ryanparker

I'm sorry I wasn't exactly clear with my statement. I realize Ashland played their JV after the starters took one more drive to start the 2nd half. I was trying to say that the 2nd half wasn't COMPLETELY just the Ashland JV. Actually, that was probably just my misplaced frustration talking anyway, though, because now that I've thought about it more, the issue here shouldn't be how many points Ashland wanted or didn't want to beat Russell by. The issue here is the fact that Ashland can now choose the score against Russell. Truth be told, Ashland's JV would have probably won this game had they just played from the start. That would just mean more of sophomore Malik Massey running the ball. In fact, the score might have been worse! I still don't understand why he only gets a couple touches per game.

I listened to a lot of this one on my way home from the Russell-Ashland game. It seemed to be a lot closer than the final score indicates. Greenup was up 33-27 at one point. What in the world happened? I would guess Greenup got the next score, put it out of reach, and a worn-down and demoralized Raceland team just quit. Is that how it went? In any case, congratulations to Greenup. This is their year as far as the local teams go (other than Ashland of course). I hope Greenup fares well in their district this season. Raceland will be fine as the season progresses as well with some big challenges coming at the end of the season against Fairview, LCA, and Russell.

Thanks for saying it. There are a few who showed good effort in the game. There are fewer who have showed good effort year round in preparing for the season. Ashland is faster and stronger across the board. Did they just happen to luck into having a bunch of good athletes or do they work harder than the Russell players in the offseason? Perhaps a little of both? I hope Russell isn't getting satisfied with losing to Ashland in every sport year after year.

I think Ivan McGlone will be at Russell for as long as he wants to coach. On another note, I think Time Warner cable might need to discontinue coverage of this game. Now Russell fans have to suffer through watching this over and over on channel 24 for the next year. :-)

I can't post what I am really thinking because I realize these are just high school kids who are surely trying to do their best. What I will say, though, is it is truly amazing how this series was consistently competitive just 3 years ago. Now it's not. Rather, it's quickly turned into an embarassment. Talk about two programs headed in vastly different directions. This was the worst loss Russell has suffered since at least before 1998 (the KHSAA site doesn't go back before then). It may be the worst loss of the Ivan McGlone era. What a shame. Ashland did not bring out the JV for the entire 2nd half. In fact, the starting offense played the 1st series of the 2nd half with what was already a 40 point lead. They also inexplicably went for 2 on the final TD of the game??? I'm not sure what exactly they were trying to prove there. Whatever the case, though, I realize it's Russell's responsibility to stop them and they didn't do it. Ashland is good. They'll have some tough games against Ironton and Johnson Central, but I think they have a real shot to go undefeated until they meet Highlands. I'd be surprised if any of the other Northern Kentucky teams beat them like Dixie Heights did last year. On the other hand, Russell needs considerable improvement.

This should be a good game. It will be interesting to see how both defenses hold up to the different challenges that each team's offense presents. Greenup faces another Ashland-like spread attack to which they surrendered 44 points. Of course, Raceland doesn't have the players Ashland has, but I think their QB is just as good if not better. If Greenup's pass defense is weak and they can't get a significant pass rush, then I look for him to pick them apart. On the other hand, Raceland faces the strongest front line they've seen so far this season. Do they have the ability to stop Greenup from lining up and running over them time after time? Maybe not. I think turnovers will play a significant role because I don't think either team will be able to stop the other on a consistent basis. As for predicting a winner, I'll go with Greenup because they seem to have a big class of motivated seniors who want to go out on a winning note.

I hope Russell can hang with Ashland for awhile in this game, but Russell's pass defense hasn't looked very good so far this season in the limited amount it's been tested. Unless Russell has a better plan and/or execution for rushing the QB and defending receivers, then I would expect them to have to simply hope Ashland turns the ball over. Like I said, I hope Russell shows something different, but that's just based on what I've seen so far. I must say Russell's Wing-T rushing game has worked pretty well this year against some pretty strong defensive fronts. However, Ashland has proven they know what's coming from the Russell offense before the plays even unfold in a near Belichick-ian fashion the past 2 years. They typically have multiple defenders headed to the spot where the back is going to receive the ball as soon as it's snapped. I am interested to see if Russell comes up with anything different on offense for this year's game. This game frustrates me because the programs have gone in vastly different directions since 2007. In 2007, Ashland was 2-8 and Russell beat them for the 3rd time in 4 years. Ashland has dominated Russell in the last 2 meetings, though. I'll hold on to my thread of hope for the momumental upset.

