ryanparker

First of all, congratulations to Raceland. They are a very good team. Russell played their best game of the year. Old Rambler, I don't buy the stuff how Raceland didn't play their best tonight. Russell played very well. It's just that Raceland is the better team this year. They have a strong line and 2 good running backs. I get the feeling this game was won in the weight room this summer. A lineman like Logan doesn't come along too often. From looking at him out there, I thought T.J. Maynard had suited up for a second! :-) This was a COMPLETELY different Russell team than I have seen at any point this year, though. Every Russell fan, player, and coach should be proud of their effort tonight. The personnel changes on defense helped. Stapleton, Rice, and Smith were great. Storm Burgess in the backfield helped. Jason Dolly is an outstanding punter. Abrams was simply phenomenal. Cordle played well. The sidelines were into the game and even chanting. If Russell had played with this kind of spirit from game 1 this year, this season would have been different and we wouldn't have been going to Belfry in round 2. If they play like this in the playoffs, though, they will definitely compete against anyone. As for Raceland, they likely have a tough rematch with LCA in the playoffs, but I really think they can get to the title game this year. I don't know how good Beechwood is, but people talk of them as if they are unbeatable. I really hope Raceland pulls it off, though. Oh..and as for those who said this wasn't a big game for Raceland...I haven't heard celebratory fire trucks blaring from my house in Flatwoods after any other Raceland win this season. I do tonight. :-) All in all, it was a great night of football. Again, congratulations Raceland! I'm proud of this Russell team.

I know. I was just giving you a hard time! Sorry for my poor attempt at humor. ;-) Other than the state championship game, I don't think either team will see an atmosphere this exciting the rest of the season. The miles that separate the teams that both Russell and Raceland will meet in the playoffs usually lowers the crowds for those games. You have to be a hardcore fan (like a message board poster or something) to travel a few hours to watch your team play! Tonight's game will draw out the more "casual fan".

So you're telling me you aren't even going to be a little bit more excited than usual tonight when you look around and see every seat in the place filled? It is games like this that makes high school football great! I think it is safe to say that both sides want to win this game equally as bad. If they don't, then we should question why they came out to be on the football team in the first place. Sure, the state championship is what every team in Kentucky plays for, but since there are only 6 of those every year, it is games like tonight's that makes the journey trying to get there so much fun. Somebody needs to call WLGC, though, and tell them not to start their broadcast an hour early tonight! ;-)

The only thing they haven't managed to come up with that Russell and Ashland have is success in the playoffs. Maybe this will be the year they break through. I hope so. If they do, however, manage to pull off a state title appearance this year, then the pressure will be on them to do it again and again and again, etc., because at that point 6-3 seasons become "down" years as this one is for Russell. Raceland fans should relish this possible breakthrough season, because this is probably as "fun" as it gets. The climb to the top of the mountain is probably a lot more fun than the view after you get there!

Well, I hope Dillon has practiced his punting this week then. He is perhaps the biggest punter of all time, but last week's results weren't too great. Or maybe TheBurnOut is right and Russell won't have to punt all night! :-)

That's good news. I hope he can play at full speed. He can rest the injury until Belfry after tonight.

You are 100% correct. I'd say Ashland has the most difficult road in our area, though. They first have to make the playoffs in a district that includes Johnson Central, Lexington Bryan Station, Woodford County, and Montgomery County. Then they get the reward of Highlands or Covington Catholic in round 1 or 2! Russell's toughest test before getting to Belfry or Breathitt County has been Mason County. Granted, they are no Northern Kentucky team, but they are pretty good. Since Russell didn't win their district this year, they get to play at Belfry in round 2. Belfry should be amped up for that one since Russell has beaten Belfry in the playoffs the last 2 times they played including a 19-0 shutout at Belfry a couple of years ago. Raceland's playoff road used to be more difficult than Russell's, but they have it better now that they don't have to face the Northern Kentucky teams in rounds 1 and 2. Actually, this year's road to Louisville for Raceland looks quite similar to Russell's path the past few years. It's been awhile since I checked the other teams seedings, but if my memory serves me correctly, Raceland gets Clinton County at home, the winner of Fairview/Campbellsville at home, then either LCA at home or at Williamsburg (depending on who wins that one), and then at Hazard for the right to play Beechwood for the state title. That's not such a bad playoff road. Still, though, the team I feel bad for is Ashland. Their playoff road is mission impossible. :-)

Do you know this to be fact? He tried to play a little last week and apparently decided he couldn't go. If Bailey can't play, then this does remove a big play threat on offense. As you indicated, though, the biggest problem without him appears to be punting. From what we saw last week, Russell might as well go for it on every 4th down rather than punt the ball 10 yards.

Excellent post. As I said, I do still think that Russell is a GOOD team, just not GREAT this year. I see your point. Theoretically, they are capable of putting it all together tonight and beating Raceland. This will be Raceland's toughest test since LCA and until LCA again. I only base my prediction on the fact that Russell hasn't put it all together yet this year. Maybe they do tonight. I hope for a close game. It should be fun.

At last! You guys have joined the thread! :-) I look forward to the game tonight. The weather forecast is good. It really should be a GREAT atmosphere. I hope it somehow turns out to be a close game. Being a Russell fan, I haven't gotten to see a close game this year. They've blown out 6 inferior opponents and been beaten pretty convincingly by 3 superior opponents. Regardless of what you Raceland fans or TheBurnOut says, I still believe Raceland is the prohibitive favorite in this one. You speak the truth when you say that Russell is a good team. The only problem is that Raceland just might be a GREAT team this year! Since TheBurnOut isn't going to cite any on-the-field facts that leads him to believe tonight is going to be a big Russell win...could he at least give us some indication of his past prognosticating abilities? Perhaps he has been known to spot monumental upsets with regularity? Did he pick Villanova over Georgetown, Douglas over Tyson, the Giants over the Patriots, etc.? Let us know, BurnOut. We're just looking for something to believe in here. :-)

GO DEVILS!!!

