ryanparker

Congratulations to Mason County...District Championship game next week at Russell.

Goodness...Fugate is a good running back. Congratulations Breathitt County.

Not to toot my own horn or anything...but Congratulations Raceland!

I listened on the radio tonight. It sounded like Simon Kenton was just the far superior team. That was apparently a good move to a new quarterback for the Pioneers as well. I look forward to some analysis from some people who were there in person.

I guess this is a good example of how much 5A vs. 1A means. These teams were ranked about the same in their respective classes. I wonder if playing games like this are good for the smaller schools. Do they benefit from it or do they just walk away saying "Wow...they were good"?

Russell takes a beating at the hands of Miles Simpson and Simon Kenton.

I hope Raceland is having their homecoming parade this evening because I heard what sounded like every fire truck and police car siren in the area from outside my house in Flatwoods this evening. At first, I thought there must have been a big emergency but then I remembered that it's Raceland's homecoming tomorrow so it must have been a parade...at least I hope so.

The Raceland-Paintsville game is much closer in distance while the Russell-Simon Kenton game will likely be much closer on the scoreboard. I can't wait to read Wildcat Willy's scouting report on the Rams, though, after he watches them in person this week!

You're right. It was the best and most entertaining high school game I have ever seen.

You have a lot of valid points in that most of the wins that Russell has gotten over the last few years have been against very weak competition and that it has been a longstanding joke that Russell runs the same plays over and over and has done so for many years now. Ever since they moved down in class, it seems that most of the schedule has been filled with weak competition IN COMPARISON TO THE PROGRAM THAT RUSSELL HAS BUILT. Also, I don't think it's any secret as to how defenses can line up to stop Russell. Obviously, they can generally count on the same running plays more often than not. That being said, I still respect Coach McGlone for what he has done and continues to do. Do you really think that Russell has that much more talent coming through than other area schools? Why would they? Russell always manages to be very competitive with, if not better than, all the area schools, though. Here's a summary of Russell's results over the last 11 years (I counted this year as well) with an emphasis on how we compare to our area teams (and by that I mean 16th region schools): * Russell's overall record in the last 11 years: 108-30 * Russell's overall record vs Ashland in the last 11 years: 6-5 * Russell's overall record vs Boyd in the last 11 years: 8-3 * Russell's overall record vs Greenup in the last 11 years: 9-2 * Playoff record - Russell has played as long or longer into November/December than any other team in our area for the past 11 years in a row. In fact, every other team from our area has usually been destroyed when they get far enough in the playoffs to be playing good competition: 2007 - lost to Breathitt by 3 in state quarterfinals, 2006 - beat Corbin by 8, shut out Belfry 19-0 at Belfry, lost state championship game by 3 to Mercer 2005 - won at Newport by 1, beat Belfry by 6, won state championship over Owensboro Catholic by 13 2004 - lost to eventual state champ Belfry in state semifinals 2003 - lost to Lloyd Memorial in state quarterfinals 2002 - lost at eventual state champ Breathitt by 1 in state semifinals 2001 - lost to Fleming in 2nd round 2000 - lost to Lexington Cathoic by 1 in 2nd round 1999 - lost to Boyle in 2nd round 1998 - lost to Prestonsburg by 6 in 1st round Russell and Ashland are very similar in talent year in and year out. Other than that, no other school in the area compares. Ashland is a larger school and thus has to play better competition. Therefore, they don't traditionally make it as far in the state playoffs. I think Russell has established themselves as a "powerhouse" in our area. Are they a statewide powerhouse? No. But I think they have done enough to at least be respected statewide. These are pretty good results that Coach McGlone has had...not mentioning the fact that he won the state in 1978 as well with an entirely different generation of Russell players.

I didn't think the referees decided last year's game. It was a really great game, though. I hope this year's can live up to it.

This has to be one of the top games of the week in the state. I'll pick Breathitt County in a close one.

I, too, agree that Russell may need to get a little more imaginitive on both offense and defense if they are going to have a chance to win these last 3 games and go far in the playoffs this year. This year's team just doesn't seem as powerful as the last few years. Abrams runs hard and Bailey definitely has good skills carrying the ball, but the line play seems a little down from the previous few years.

Last 6 meetings: 1998 Raceland 28 Paintsville 14 (at Paintsville) 1999 Paintsville 18 Raceland 16 (at Paintsville) 2000 Paintsville 38 Raceland 14 (at Raceland) 2003 Raceland 20 Paintsville 6 (at Paintsville) 2004 Paintsville 34 Raceland 14 (at Raceland) 2007 Raceland 54 Paintsville 30 (at Paintsville) I guess if you're looking for extra motivation, you could point to the fact that Paintsville has won by 24 and 20 in their last 2 trips to Raceland.

