REDDEVILMVP'06

Difference in 5a and 6a above 3a is in the big people ... To win at larger levels , have to have big people who can play .... The very best at Russell would play for the big schools but wouldn't dominate games ... Big kids that can dominate at 5,6a level get scholarships ... Playing Mercer proves the 3a schools can match skills with the 5a schools , we prove this every year with Ashland .. who always has very skilled players Mercer will learn this and we will be watching/posting ... you'll need money to get into state champ game next year .. Again , Devils will be back , we have a program ...

Right now looks like a stretch for the Devils ... but not so fast my friend ... Devils return kids who 1) have played and practiced all the way to championship gmes last two years .... 2) Quarterback ... Jones is back 3) Coaching staff in tack 4) Weak district except Mason 5) 74,75,38,13,3 So don't count out the Devils ..... Reloading

Russell fans , will we get these replays on our cable system ?

5a and 6a football in Ky requires physical play by kids with size. 5a Mercer didn't dominate the 3a Devils ..... Devils will reload in 3a .... what about Mercer ?? .... we will be watching and posting .... Programs are year after year of sustained success ...

What is ICN-6 , local ville station only ? Looking for game in NE Ky ?

Competition is directly related to performance in the big games .... It developes your real identity when the chips are down. It almost cost Mercer because they thought somehow , even though we beat them easy last year , we were going to be another 2a cupcake .... But by the same token a soft schedule hurt us also this year .... several games weren't even good scrimmages ... Looking forward to 3a and getting to play outside our district to improve our schedule and therefore our real identity as we get in close playoff games.

Couple things ... Whoever manages the traffic for these events did a terrible job ... realistically no one managed the traffic Traffic around PJ's ( coming and going) for last two years was at a standstill for very small number of people , especially this year... Our band got into the stadium late into the second quarter ... I routinely attend games in the Horseshoe where traffic moves much faster for over 100,000 .... This frustration likely leads to people staying home , it will me from now on ... Also games during the workweek ... Can't move the venue , when the Cards are at home ... Nothing going on in Lexington or Richmond

Hey Cold weather fan .. where you happy today ? 7am 71 deg f in Flatwoods 10 am 38 deg f in the ville ... Froze in the pizza box

I aggree , Mercer reminded me of Ashland who is good -lot's of athletes but struggling to compete from a physical standpoint in 5a .... JC , Rock , Bell normally do in the Tomcats .. who I want to succeed ... Not taking anything away from Mercer they are best team in 2a football because Mercer beat the best team in 2a football .... We will be watching Mercer this next year

It's too late , my only frustration is one of teams in 2a should have stepped up and bailed out the KHSAA by actually beating Mercer .. As expected , the Devils proved capable but did not get it done ... Mercer won 2A by beating the best team in 2A .. So they are the champs Life isn't fair and the kids got this lesson early ... courtesy the KHSAA ... we agree ..

Effort of Wills ,Clark, Beekman,Sizemore,Gullett,Lewis,Wells, #20 and the other Russell Seniors who have experienced the highs and lows state championship games .. these kids are winners and " most impressive so far " for years now ... Also was impressed by #5 Sutton .. congradulating the winners after the game ...real sportsmanship ...

Mercer won on the field , so no asterisk ... 2a , 4a or 5a doesn't matter . From what I saw today , Mercer had no real advantage talent or coaching wise over recent Devil and Belfry championship teams ... At Russell we knew this going in ... Congrats to Mercer , you folks won this game and therefore the 2a championship ...

Just got back .... Kids on both teams played very hard .... both teams sold out .... Devils seniors, coaches and kids that won last year have to be very frustrated. These winners didn't perform at their best , didn't have any fortunate bounces or calls and only came up short by 3 points ... Without detailing any specific events ( yet) , this group of Devils deserves high praise , for consistent , year after year performance at a very high level ... Be proud of yourselves ..... you earned respect over several seasons fair and square - no matter whoever lines up across the field ... Those that have been following these kids up thru JFL knew this was going to be a very close game into the fourth , because these kids have talent, are proud and play hard nosed football. Thanks for the ride over the past several seasons , look forward to next years " Meet the Devils " ....