Good to see you back! I've missed your posts.

Good to see Raceland rebound from the Ashland loss. It seems to be feast or famine for the Rams so far this season.

Ironton runs between the tackles quite a bit, but their backs definitely have the speed to run outside and turn the corner. It just seems like their goal is to physically punish the defense and wear the other team down. They didn't really have to pass very much to beat Russell, so I don't know if they could do so on a regular basis if they were forced to. I seem to recall them throwing 4 or 5 times during the game and completing 2 or 3? It was mainly just to convert 1st downs on 3rd down and nothing to stretch the field...sort of like Russell tries to do. The Ironton-Ashland matchup in a couple of weeks will be interesting because of the complete contrast in styles. Ashland tries to run by the other team and Ironton tries to run over them.

One TD run and 2 FG's. The 4 FG's comment was incorrect.

Russell played pretty well again. They aren't a bad team. Ironton is just good as always. Russell's Wing-T attack was fairly effective for most of the night. Their one TD was about a 10 yard run by Logan Dehoff. As spindoc said, the mistakes need to get cleaned up. They've got to cut out the interceptions and get a little more creative with the play calling inside the red zone. Ironton is a hard hitting team. If nothing else, Russell has convinced me the past 2 weeks that they are tough and will not back down.

I think he tried to give a QB his first start last year in the Ironton game. I might be mistaken, but I think Brandon Sparks started that game in his first start of the year. Of course, the QB carousel continued from week to week last season.

Thanks! I thought the Russell helmet would fit Chicken Little nicely. :-)

Let me preface this by saying I know nothing about Belfry this year, but based on the type of team they usually have...I think this should be an interesting matchup because I think Belfry should test the Ashland defense in a similar way as Greenup did. Ashland is very good, though, so I look for them to pass the test. I can't see any team having enough athletes to stop the Ashland offense until they play Ironton (maybe), Johnson Central (perhaps), and the northern Kentucky teams.

I think this will be a high scoring game and I think Raceland will end up on the smiling side of the scoreboard. It should be an entertaining game to watch.

I concur. Funny post indeed. I guess I need a Chicken Little avatar as well. As for the game, I think Russell will hang around a little closer than everyone else seems to think. I know they lost to Greenup by 22, but I was encouraged by their ability to move the ball and stop Greenup from completely running all over them like I thought might happen. Russell has some better football players than people are giving them credit for. I think Cooper learns from last week's mistakes and plays better. I know playing Ironton ratchets things up another level, but Greenup is a big tough team, too, so I think that game will serve to prepare them a little for what's to come this week. I hope Russell pulls off the upset of the year.

