STEEL_CURTAIN88

I can see that. Thata a hard pick. Both OL/DL in those years were special.

Imo biggest and baddest OL was in 2008. Big and insanely mobile. This team this season, making it to the finals is as suprising as the 08 team not making it. Worth noting though, that there are 2 major factors from that 08 team on the staff now in Logan and Denton. Just some of the many that helped pave the way for this group of over achievers. I absolutely love seeing former Rams being allowed to come back and pay back to the system what they got out of it.

What bothers me is this. Where are all the people that were saying, "Paintsville would walk into the state title game" and said they, "can and would beat Beechwood", gone? Just baffles me that all the faith that was had in one team to be able to take down the Beechwood Tigers, vanishes after they get beat, and the team that beat them has no chance. Beechwood has an advantage in every aspect of the game. Atheletes, size, speed, coaching, facilities, experience, you name it tbey got it. Guess the Rams should just grab some popcorn, watch Beechwood walk throughs, applaud them as they recieve their trophy, and head on to the house. Come on man! Ive been as real as a Raceland fan could get thia year. This team is nowhere near as tallented as the "this is the year" teams we have had in the last 10 years. But they acconplished something none of them were able to do. So something is working, whatever it may be. No reason to be realistic when the season itself never has been. I think the Rams are goi a suprise some people, including myself.

Fwiw, Russell never should have lost that game.

Heck, if you listen to them guys go back and firth up there lol, you may be suprised!haha

Brother, none of us orange blooded, die hard, ram fans could hardly get a grasp on this team this season lol. All we know is that in this post season, the TEAM, has far exceeded out expectations and realistically, we never thought theyd be here, so there are some of us that arent goina be realistic with our predictions either. Tbh, some may disagree, but after the 80s and 90s, theres no other team Id rather see us meet up with in our first finals appearance. Side bar...does anyone know of, or can even guess or estimate, how many times a team has won a state title in its first trip? Only one I can think of in recent years, is Mercer Co over Russell in 06.

Tbh, if Raceland can sustain drives that result in points, they can win. I picked them, but I am realistic in seeing the task ahead. What Raceland cant do, is fall behind by two acores early because then the route will be on. If our defense is on the field for 2 1/2 quarters we will struggle. But if can come out like we did in the 2nd half for 4 quarters of ball, the state semi final hump wont be the only hump we get over this year. If not, it will be a long day.

You are correct, my mistake.

You are correct, my mistake.

Im the lone wolf picking Raceland. Ive been realistic and picked each game correctly this year. Atleast in the outcome. But i cant go against my alma matre in this one. Rams 31 Beechwood 28

But 12 of those points were from back to back pick 6 ints. But the offense controlled the tempo, didnt turn the ball over and was effecient in the 1st half. Imo, though, the Rams have to keep the pedal to the metal feom here on out. This offense lives and breathes on tempo and momentum. We stumble alot when we get back on our heels. I have a feeling thats what you will see though, i dont expect us to nurse a lead this week, should we get one.

Does this game come down to which 1st year starting qb plays the most effecient game? Neother team has lit up the score boards this year, but played very fundamentally sound defense that bends but doesnt often break. Imo, that amd special teams will be the deciding factors. Can not wait to watch this ball game tomorrow.

Racelands kicker, doesnt have a huge leg, but he is pretty accurate. I think his long is in the low 40s, not bad, and is definitely a crucial part of the offense. If he doesnt connect last week on both all xps and the fg in the first half, its a tie ball game. The last time these two teams met, a field goal sealed the deal if im not mistaken. Punting game is pretty good as well. Be it Dalton or Will. Two different style punters, but both can get the job done. Offensese, imo, look to be about the same. Defense, I give the edge to Raceland. Special teams I give the edge to Raceland. But no one gets this far without having a few tricks up their sleeve and aces left to throw around. Can not wait to watch this ball game.

What kind if kicker does Pikeville have? That was a big difference in the game last week. If Raceland doesnt kick a field goal, its a tie ball game on that final drive. Which changes thinga tremendously.