Hey now...some of us keep our Russell "fanaticism" confined to the correct threads. And some of us Russell fans take a reasonable approach to commenting on other games...such as seeing that this one shapes us to be an obvious Raceland blowout.

That is great. It is precisely that attitude we all share for one team or another that brings us to this site in the first place. That's what makes high school football and this time of year so fun. All I was saying is from looking at the scores, Highlands is demolishing some pretty good teams this year. For that matter, Johnson Central is too. Ashland has the most difficult road through the playoffs of any of our local northeastern Kentucky teams...and it isn't even close. While it would be a great accomplishment for Raceland or Russell to make it to Louisville this year, those accomplishments would pale in comparison to Ashland making it there. I want to see the Tomcats make it, though! Ashland fans and players have a lot to look forward to in the next month. The anticipation of games against Covington Catholic, Highlands, or Johnson Central will definitely be exciting.

I pick Rowan County 28-13

I am definitely for the Tomcats the rest of the way...but to say that Johnson Central, Covington Catholic, or Highlands would be afraid to play them is definitely seeing things through maroon colored glasses. The fact is that Ashland is having a very nice season. They are a very good team. Unfortunately, though, they will be considerable underdogs in many of their upcoming games.

I agree that Ashland is certainly worthy of top 10 consideration. However, 5A is a very difficult class, particularly at the top.

I think most of the doubt of this Russell team comes from three things: (1) the fact that their 6 wins have come against teams with a combined 7-31 record (with 4 of the wins coming from an average at best Boyd County team) (2) their bad 36-10 loss to Ashland (3) the expectations coming from the success of their past teams I suppose I could look on the bright side for a change and answer these doubts with: (1) They can only play the teams on their schedule and much of the weak part of their schedule is due to the pathetic district they have been placed in. The fact is that they have beaten all the teams they have been supposed to beat and have done so easily. (2) The Ashland game was 13-10 midway through the 3rd quarter when things appeared to fall apart for Russell leading to a very ugly 4th quarter. (3) They can't do anything about the expectations. The reality is that they might not be as decimated as many think. Essentially, they have a 4 game season with 6 scrimmage games mixed in. They lost the first game at Ashland. Now, they have to go to Simon Kenton before closing at home against Mason County and Raceland. As of now, all we really know is they didn't play well on September 19th at Ashland. What happens from here on out is anyone's guess. Win or lose, though, I don't anticipate seeing another game like the Ashland game because: (1) I don't think any of the remaining teams on Russell's schedule are that much better than Ashland. (2) I expect that the Russell players have some pride and will respond to the doubts with a stronger effort. (3) I think Ivan McGlone is a pretty good coach who can figure out over the course of a season what his team can and cannot do. When the games become important, I think he will have more answers than he did in the Ashland game where they seemed to insist on running the ball over and over into a defensive formation where their blockers were outnumbered. The Mason County game is the most important of the final 3 because it is for home field in the playoffs. The Raceland game is the 2nd most important because it would be a bad loss on their home field heading into the playoffs...not to mention it's another "bragging rights" game. If they are going to pick a game to expirement, then it would be this week at Simon Kenton.

Ashland will win this one by a lot.

I think Wildcat Willy said it all. This is the week we begin to find out if this Russell team is a contender or a pretender. Last week, these two teams faced polar opposite competition. Simon Kenton lost to powerhouse Boone County. Russell destroyed winless Lewis County. In reality, I'm not sure as to the outcome of this game, but my heart picks Russell. Russell 31 Simon Kenton 28 (thanks to a Jason Dolly FG)

Bath County and Fairview look to be at similar levels given their results so far this season. Bath County has several wins against less than stellar teams and has been defeated by Prestonsburg and Williamsburg, both good teams. Fairview has several wins against lesser competition as well with their only loss coming to Raceland. I look for this to be a close game and I give the nod to Fairview since it's at Fairview.

Congratulations Ashland! I didn't get to make it to the game, but I listened to the always enjoyable Ashland radio crew (best high school radio crew I've heard) describe it. It sounds like it was a very exciting game. It is good to see Ashland get past the best passing team they will face this season. What a turnaround, huh? Did Woodford County not have any sort of running game at all to milk the clock with a 10 point lead in the game's final minutes? Unbelievable. Ashland goes on the road for 2 games now before returning to Putnam Stadium to face the best running team they will face this season, Johnson Central. They have their work cut out for them, but I think they can do it. Besides, Ashland's only losses have come to teams wearing orange, Raceland and Ironton. I don't think any of their remaining opponents wear orange...so it's looking good!