This game makes me give up on predicting games. :-) I thought Greenup's rushing attack might completely dominate the game. I thought Russell wouldn't be able to run on Greenup and would have to go the air. I thought the Russell air attack would be effective. None of the above happened. Russell stifled Greenup's running game early on. However, Greenup struck first with a 70 yard bomb TD pass from Rister to Hamilton. It was as pretty a pass play as you'll see as Hamilton ran by the Russell defender and Rister hit him in stride. Russell then moved the ball effectively on the ground with the classic Wing-T. Actually, they drove deep into Greenup territory quite a few times all game long. Greenup's defense toughened up when it counted, though, and forced Russell into passing situations. The only time Russell converted on the passing situations was essentially by chucking the ball up to Justin Davidson and letting him beat the Greenup defenders at catching the ball. Davidson is good. Actually, I think he's one of the most underrated players in the area in both football and basketball. But anyhow, ultimately the difference in the game was the 4 interceptions Russell threw. Greenup got good pressure on the Russell QB several times and forced him into making plays. He made a few with his feet, but the passing game just isn't there against a competent team. Greenup managed to execute one drive like I expected to see where they went 5-10 yards per carry right down the field, but Russell pretty much held their own against the vaunted powerful Greenup line and rushing attack. The 4 interceptions were the story of the game. As for Greenup, I look for them to carry on and have a good season. They have a good plan in place, a good line, tough runners, and a solid defense. I do they think have some "hidden" weapons they could utilize a little more often in Mason Rister and Jordan Hamilton. Like I said, the pass play they executed early in the game on a 3rd and long situation was pretty. I look for Greenup to open it up a bit as the season progresses and they should be a competitive team in their district. Russell had players that impressed as well and next year looks to be a very good one for the Devils. Troy Huffine, a sophomore, is a good football player on both sides of the ball. It was good to see sophomore Jon Kennedy lining up at linebacker tonight. He did a good job. The juniors like Davidson, Paul Spradlin, and Zach Thompson all played hard as well. Their effort and attitude are tremendous. I don't know about the classes after these 2, but next year is "the year" for Russell football again. The next 2 weeks are going to be rough with Ironton and Ashland, but this was a good introduction for Russell to some physical football. I think they'll have a winning season this year.

I think Massey could be Ashland's all-time leading something (runner/receiver/returner - wherever they put him) if they'd go ahead and make him the feature of the offense. Ashland has some decent players at the skill positions, but he stands out as being a serious threat to score any time he touches the ball. He's really something special.

I still must ask why a school with as good of a soccer program as Ashland has doesn't have a kicker? They still squib kickoffs giving the other team the ball in good field position and never even attempt an extra point or field goal. Granted, they probably won't need a kicker in most of their regular season games, but I have to think they could end up needing one at some point when they face competition that has the speed to slow down their spread offense. In fact, wasn't a field goal needed the last time they beat Johnson Central in 2005?

You summed it up nicely. The dropped balls stopped their offense early. Ashland's defense stopped it after that. As much of a problem for Raceland, though, was the fact that Ashland's offense starting slicing through Raceland's defense like a hot knife through butter from the 1st quarter on. Ashland is good. The good news for Raceland? They won't see any more teams like this.

So true. Most fans only show up for success. Remember the 2005 Belfry playoff game at Russell? The stands were completely full on both sides with people standing around the entire field. Heck, Russell even brought more fans to Belfry for the 2006 playoff game than were there last year for the HOME playoff game against Sheldon Clark. The crowd for the opener this year against East Carter was predictably small. I was surprised they didn't have JFL night or something to get people to show up. I think the meager crowd (along with the game being 35-6 in the 2nd quarter) contributed to the scrimmage-like feel of the game. Like you said, though, it's not limited to Russell. Raceland posters were much more active during the 2008 season when they had a legitimate chance to win the state. Even though Ashland is a great team, I think there would a lot more people talking about their program if they weren't predestined to run into the brick wall of Highlands every year. If Ashland were ever to beat Highlands in the 1st or 2nd round of the playoffs, I bet half the city of Ashland would be at Putnam Stadium for the next playoff game. People just aren't as interested in the show when they know how it's going to end. Oh well, it is what it is.

Funny pic. You know, for some reason, I take everything you say much more seriously now that "the most interesting man in the world" is your avatar. You have such gravitas.

Given the results the past few years, I believe Raceland has established the fact that they can compete with any of the local teams. Ashland, Greenup, Raceland, Russell, Boyd, Fairview, and even Ironton should all play each other every year if possible. It makes for good regular season schedules with a lot of good crowds and rivalry games.

True enough. Raceland was fortunate, though, that the series started back up in 2007 at the tail end of Russell's string of very good teams and with Raceland being on the upswing with one of their best classes they've ever had being juniors. Since they've started playing again, Russell won the first one and Raceland won the next 2. I look for another very good game between the 2 teams later this season. Until then, though, these 2 teams have to deal with a lot of strong opponents.