devil58

Where were the ghosts on the 18th?? I say they stay away for another week...Those ghosts haven't been able to scare up much against Russell recently...The Devils kinda like playing in Putnam...It's like a second home...

They may very well end up being the best in the region this season but people will take a wait & see attitude on the additions...They played in the finals last year but they WERE NOT the 2nd best team in the region...They were probably top 5 by the end of the year because of all the injuries to players on other teams...As stated above, they got on a roll & played a injury riddled West Carter team to make the final...The best 2 teams from last year played in the semi's of the other bracket... Pre-season ratings mean NOTHING but I will say that they should be right there at the end of the year if these additions pan out as the Rowan faithful hope they do... My pre-season #1 is Rowan County!!! :sleep: :banana:

I believe he is talking about the Raceland team when this year's seniors were sophmores...Cornette graduated 2 years ago...He's saying that this year's Raceland team is better and more mature than that team 2 years ago when Rowan won the region...:thumb:

Don't think he's one of our's??? I think most of us would be surprised if this game turns into a blow out...

I agree with you Jeepster, the BC game probably means more this year to some of the players than it might normally but the Ashland game means more to the team and coaches year in and year out than either Boyd or Greenup...Heck, it's the only game of the 3 that's always competitive...It's not a shock or possibly embarrassing if we lose to Ashland but it is if we lose to Boyd or Greenup...Please don't bombard me Boyd and Greenup fans...I'm only stating the obvious based on our head to head records over the past 20-30 years...For whatever reasons, Russell has enjoyed sustained success against those 2 programs while maintaining an interesting and healthy rivaly with Ashland...We expect to win when we play Boyd & Greenup...We expect a real dogfight (catfight) when we play Ashland...

It has been...That's why the loss last year was such a big wake up call...I personally don't agree with Jeepman, but I do see his point... As long as we continue to play in the Kiwanis Bowl & our varsity games stay so competitive, Ashland will be Russell's biggest non-district game...Of course, that could all change starting next year...:sssh:

A statement like that, based on SUMMER BALL, is as silly as the idea that the toughest schedule in the 16th region is important toward deciding who the region champion will be...Raceland could end up being the best in the 63rd this year but you certainly cannot base that on summer ball and keep any credibility...The 63rd will be a dogfight this year but you may want to hold off on crowning Raceland the champs just yet...

Football is a funny game!!! :creepy: In week 1 Ashland wins the game, IMO, if not for a costly penalty on Thomas' return and some ??? play calling in the Red Zone...What's the expression? Dance with the date you took to the dance...They out-stated Raceland but came up on the short end of a close game...Did the best team win??? In week 2 Belfry loses 4 of 6 fumbles they put on the ground, has 2 TD's called back on penalties & another long run into the Red Zone called back on a penalty...They out-stated Ashland but came out on the short end of a close game...Did the best team win??? Now we're to week 3, Russell & Ashland, & this may be the biggest game (emotionally) on both teams' regular season schedule...This rivalry really starts with the Kiwanis Bowl and builds toward these players' senior year...No one wants to lose the Kiwanis Bowl & they certainly don't want to lose their senior year...This game means a lot to both teams & emotion can do funny things... Based on what has happened up to week 3, if you look at this game with your brain rather than your heart, Russell has to be the favorite...They are the defending 2A champs returning a huge group of players from that team and are currently rated as #1 in 2A...They easily handled Greenup as expected and totally dominated a West Virginia pre-season top team in Class 3A in a pre-season scrimmage while Ashland has been a roller coaster ride so far...But, Football is a funny game!!! :creepy: I love Russell/Ashland games and I hate them too...They are always tough on the old ticker and just like ol' Frances (Aunt Bea), I'm not as young as I once was so twinges in the chest are a little more concerning than they once were... If you look at this series in recent years you can argue that the best team doesn't always win...Many will say that the Arliss Beach lead Ashland team in '01 was better than Russell but they lost...Others will say that the '02 Russell team was better than Ashland but they lost...I think most fans on both sides agree that the '03 Ashland & '04 Russell teams that won were probably the best teams those years but many debate last year's winner even though they went on to win the 2A State Championship...This is what makes a great rivalry and this game has certainly become that over the last 30 years... When I pick a game on here, I always pick with my brain (for what that's worth) and leave my emotions & loyalties out of it...When it's too close to call, I say it's too close to call...If I really think Russell will lose, I say so...This week my "brain" says Russell will win & they are the better team...I will say that they better be mentally ready & not overconfident...The fact that Ashland beat Belfry should open their eyes because we know how tough Belfry is...In 2 weeks of predicting Ashland games I have picked with my brain and missed both times...I hope the 3rd time is the charm and that I'm not losing my mind... Football is a funny game!!! :creepy: Russell - 21 Ashland - 14 :fire: 58

No doubt Rowan will have a complete schedule...Many teams fail to provide a complete schedule to the KHSAA until around the start of the season... When is the ceremony for "Toughest Schedule"??? I don't remember them receiving a trophy for that at the region tournament last year... I noticed on the KHSAA schedule that East Cater, Boyd, & Russell are also on the schedule but Wireman failed to include them as part of a tough schedule...Guess those 3 games are sure wins because those teams won't be very good...

