Painter

Gosh…where should I start with this one? Yes, Roll, we are proud of our Tomcats…win, lose or draw, and it has absolutely NOTHING to do with our opponents. Whether or not Ashland has a “good year” remains to be seen. If there is one thing we all know about any Raceland football team, the Rams never ever quit. Even when they haven’t been fortunate enough to win at Putnam, their performance was courageous and relentless. And yes…we know very well about the SHOWS Raceland has provided for our entertainment the PAST THREE YEARS. All Tomcat players, coaches and fans remember them well. Now…as for your comment about the field. It is indeed a pretty one and it has already endured over a dozen games thus far (middle school, jv, frosh, JFL)…so, it’s been ruffed up a bit and won’t be as pristine as you may be accustomed to on opening weekend. I interpreted Tomcat4life’s comment about the “Show” as one directed as mutual entertainment…not that we were going to school the Rams. Even it was though…you got one coming buddy, and this might be the night.

Is that a guarantee? :eek:

CONGRATS MR. LOGAN! I really enjoyed watching him play....except....he is one of several Rams which beat my Tomcats THREE STRAIGHT YEARS!

Not a hard thing to do this week doc....many of us Tomcats have THREE on our minds.

Sorry doc…but visions of helmets are still dancing in my head.

When one lemming says “follow me” they all run off the cliff too. Besides, those 9 people probably don’t know the situation as well as you and I.:sssh: True…but there is relevance in the past three consecutive victories Raceland has enjoyed over the Tomcats. The Rams are not rebuilding…they have reloaded. Raceland’s cupboard is far from bare. Where has there ever been a game between Raceland and Ashland which did NOT require a monumental effort from the victor? These games are always bloody and the players do leave everything on the field. Would Ashland want to “hang 52 points” on the Rams…you bet…but I draw an extreme line when it comes to “embarrassing” any Raceland team. We do agree that I hope the Rams never come to Putnam and win again though. Ah yes…the wisdom of The Independent speaks! Yeah, right…since when do any of us believe in that venue of prognostication?:ohbrother: Actually Ram…Raceland has ALREADY made history…twice! You guys must be getting greedy for chapter 3. That happens to winning programs like Raceland…you have many valid reasons to expect another win over Ashland…and you have earned each and every one of them.:thumb:

Familiar situation as underdogs?:lol::lol::lol: Ram…you are kidding….right? Raceland is on a 13 game regular season winning streak. Since when has Raceland been underdogs? My memory certainly isn’t what it used to be, but I don’t recall the Rams being underdogs in a very, very long time. However, I do remember Raceland thumping their next opponent for THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS…and on that opponent’s home turf no less. Raceland has all the ingredients needed to make it 4 in a row against Ashland. The way this team beat Boyd last week is proof of that. Now I realize these players are young, but I believe they have enough sense to know that being “underdogs” was a battle cry used by the Rams of yesteryear. Raceland has powered their way into state recognition as a premiere football program. These ain’t your gradpappys Rams. Using the “underdog” provocation may have worked in the past, but how can you convince anyone it applies today? :idunno:

Hey...it all starts with ONE blue! Best of luck on Saturday night.

Programs on the rise usually can look back at a “signature win” to illustrate they are for real and a catapult to greater things. Beating Russell in the Back-Yard-Brawl (do they still call it that?) could be such a win. I know it’s still early in the season but this may very well turn out to be Greenup’s night.

Im 100% sure his name is not on the roster. And Im equally sure there is a sound reason for it. Tyler is a great kid and comes from a great family.

