Cubster

One TD was a Pick Six and another TD was a 90 yard kickoff return.

Kent Phelps

Russell game will be a good barometer for him and the Lions on September 16th.

I attended two events I had never experienced before over the weekend. I attended a movie in a cave and a night cross country meet. Carter Caves, a hidden gem right in our backyard, showed “The Jungle Book” in Cascade Caves. I highly recommend it for a night of family fun. The night cross country meet was held at Cabell Midland High School. It attracted hundreds of runners and was a unique opportunity for the runners from various schools. Over the past four years I have gained a real appreciation for these well-conditioned athletes. In a sport that is often underappreciated, these kids are as dedicated as any I have encountered in my 24 years of being involved in high school athletics. My son is lucky to be a part of one of the best programs in the area led by Crystal and Chuck Cantrell. Off my soapbox and on to what happened this past week in the sports world. The Russell defense continues to make PV look like a prophet. Maxx Blackburn led a swarming Russell defense that held another opponent to just six points. The offense did just enough to secure the Devils win over struggling Ironton. It marked the first time the Devils have won two games in a row in the series since 1932. The Devils will now face another team coming off a lopsided defeat. Ashland was pasted 49-6 by George Washington last Friday and the return of Kurtlen Brown is definitely needed for this young squad. Greenup County probably got the biggest win in the area by pulling victory from the jaws of defeat in Lloyd Friday night. Fleming County stormed back from a 24-0 deficit with 30 unanswered points to take the lead late in the game. Insert Jake Wright. The dynamic senior raced 90 yards for a kickoff return TD and with the extra point the Musketeers improved to 2-1. I feel this win could be season changer as this program has lost so many gut-wrenching games in the past two years. Boyd County and Fairview have been pleasant surprises in the first three weeks of the season. Christian Braly has burst on the scene with his electrifying running in leading the Lions to a 3-0 start. Many thought the boys from Westwood would be reeling from the loss of Alex Roy and Antwan Washington. Seniors Mason McIntyre and Jonathan Ruggles obviously felt differently as these two playmakers have been instrumental in the Eagles’ 2-1 start. PV will preview Rivalry Week Thursday as Russell travels to Ashland and Raceland visits Greenup County in the inaugural Iron Bowl. A couple of college football assistant coaches are probably still beaming from beating their old employers Saturday. Former UK offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson put on a coaching clinic as Southern Miss erased a 35-10 deficit to defeat the Cats 44-35. It was a total collapse by the Kentucky team and has the even the most faithful UK football fan on the verge of throwing in the towel. I still think with their home schedule they can salvage the season, but if the defense can’t stop the run a losing season is inevitable. Former USC coach Lane Kiffin definitely enjoyed the Crimson Tide’s 52-6 smashing of his former employer. Alabama is definitely the best team in the country and will be until someone can knock them off. A few supposed title contenders (Oklahoma, LSU, Notre Dame) took losses over the weekend. I look for Ohio State and Michigan to make jumps in the polls this week along with the Houston Cougars who continue to get better and better under former Ohio State OC Tom Herman. A huge matchup between Florida State and Ole Miss will end a great opening weekend of college football tonight. The SEC definitely could use another marquee win to end Week 1. Enjoy your day off!!!! #PearlVision Posted on September 5, 2016 Leave a comment on The Week That Was 8/29-9/4 Check out the blog at pearlvisionblog.wordpress.com

