MrKnowitAll

Bill Cosby is celebrating the Bill Cosby way after this one.

I have no problem with the actions taken by Harrell. Basketball is a physical sport. Tempers should flare if you are playing hard and things get physical. I also have no problem with the suspension. Harrell made a mistake and he sits a game. To me this is a non-issue. It is also not a reflection of the type of person Harrell is IMO. It only shows that he plays with passion and will not be pushed around. I personally like that type of fight in my players.

On a side note I am a HUGE UK fan. I had no issue with Cousin's play, and if he had been suspended or tossed or both I would not have liked it but would have completely understood because it was warranted.

I am a huge UK fan but I think Okafor is special. He is without question the best player in college basketball. I am not sure he translates to the best pro because the game is going away from traditional bigs it seems, but that does not negate the fact that he is a special college player.

I don't see why the UK fans are so quick to point out flaws in his game. He is very skilled and a brute of a player. But for some reason UK fans harp on his short comings. Shaquille also shot free throws poorly and worked out ok. As a college basketball fan I am happy to see Duke and UK playing at the level they are. Helps the game overall IMO

What is happening

Anything

Score and time?

Who has possession?

I think this should be a GREAT game. Both teams are physical and well coached. That being said I think that if this was a best of 7 series Belfry would win for sure, but in a 1 game format anything can happen. Below I have listed what I think are Russell's Keys to Victory. On below is Belfry's. I wish both teams the best of luck and whoever wins I hope they win next week as well and represent the East well.

Russell Keys to Victory

1. Win the turnover battle: I don't think Russell can win unless Belfry helps them. Russell needs to find some help and TOs are the best help in a game like this.

2. Match Belfry's Physical Play: Belfry will be the most physical team Russell has played all year. Russell has to match the physical play and hold their own. The most important stat of this game will be 3rd and short (3yds or less) for Belfry. If Russell does not win half of those situation battles and get Belfry's O off the field I don't think they can win.

3. Take some shots: If Russell and Belfry both play well Russell loses. Plain and simple. Russell needs to take some calculated shots down field and make some plays. If they play to conservative Belfry's overall talent will win IMO.

Belfry's Keys to Victory

1. Be Belfry. You are the better team. Limit turnovers and penalties and you will play in Bowling Green.

2. Contain Conley. Bronson Korzep is a hard runner and tough kid, but Nick Conley is special. He turned in over 200 yds vs Ashland and made tacklers miss. Belfry can handle a down hill runner like Korzep, but they can't let Conley get in space and make plays. Russell's best chance against Belfry's defense is that they break some big plays and Conley is the best chance for that.

3. Don't get Caught Looking Ahead: Belfry should win this game but don't get caught up with the score from out West. Ask Pikeville what happens when you look ahead.

I think the Devils schedule is better and it will payoff tonight. While I think it will be a good game I see Russell moving on to play Belfry next week. Bourbon had a much tougher time with Estill than Russell did and even though comparing scores is useless (since it is all about matchups in football) I still feel the Devils take care of business at home. Good luck to both.

Russell: 35

Bourbon: 21

We haven't seen a display of defense quite like that since

 

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This is the best post I have ever seen.

I am hoping it is a close game, but if I were betting I would bet on a running clock by the third qtr. There was a lot of talking going on by LC people after the first game and I don't think Belfry will have forgotten it. Good luck to both.

Belfry: 49

Lawrence: 14

Happy for him, really, but Nick Kendall scored four times and gets to play again next week. No idea what kind of yardage he had, but his 24 points trump Baker's 12. It's the only measuring stick that matters in November and December.

So a comparison of players is based on the teams success? Ok. That makes perfect sense. Maybe the thread is to compare the caliber of backs that have had big games against Highlands. We all know Highlands won, but I bet college coaches are more interested in Bakers 12 points than Kendall's 24.

Amazing what playing a better schedule does for a team.....nice win CCH!

I personally thought the blocked FG returned for a TD was bigger than the schedule but that's just me.

More from the Daily Independent's Aaron Snyder:

 

Covington Catholic 24, Johnson Central 21. It’s as simple as this: Covington Catholic’s schedule has them more prepared for this stage than the Golden Eagles’. Central will connect on a few punches, but CovCath will deliver the final blows in what should be a magnificent match-up.

 

For those traveling down and bringing their head phones, the game will be broadcast on WSIP 98.1-FM

Didn't he also pick Middle Tenn to beat UK??

Don't put to much stock in his picks. He is last or close to it in the weekly picks.

I am pulling for JC in this one. While Cov. Cath has played a superior schedule and I like to look at bodies of work I am not sure they have beaten anyone as good as JC. The win over Dixie Heights looks good now, but that win was in August and was Dixie's first game. Cov Cath has seen better competition that is for sure but seeing competition and beating it are two different things. Nobody think Arkansas could beat OSU since they played and lost to a better schedule.

All in all I expect a game that is close throughout. Would be shocked if either team wins by more than 2 scores. Good luck to both.

Why did you list Russell's three toughest opponents but not Estill's when comparing schedules? Estill had a win at Garrard and a close loss at Bourbon, two teams that spent all year ranked in the top 10 in Class 3A. Magoffin and LCA have been middle-of-the-road, at best, in their respective classes.

