out by Ashland's wins over the likes of Rowan County and Magoffin County. In fact, if you check Ashland's schedule over the years, the "improvement" made after losing to Ironton each year was followed up on an almost yearly basis by a shellacking of Magoffin County. Isn't Ashland, being a 5A school, supposed to be playing significantly harder teams than 3A Russell anyway?

Preach on Ryan.

Here's a post that has something to do with this thread.

 

Why is Ironton so good all the time? Is it the coach? Is it the fact they get the best players from all around their area of Ohio? Is it the weight program?

 

What do they have going over there that teams on this side of the river haven't been able to figure out?

Here's a post that has something to do with this thread.

 

Why is Ironton so good all the time? Is it the coach? Is it the fact they get the best players from all around their area of Ohio? Is it the weight program?

 

What do they have going over there that teams on this side of the river haven't been able to figure out?

 

I feel a lot of it is the Coach. If you look back a couple of years when Coach Lutz retired, they dropped off tremendously. It has taken them 3 years to regain their swagger.

I feel a lot of it is the Coach. If you look back a couple of years when Coach Lutz retired, they dropped off tremendously. It has taken them 3 years to regain their swagger.

 

Alot of kids left when Lutz did. Now they're all coming back again and YES, ITS ALL BECAUSE OF LUTZ but can you blame em? Kids wanna win football games and thats what Lutz does

Ironton consistently receives transfers. Always have. That can't hurt.

Forgive me for my lack of knowledge about the Ironton football program, but what offensive and defensive schemes do they run? I know everyone says this year's Ironton team is big and powerful, but do they have speed to go along with it?

Where is the big Murphy kid playing this year for the Tigers?