It will be a big weekend at a couple local high schools. Both Russell and Raceland will have their Hall of Fame induction nights this weekend. The Red Devils will host Ironton on Friday night and the Rams will entertain East Carter on Saturday evening. These are both huge events for each community as they honor their great athletes from the past. Let's take a closer look at our spotlight game Ironton and Russell. These two teams come into the contest on opposite ends of the spectrum. The Tigers are licking their wounds from 49-6 shellacking at the hands of Wheelersburg while the Red Devils won a defensive struggle over county rival Greenup County. I am sure if Ironton has any pride they will be foaming at the mouth tomorrow night at The Hank. Can they rebound for a victory or will the Red Devils get a rare two-game win streak in the rivalry? The Tigers could muster only 133 yards of offense last week. All of the yardage came on the ground and 71 yards came on a run by halfback Ethan Duncan. Senior quarterback Jake Isaac returns at quarterback and will need to complete some passes to balance the Tiger offense. Tyler Webb, a 6'6" 300 lb. lineman, anchors a strong offensive line that will face an attacking Red Devils defense that caused several turnovers last week. The Russell defense limited Greenup County to 26 yards of total offense. A trio of juniors, (Ryan Stump, Grant Bates, and Austin Braden), were instrumental in the huge defensive effort. Stump had nine tackles, a fumble recovery, and an interception. Bates nabbed an interception and Braden was in the backfield all night from his defensive line position. I look for the Tigers to try to play smash mouth football with their big offensive line but they must pass efficiently to keep the Devils honest. The Devils' offense could only muster 119 yards of offense last week. Nick Conley was bottled up all night by the Musketeer defense. Junior quarterback Austin Church made two big plays down the stretch to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat for the boys from Flatwoods. Senior Landon Brewer scored the lone touchdown on a 23 yard strike from Smith. He is a threat to take it to the house anytime he touches the ball. The Ironton defense was torched for five touchdown passes by the Pirates in their opener. I am sure Coach Mark Vass has definitely addressed that area of his defense in game preparations this week. Coach TJ Maynard will be game planning to get Conley loose this week. The senior tailback can dominate a game with his hard running. The offensive line will have to be better this week for the Devils to win. The home opener is always special at The Hank. Throw in the Hall of Fame festivities on a holiday weekend and it has the makings of a large home crowd. This game has the makings of another defensive slugfest. I think this Devil defense could be special this season with its athletes and their endless effort. A late Conley TD run will be the difference as the Red Devils make it two in a row over the Tigers. PVs Pick: RUSSELL #PearlVision Check out my blog at pearlvisionblog.wordpress.com

Friday Night Lights I hope you enjoyed my initial blog entry. I would like to make mention of another Hometown Hero that I omitted. Bob Trimble is a homegrown Ram who has led both the Ram and Lady Ram basketball teams to district championships in his career at Raceland. The lefty also was a star athlete for the Orange and Black. Today I will take a look at three of the best football venues in the area. RAM STADIUM The home of Ram Football just sits off US 23. The community takes great pride in its football and the stadium represents that pride. I think some of its unique qualities make it a great place to watch football. The cars watching the game from 23 is a staple in Ram Land. Are they saving money or just taking advantage of a good view without the hassles of parking and harsh weather at times? The concessions offer the best variety in the area if you don’t care about your arteries or your cholesterol🙂. You can choose from a Ram Burger, cheese sticks, deep-fried Snickers, or a Funnel cake just to name a few items. The inflatable Ram helmet highlights the pre game introductions for the Ram players. The press box has been updated in the past few years to make it modern and press friendly. Though we miss Bill Farley on the PA, Ram Stadium is the place to be Friday nights in Raceland. HENRY R EVANS STADIUM Affectionately known as “The Hank” this stadium exudes tradition and excellence. The home-side stands are second to none in this area. It boasts the best press box facility as well. The fire-breathing Devil draws raves from football fans all over the Commonwealth. The pre-game introductions with hundreds of kids and adults on the field adds to the excitement. And when the siren goes off, accompanied by ” Here Come Your Devils!!!”, the crowd is at his loudest. The visitors side provides ample space for opposing fans and their bands. I think all fans, players, and coaches will agree Ivan McGlone Field is an excellent place to watch a game. PUTNAM STADIUM The Holy Grail of stadiums if you are a Tomcat fan. This cozy stadium reminds me of Wrigley Field because of how it is located in an actual neighborhood. Tomcat fans can basically walk to the games from their homes. The field is well-manicured and always looks to be in top condition. The tradition of the Tomcats walking down the steps into home end zone highlights the pre-game activities. You always hear tales of the ghosts of Putnam Stadium helping the Tomcats pull off an improbable upset or win. Putnam Stadium is a must see stop for die-hard high school football fans. The common denominators among these stadiums are winning and community support. These two things go hand-in-hand. State championship banners adorn two of these great stadiums. Can a banner be hung at Ram Stadium? #PearlVision Check out my blog at pearlvisionblog.wordpress.com