There is no August 1st rule...Family must establish residency within the school district prior to enrolling...As long as they did that, she will be eligible...

Seriously guys, what's the point in this thread other than to create or perpetuate bad blood between Russell & Raceland?? I know that probably isn't the intent & we can speculate all we want but, for whatever reason, it seems to always go to this...Let's just wait & see what happens with the schedules & then we can discuss it... The banter between posters from both schools on here this year does tell me one thing...If this rivalry was to get re-started, there would be none more heated in the state of KY...

Is the KHSAA still allowing people to move up?? I read in the article that they accepted some requests & denied others so I wasn't sure if there was a deadline... Even if Raceland moves to 2A, Russell is 3A under he new set up so it will have to be a non-district game...We'll just have to wait & see what happens...

"If you build it, they will come"

Raceland beating Ashland, while maybe a mild upset, was no big surprise in this area...This is supposed to be Raceland's best team in years & not one of Ashland's best...

:thumb: :lol: :lol: :thumb:

Oh yeah, by the way...Greenup played well in their opener but Russell will be a little better than East Carter... Russell - 35 Greenup - 14

Tomcatsalute said it in another thread and I heard it from SEVERAL "die hard" Tomcat fans last Friday, Ashland is not very good right now...Some of the other comments I heard from those "die hards" were: "Worst team since Hart's been here", "It's gonna be a looong season", "We can't tackle" just to name a few...I really don't think they'll be saying that later in the season...They just have to make some choices and go with them... Looking back on the Raceland game, Ashland did some good things...They out stated Raceland and held their "highly touted" QB to 5-10 passing for 87 yards...That's pretty good but that doesn't win games...Raceland didn't man handle Ashland & honestly, Ashland very easily could have won that game...Hart took the blame for some play calling in the Red Zone which is what good coaches do, & a useless block in the back on Thomas' punt return killed Ashland... With that being said, I think Belfry will be too quick & physical for the Tomcats to really unleash their running game...They will have to go to the pass & from all reports, Belfry did a great job on pass happy NCC... I do think Ashland will play better this week and I hope they win, but Belfry will be MUCH better than Raceland... Belfry - 28 Ashland - 14

Raceland comes back to Ram Stadium on a high & warms up the firetrucks again!! Raceland - 28 Rowan Co - 14

That is the exact way McGlone will approach this & every season...He will not sacrifice team goals for indivdual goals...History proves this...For example, in 2004 Gross could have easily surpassed 3000 yards & 60 td's if he were allowed to play more than an average of 2 qtrs & 12 carries/game...

That's my point...:thumb: It didn't happen overnight plus, you've been talking about it for awhile so all I'm saying is the KHSAA & State Board of Education shoud step in and mandate that any school planning consolidation must submit a request, which I'm sure they do, and set a deadline for completion...That way, as I stated, all schedules can be pre-planned and you can play on an even playing field...

I don't believe anyone can blame Mercer for the inherent problems with the KHSAA's current classification process...Year in and year out schools may gain or lose a few kids & that can change your classification SLIGHTLY...A school consolidation is different...This didn't happen overnight...If you are planning a consolidation you should have to let the KHSAA know a year or 2 in advance so your schedule can be adjusted & will be legit when the consolidation takes place...It IS an unfair advantage & people will talk about it...Don't take it personally...The gripes are not directed in any way at the Titans...

AMEN!!!:thumb: :thumb:

Congratulations to the Rams on a nice win to open the season...:thumb: You did what you had to do to get out of there with a win...Don't get too high off of this game...You have a lot more important games down the road and this was not a "vintage" Ashland team you beat by any stretch of the imagination...With the talented coaching staff you have, I know you'll be able to keep it in perspective...Bigger fish to fry!!! (as they say) Good luck the rest of the season and just remember, there were A LOT of Russell fans there last night pulling for you guys!!...

You need to give Belfry more credit than that...The Pirates just knocked off the favorite to win the 1A championship...

Congrats to Belfry...Looks like you are off to good start...I wouldn't worry much about Ashland...They have a major problem tackling & you should be able to dominate them at the line of scrimmage...Also, as a whole the team speed is SLOW!!! If your defense is quick & strong, you should put a MAJOR butt kicking on them...