I should have read this thread before posting in the Boyle vs. Rockcastle one. I’m laughing along with you on this one Scribe. In the Boyle game thread, someone made the comment “what goes around comes around”…Matney has been suspect on more than one occasion about padding a lead. I’m still very disappointed to hear that JC has backed out of this commitment to play Boyle again…(cluck-cluck)

I don’t want to disrupt this thread, but Matney "backed out" of this contract?? That's both disturbing and disappointing news. One would think that playing a team the caliber of Boyle would be exactly what JC is be looking for. As for this game, it appears that Boyle is the odds on favorite. Rockcastle has always garnered much respect from my neck of the woods. However, after seeing the stats from Boyles game last weekend, and looking at the remaining schedule, I’m not sure anyone is going to challenge the Rebels during the regular season. Over the past 10 years, Boyle has had only one loosing season (2007)…RC has come close to one (also 2007) when they went 6 – 6. FWIW, over the last decade, Boyle has amassed a record of 121 – 20 (12 – 2 avg)…Rock has claimed a record of 106 – 28 (11 – 3 avg). Good luck to both teams this weekend. If Boyle has trouble finding opponents next year(s)…how about a series with Ashland? We would love to host the Rebels at Putnam Stadium!

I know that game was somewhat of an anomaly… but Boyd has pulled things like that off in the past. Interesting stat you pointed out about the Lions upsetting two state champions (Belfry & Russell) only to later slide into the oblivion of mediocrity. If you recall, also in 2003, Boyd traveled to Log Mountain and spanked a heavily favored Bell Co team 31 – 20 in a first round playoff game. As other posters have already stated, Belfry is oft times a slow starting team but end up bulldozing opponents by mid season. If one has to play them, getting them early may help...a little.

:ohbrother: Not you too!!??

I don’t believe GC's line will be of the same caliber Ashland will face this Friday. The Raceland game will enable us to better gauge the quality of Ashland’s line play. As Graybeard said…. Tomcat linemen need to prove themselves this week.

In 2003, I recall an underdog Boyd team playing at Belfry and coming out of there with the W…18 - 0. The only relevance here and now is Boyd again will find itself in the underdog role. FWIW…in 03, it was Belfry’s opening game and Boyd already had a win under their belt. On paper and on the field, the Pirates should run rampant over the Lions…especially if Boyd hasn’t learned to play the entire 4 quarters.

You gotta catch it first to “punch it in the face”. Something tells me this 09 Tomcat team may have a taste for it though. These senior Tomcats have NEVER beaten a Raceland varsity team. This game will be their final crack at the Rams…I hope they can make every play count. It will take 100% effort to beat Raceland…it ALWAYS does. Ashland cruised last week against GC…Raceland had to come from behind in their dramatic win. The Tomcats will need to come out blazing from the opening kickoff and set the pace of this game. Raceland’s intensity level, if it carries over (and it will), needs to be met full force by every Tomcat that steps foot on that field.

Of all the 3A schools which had a game last weekend, Russell is the only team which held their opponent to zero points. It will be tough for GC to go on the road for the 2nd consecutive week and get the rebound win against Russell. However, if the Muskies could jump on them early, I can see their style of offense controlling a game. Last week, GC rushed for 154 yards against a good defensive Tomcat squad. If they could do this again AND connect on a few passes, it may be enough to keep the Devils at bay. Lots of “ifs” in my thinking…but stranger things have happened. The real X factor will be how much GC really wants this game. Saturday night will show whether this “new look” GC team has substance or not.

FWIW...the overall composite record between these two common opponents: Ashland over Raceland 12 – 7 Ashland over Russell 32 - 21

You may be on to something there Ryan…thank goodness Catlettsburg stopped playing high school football…otherwise there would be 3 demons on our schedule! I believe the stretch of wins Ironton has over Ashland is around 18 or so years. It’s very similar to the number of consecutive wins UT has over UK. Speaking of Ironton, I’m anxious to see how the Red Devils fare against them in November…then you follow up that game with?...more on that later.

So....you're saying you want me to remove the helmets?

I believe Ashland Sporting sells them, and you can also pick them up at the high school office.

Too many times we, as fans, can lose our sense of priorities and get caught up in the heat of the moment. Its great to have the sense of competition and drive to win, but after the game is over, I hope we still can be good neighbors. So much work has gone into the Greenup program this off season. I would be surprised if the fans didn’t maintain their support for this new regime. One game does not a season make.

Not too long...:lol: Cut & pasties is a great tool!

No offense taken here Doc...but this week, we have to pick our respective sides of the fence. Regardless of what happens Friday, we will all still be friends come Monday morning.