The slimmed down look is a start

College football season has arrived. I have been a lifetime Kentucky football fan. I can remember watching games on tape delay on good ole WSAZ or WKYT. I watched many games from the end zone bleachers at Commonwealth Stadium. From the euphoria of witnessing the upset win over Alabama to the utter disbelief of the LSU Hail Mary loss, being a UK football fan is definitely a tough life. Yet the start of a new season brings optimism for the Big Blue Nation. Is this the year Mark Stoops can lead the Cats back to a bowl game? The Wildcats rolled to a 4-1 record last year but could not get that elusive 6th win and finished 5-7. Gone are quarterback Patrick Towles and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and in are QB Drew Barker and new OC Eddie Gran. The running game should be a strength with Boom Williams and Jojo Kemp back after successful seasons in 2015. Dorian Baker and Garrett Johnson highlight a talented group of receivers. I think the key to the offense could be tight end C.J. Conrad. He showed flashes year ago and could have a breakout season for the Cats.The offensive line will anchored by center Jon Toth. I really think Gran will give the offense a much needed boost with his play-calling. The strength of the defense should be the defensive backfield led by sophomore Chris Westry. As most fans know, strong defensive lines in the SEC equal wins in the rugged league. An improved Matt Elam would definitely help the Cats in that area. The loss of Regie Meant, due to personal reasons, will hurt but the emergence of Courtney Miggins and Denzil Ware could soften the blow. Josh Allen will lead an inexperienced group of linebackers that have to get better as the season progresses. Hopefully the ball-hawking secondary can cause a lot of turnovers this season. I think the home opener versus an explosive Southern Mississippi is a must win if the Cats want to reach a bowl game. An opening win will give the momentum for the rest of the season. The schedule is once again SEC tough plus the annual date with rival Louisville. Kicker Austin McGinnis could be the difference maker in winning some tight game late. I think the Cats will be bowling this year as Stoops fends off the fans calling for his job. PV’s Prediction: 6-6 My mother and her family are from Ohio. I was an Ohio State football fan from an early age. My first memories are of quarterback Cornelius Greene running the option and Woody Hayes roaming the sidelines. Art Schlichter was my next Buckeye favorite. I even had his book “Straight Arrow” which seems ironic now. It is definitely big-time football when you attend a game at The Shoe. It is quite the experience. Urban Meyer has taken the program to new heights since he took over after the scandal under Jim Tressel. Now it is time to reload. Can the Scarlet and Gray replace 14 players who left for the NFL? The offense will be led by quarterback J.T. Barrett. The key is keeping him healthy for a whole season. He is the prototypical QB for Meyer’s offense. Mike Weber and Curtis Samuel have the task of replacing Ezekiel Elliott. Corey Smith is the only experienced receiver on the squad but there is talent galore at the position. The offensive line has to replace both tackles but junior Jamarco Jones has been impressive in the preseason. Though questions abound, the talent is there on this side of the ball. Returning players Tyquan Lewis and Sam Hubbard will lead a defense that has to replace players like Joey Bosa. A pair of fourth year juniors in Tracy Sprinkle and Michael Hill will anchor the defensive line. The Buckeyes’ secondary will be the under gun right from the start as they face five up-tempo offenses to start the season. The defense may need time to mature, but I feel they will step up to the challenge well. An early season road game at Oklahoma will be a great barometer for the Buckeyes. A loss will not kill the Buckeyes playoff chances. A win would get the squad rolling. The Bucks must go through the two schools up North to win the Big Ten and I think they will do that. The Ohio State University will prove once again TRADITION DOESN”T GRADUATE. I plan on watching Coach Meyer on the sidelines in the college football playoffs on New Year’s Eve. PV’s Prediction: 10-2 #PearlVision Check out my blog at Site Title