I was listing non-district games. 3A has been the most up and down class all year and saying they were ranked in the top 10 is not a massive feat in today's 6 class system. Mason was ranked 6th when they came to Russell. Rankings can be misleading. I prefer to look at bodies of work and Estill's is not as impressive to me as Russell's. Just my thoughts.

Russell has played a better schedule it seems to me. I think Jones has the speed to give any team fits, but Russell played Ashland and they have a couple of kids who are just as fast if not faster than Jones IMO so his speed will not be the first time they have seen elite speed. At this point in the season I usually go with the team that has played better competition and I will have to go with Russell. I feel games against Ashland, Ironton, and Pikeville are better than Magoffin and LCA.

RUSSELL: 35

Estill Co: 22

Stoops just called out JD Harmon on special teams........the only player he singled out....not himself or any of his staff or any other players, just Harmon.......are you kidding me!! No coach should put blame on one player after a butt kicking....how about blaming yourself and staff and taking pressure off your players, that is if you want another win and a very low bowl appearance....unreal!!

He called him out for being selfish and not doing things the team way but trying to do things his way. Not like he blamed him for the loss. I like a coach holding players accountable for their actions. It teaches them more about the real world and better prepared them for ice after football.

Our society is to soft. Nobody should ever have their feelings hurt. These are young adults and they should be held accountable for their actions. The same would be said about any job in the real world.

If this happened the Jefferson County would be tough to beat.

Here's somewhat of an explanation how Ohios point system works.

 

 

Football: Computer Ranking Examples

 

Basically we have Level 1 and Level 2 points, add them together to get your final points. You only get the level 1 and 2 points for the Teams you beat.

 

Level 1 = Points for each team that you beat depending on size, Raceland is D6 in Ohio = 4 points

D1=6.5 , D2=6 , D3=5.5 , D4=5 , D5=4.5 , D6=4 and D7=3.5 points

Level 2 = The Teams you beat, you get points for every Team they beat. Example: since Raceland is D6 and = 4 points, you add 4 points for every game they win, 8 wins = 32 Level 2 points (for out of State opponents).

WOW

Is every high school football coach in OH a math major? Seems a little confusing. I have been around KY coaches who could not figure this system out on their best days.

Ashland physically wore down Raceland late in the game. That was early in the season and the Rams are a different team now than then. That being said I think the same thing happens in this one. Raceland hangs tough for a while because they are a very good football team, but in the end the size and physical play of Ironton is to much. I expect this game to be close early but get further and further out of reach each quarter. Good luck to both.

Ironton: 42

Raceland: 21

If you want to stop him then get better and beat him...

 

I'm not saying this because of you but statements like this are a pet peeve of mine. First, it's high school athletics. Unless you cheat, you can't just suddenly get better. Second, they are trying their best to beat him. It's not like they are holding back so they can get destroyed then mocked.

You are right that there is no easy way to get better quickly, but you could work harder and up your off season programs. Attend coaching clinics. Look for different schemes to battle what he does. Ashland had the demographics to compete with JC but more often than not they end up with a running clock against the Eagles. If they want to act like they are better than others then they should at least give optimal effort to actually be better.

I don't have sour grapes. But, you obviously don't get it.

He took two knees when the clock would not run out. He then ran his FB right up the gut in third and goal. Since he could not ice the clock what was he supposed to do? Bottom line is if you want to stop him from doing that then get better and beat him. I understand Ashland having hard feelings after coming in runner-up to JC the last what 7/8 years. Bottom line is Ashland is now an average program in a horrible district.

I think Johnson Central is better than Ashland, but Ashland's big play ability gives them a chance to play close with anyone in EKY. In the end I think JC's physical play and advantages on the O-Line & D-Line win out and the Eagles get the 1 seed and a 2nd round home playoff game. Good luck to both.

Johnson Central: 35

Ashland: 14

Their lackluster win over Lawrence County, a team that was overrated, in my opinion, would be a start. Simply put, Belfry should have had a running clock in the second quarter against Lawrence County. 1A Pikeville Beat Belfry, then they struggled with a team 1A Raceland beat 47-14.

 

If Belfry is number one in 3A, then there are about 6 1A teams that would win the State Championship

in 3A right now.

Maybe Belfry did not dominate Lawrence the way they should have (they have several key players with minor injuries that set out) but you are basing all this on comparing scores which can be misleading to say the least.

Based on this logic Russell is better than Raceland since Raceland lost to Ashland 41-35 and Russell beat Ashland 29-27. Comparing scores is fun but in no way a standard for rankings. Belfry is still the best team in AAA IMO. South Warren has beaten a lot of average teams but I would argue no team on their schedule is as good as Henry Clay or Southwestern. (I don't know anything about the out of state teams Belfry beat).

Big Blue fan here but glad to see Harrell get the respect he deserves. A very tough player in the paint and super explosive. If he can develop a 12-15 ft game he will have a bright future in the league. Hope he has a great season and would love to see Louisville win every game as long as they are not playing UK.

On a side note I think Pitino is the best in the business at taking a kid who has potential but struggles with work ethic and stability at home and transforming them into star players and people. I know many Cat fans hate Pitino now but the man did the same thing with Mashburn at UK. Regardless of what anyone says this state is big enough for 2 elite basketball programs and we are blessed to have front row seats to both IMO.