How can a school whose enrollment is 3A consistently be head and shoulders above all of their 5A competition?

Congratulations indeed! It is good to see him having success in what is a very creative endeavor. That truly is a great accomplishment. Now get out there and block! :-)

This was a good article. I didn't realize the numbers at Ashland were so low in comparison to the schools they have to play. When they moved to 5A, I just assumed that people were having a lot of babies in Ashland from 1990 to 1993. :-) It is pretty apparent that Ashland got the short end of the stick, though, in comparison to our other Northeastern Kentucky area schools. Over the last couple of decades, Russell and Ashland have always had about the same talent. Russell, however, moved down in class so they get to hang state championship banners. Ashland, on the other hand, moved up so they get to play in an incredibly difficult district with the reward of Northern Kentucky powerhouses in the first couple rounds of the playoffs. I had no idea about the political reasons behind Ashland's move up in class.

You have to respect a team like that. You know what formation is coming. You know what plays are coming. Johnson Central is just depending on their 11 guys being better than Ashland's 11 guys.

I took it as if he meant that Ashland is the program with the longstanding tradition and that Johnson Central is the program that is starting to look like more than a "one hit wonder" since they are pretty good every year now.

I am there every week cheering for them to play well! When honestly analyzing the games, though, that is the main difference between this Russell team and the last few year's teams. Everyone on the message boards asks what is wrong with this year's team...so I just chime in with my opinion. Russell graduated better players than they had to replace them with. It is likely a Raceland fan will be on here next year saying the same thing about their team.

I would like to see them go for some different types of passes. Those 13 incompletions and 1 interception were the result of trying deep passes over and over. Why not try some 5-10 yard passes?

It does seem as if it would be foolish for Raceland to do anything other than run the power game. When you are that much stronger than your opposition, why take unnecessary risks that you don't have to take? I agree with your assessment. There is not much a defensive coordinator can do when the other team is simply running you over. I also agree that Russell needs to vary from their standard offensive strategy in this one. I think Russell's skill position players are as good, if not better, than Raceland's. They have got to get the ball to Bailey and Mitchell via some short passes in open space on the edges of the field and allow them to make plays. Abrams is a good runner, but the power running game might not be the best strategy to beating this Raceland team.

I think it would benefit Russell if Raceland tried more of a finesse game. Not saying that Raceland cannot be successful throwing the ball all around the field, but I think Russell has a better shot of matching the speed of Raceland than they do the power. I have watched most of the Russell games this season and it hasn't appeared that they have responded well in games where they have been challenged. I hope they are undergoing some hypnotism this week leading up to the game. :-) If there is a bright spot for Russell, it might be that they are coming off playing 2 pretty good teams in Simon Kenton and Mason County while Raceland has played against 4 bad teams in a row. I know it is a stretch, but perhaps this will help in some way? I have always believed in the old Hal Mumme strategy when your team is a considerable underdog. Might as well go down with both guns blazing! Russell has actually kicked onside with success in the past in big games against Belfry. Also, it seems that as conservative as Coach McGlone is with his play calling, he sometimes shows the tendency to be risky such as going for it on 4th down with unfavorable field position when Russell is going up against an opponent that should beat them. As critical as some people are about his play calling, I like those tendencies.

Good post. I haven't seen Raceland play but have definitely heard enough tales about their line to realize Russell could be in for a tough night Friday. Since you have seen both teams play, let's get into some more specifics. Do you anticipate Raceland to simply line up and run straight at Russell? If they are as strong up front as everyone says, then I don't see what Russell could do to slow them down. Do you see the game as a lopsided physical mismatch or is it a game Russell could be competitive in if they show up with a different attitude? My gut feeling is that Russell had better come up with some creative ways to put some points on the board Friday. Given the strength of Raceland's line, it is unlikely their usual running game will find success, so they probably need to come up with something a little "out of the box" to catch Raceland off guard. Russell is known for sticking to the same offensive game plan no matter what, though, so the chances they come out with a different offensive mindset is remote. Also, it would be nice if Russell's special teams play could deliver some big plays like perhaps some good kickoff returns, recover an onsides kick, etc....but again, I haven't seen a lot of that capability either in watching Russell this season. With all that being said, I think Russell had better hope they can get some Raceland turnovers. I think it is going to take some unique happenings for Russell to have a shot in this one. What do you think?

Good post. I totally agree.

In reference to the above two quotes about Russell's line...do you know something the rest of us don't? Are the players on the Russell line going to come out motivated this week or something? I haven't seen Russell's line collectively manhandle anyone this year! I also haven't seen any threat of the linemen getting into the offensive backfield on a consistent basis and applying pressure to the QB. I hope you are right, but I would just like to hear some facts that back up these claims. I agree with you about this one. Most I have talked to expect Raceland to win easily. In fact, there is no one that I have talked to that expects Russell to win. Heck, look at the results of the poll! I think it is safe to say that our entire area not only is predicting Raceland to win, but WANTS Raceland to win. I think that can be surmised from the tone of many of the posts in this thread. :-) Success breeds contempt. I don't know if that is actually going to help Russell win, though. I agree here as well. They seem like a good bunch of fans. Too bad the regular Raceland posters on here have decided to let the talking be done on the field this week.