The oppressive heat and high school football dominated the area this past week. The Raceland Rams broke through with their first win over Ashland since 2008. Nathan Davidson continued his great play and the interior lines dominated on both sides of the ball. The Tomcats, led by QB Braxton Ratliff, hung around most of the game and actually had a chance to tie the game twice in the final minutes. The Ram defense was too much and Ram Nation got the Fire Truck win they had been waiting for. If the Rams start consistently finishing drives, Coach Mike Salmons will be smiling frequently this season. The Backyard Brawl was deja vu all over again. The Musketeers, led by a stubborn defense, capitalized on a special teams’ mistake by the Devils and took a 6-0 lead late in the third quarter. PV predicted that the quarterback who made the most plays in the game could provide his team with the win. Junior quarterback Austin Smith converted a crucial 4th down and six to keep the Devils’ winning drive alive. On the next play, Smith connected with senior Landon Brewer on a 23-yard strike to tie the game and placekicker Sam Ewing booted his first career extra point to give the Devils their first lead of the game with 5:39 to play. Senior Drey Boehm picked off a Greenup County pass in the late minute to secure the victory. It was the fourth straight year the Devils have scored late to break the Musketeers’ hearts. The Musketeers mettle will be tested this week as high flying Fleming County invades Lloyd. The Devils look for a rare two-game win streak over perennial Ohio power Ironton Friday night at Henry R. Evans Stadium. A couple scores that probably raised the eyebrows of the Ram Nation and the Red Devil Nation were Paintsville’s easy win over Frankfort and Fleming County’s shutout win over Mason County. These two teams will most likely be the teams that both teams must be defeat to win district crowns. The Fed Ex Cup playoffs began this weekend on the PGA Tour. Patrick Reed won The Barclays at the tough Bethpage Black layout and secured his spot on the Ryder Cup team. Rickie Fowler stumbled down the stretch enabling Zach Johnson to secure the 8th spot on the team. Now captain Davis Love III must choose his final four players for the team. Love, the 2012 captain of the Medinah Meltdown squad, can go straight by the points and not go wrong. The 9-12 spots belong to Bubba Watson, Kentuckian J.B. Holmes, Fowler, and bronze medalist Matt Kuchar. He could go outside the box and maybe choose a veteran like Mr. 58 Jim Furyk. Some young options could be Bill Haas or Justin Thomas. I think he should and will go with the top 12. Despite Fowler’s collapse today, he did birdie the last four holes to halve his only Ryder Cup singles match in 2010. I know, like all American golf fans, it is frustrating to lose to the Euros in the Ryder Cup. DLIII got them in position to win in 2012 let’s hope the boys in Red, White, and Blue can finish the job at Hazeltine later this month. College football actually kicked off in Australia Friday night as Cal whipped up on Hawaii 51-31. My favorite college sport to watch begins in earnest this weekend. The Kentucky Wildcats, once again seem poised to make a run at a bowl game. Mark Stoops has had a monumental job taking over from Joker Phillips. The talent had fallen so badly during the Joker Era that it has taken time to replenish the talent pool. The Cats have been close, the past two years, to breaking through only to fall short. The home opener is HUGE in their bid for a bowl. I will take a closer look at my two favorite college football teams in my next blog. Yes you can root for two teams……. #PearlVision Check out my blog at Site Title

Greenup had 26 yards last night.

Roberts out for Ashland?

Devils are resting 3-4 starters that are nursing injuries.

Will Adkins play another position if he is not the starting QB?

Are there any other candidates for the job?

Russell Rowan 7 Raceland Bath 9

Lewis County Players Ralph Davis Eddie Scott Jim Bloomfield Harold Billman

Must be a hard decision.

Any word on this job?

Will they hire someone from previous staff?

Can they run the table?

That was at no cost to the KHSAA

Will they have a coach by June?

And really no insight on who the coach will be.

Best post yet.