I agree. I said preseason, we were realistically a 7-3/6-4 team with the schedule we played. But wouldnt be totally shocked if we ended up 8-2 or maybe even 9-1. Only game i was certain we would lose was Ashland and that one went better defensively than I anticipated. I think the Rams squad we are seeing now, would not be where they are had it not been for the Somerset and Port West games. Had we won those games, I think we would have wkn the district due to momentum. But in a y event they did what they were supposed to. Prepare these boys for the playoffs. I did not however, ar seasons start, expect us to be hosting a state semi final game, the day after thanksgiving. Throughout the season, i think we have been, from top to bottom out of synch. When execution is there, the coaching went in a way that baffled me. When the coaching was where I expected or thought it should be, the execution was off. But the last 6 quarters, everything has been as different as it could be. Now, i dont think we can set back and nurse a lead any more, gotta keep that pedal hammered down, but things are coming together at the right time. Very proud of the system. My prediction is Rams get over the hump... RAMS 27 Panthers 14

The parallels between these two teams are pretty interesting. Both have 1sr year starting QBs. Both have a huge amount of tallent at WR. Both have a solid stable of RBs that share the work load. Both were in "rebuilding years". Both were soundly beaten in district play. Both were under dogs on the road in the regional championship games. Both played and lost to some tough games to really tough teams through out the season, which imo, made them the teams that they have become. This is goina be a really great ball game.

Yes. They can. Will they? That rwmains to be seen. Im still shocked that we are looking at Raceland, Pikeville, and Campbellsive in the semis. I dont think anyone of us saw that coming.

Corners are both atleast 6ft, very fast, and cover really well. This pass defense really compliments itself. Pass rush aids coverage and coverage aids the pass rush. Very well balanced defense.

If they keep the tempo up, eliminate turnovers, and let the run game flow through the passing game then yes. They need to score early and let the game grind out. Very well conditioned and have played in alot of 4 quarter games this year. It all hinges on the offenses effeciency. The defense has done more than enough all year to win every ball game.the offense has just become stagnant at times.

It was called 3 times in the Wheelersburg/Columbus Academy game last night. All 3 were legit blocks. One was over turned after discussion. The one over turned, the kid had is hands up and elbows in. So looking at that, it doesn't take much. It's just hard when they make these rule changes, they aren't ever communicated well enough by the official union before the season starts.

I absolutely despise the rule. But I have seen crew after crew this season call it. Way I understand it, any block that is out side of the tackle box, must have Arms extended and show some sort of indication that he isn't attempting a kill shot. Which imo, is about as dumb as it gets. Just put flags on everyone and be done with it.

Seems like any time the offense is sputtering, that always comes up. Be it true or not, I am lost as to why anyone would keep something tucked in like that? Problem with it is, these are 16-18 year old kids. They need time to work kinks out. If it's week 8 or 9 and you haven't ran it against a true varsity program, odds are you aren't going to run it. So I don't see our offense changing much. Execution and predictably in the calls themselves need to though.

Agreed. They have had issues with numbers at the Jr high level, but they do have some tallent. They seem to have a good bunch in the jfl too with what seems to be alot of parent support. Like you said though, idk if they can weather the storm until these numbers get back up. Didn't look like they dressed but about 20 kids last night.

I think many of us True blooded r fans are kind of frustrated with some things. And rather than start any interpersonal conflict, etc, we have chose to keep our noses clean and try y to weather the storm l. I will always support my Alma matre, but there are things that are being done or not being done, that I don't agree with for this tream...

I agree 100% 55. If we be effecient and fast paced offenaively, we can win the East. The defense has just been on the field so much and without the use of the depth we have, eventually we ware down or blow an assignment and give up a big play. If our offense can sustain drives that eat up atleast 5-8 minutes of click AND result in points, we win against Port West and Somerset. We were not ready offenaively for Ashland. But the other two games, we should have won. The potential isnthere, said it all year. We just have yet to put a full game together. Nows the time. It's put up or shut up. Our 1 game over .500 is deceptive to how good we are, imo.