Glad engineers are with us .. Devils are playing for everyone East of Lexington ... :devil: :devil: :devil: :devil: :devil:

Devils by 6 .... Good Luck to both ... Hope no one gets hurt .. I also think for Devils - physical athletes , in the absolute right place at the right time ( coaching) will be the difference ... If Mercer outmatches physically and scheme , they win ... Neither will run the other off the field , without several turnovers ... I also expect Devils to come out in short rollout option passing game ... If cannot cover Clark , DBacks are going to get hammered after the catch.. Beware Sizemore and Hall as recievers not yet featured this year .. The old coach has been saving something all year ... I just bet ...

You are kidding , this D Coord must have come from Harrodsburg ... Devils ran thru Scotties like a sieve last year .... 34 - 6 before Devils lineman got tired ... Devils come out winging it ..... can also play some power football and balance both with the pass ... bring some lunch ... :devil: :fire: :flame:

Devils running game last year , special teams and defensive effort without lock down corner Mike Horn .... Ps .. we were suppose to get blown out last year also ......

Computer has the probabilities flipflopped. Time will tell but the crown is coming back to Russell Flatwoods ... No way 61 points are scored in this game ... Likely a defensive struggle .... Cut the spread and total points in half 20 to 10 .... especially if it rains and is cold .... Ground/pound and Morris Defense will dominate ... Playoff game against Mason with Grutza and Lofton was very low score .. Devils been there done that ....

Matching athletic teams is Devils strength - always has been , confidence grows daily , with respect to this matchup... Coaches put Devils in position and kids respond and make plays .. Simple formula but one we have seen time and again ...

Devils only beat three complete teams this years ... Boyd ,Corbin and Belfry This was a concern until the road performance at Belfry .... Belfry has a quality program that is a yard stick for anyone any year ... Although Belfry was off it's game this win was very impressive ... Ps .. Russell lost to an Ashland team in a close one ... Ashland is loaded with athletes - every year ... this game tells me we can match athletes with any 2a school ... including a 2a and 1a combination... I think Ashland is going to 5a next year .... Mercer might meet them someday in the playoffs ... Other things that tell me we can match against athletic teams ... Mason Co a few years ago , the Devils shut down guys named Grutza and Lofton... Devils beat them twice in the same year I think .... Both these kids were clearly best athletes on the field ... Devils as a team under the direction of the coaching staff controlled this game ... these games might have been Russell's finest hour ...

Looked at last years game again , don't see any blowout this year. Devils totally dominated thru mid third quarter and our linemen seemed to get tired. This won't happen this year , less linemen play both ways every down. #32 ran hard and stood out for Mercer. Mercer's level of play ( last year ) was similar to Fleming without Fritz ... Mercer was a running team... Should be a very close game this year ... Devils will be confident and so will Mercer that's the way it should be ...

Only one on my list Russell ... Go Devils We are public From North Eastern Ky Proud to be back And plan to bring another trophy home to Russell Flatwoods ...

Looks like we have common ground ... A blowout one way or another is very unlikely .... good luck to both deserving teams ...

This Friday will tell the tale .... 2A stats and scores are meaningless .... Only things I can say for sure , is : 1) This group of Devils ( players and coaches) have earned the trip on the field ... 2) The have experience .... defending state champs 3) Grew lot's of depth and diversity with the injuries this year 4) Over came a very soft schedule and are playing complete football ( much better than I thought they could ) Jones is the real deal ... 5) Know how to win the close ones , years struggling to do so .. credit to Coaches ... last year every down was a struggle - 8 kids played both ways for the entire game .. Devils are much deeper this year .. this is a key point Mercer should be thinking about 8 kids played both ways ... I am sure the coaches are ... 6) Have athletes at all postions and ones waiting on the bench to get in the game ... unheard of in 2A football Based upon all these known facts .. This group of Devils will be there for the entire game ..... if Mercer can match this will be a dandy ...

This Friday will tell the tale .... 2A stats and scores are meaningless .... Only things I can say for sure , is : 1) This group of Devils ( players and coaches) have earned the trip on the field ... 2) The have experience .... defending state champs 3) Grew lot's of depth and diversity with the injuries this year 4) Over came a very soft schedule and are playing complete football ( much better than I thought they could ) Jones is the real deal ... 5) Know how to win the close ones , years struggling to do so .. credit to Coaches ... last year every down was a struggle - 8 kids played both ways for the entire game .. Devils are much deeper this year .. this is a key point Mercer should be thinking about 8 kids played both ways ... I am sure the coaches are ... 6) Have athletes at all postions and ones waiting on the bench to get in the game ... unheard of in 2A football Based upon all these known facts .. This group of Devils will be there for the entire game ..... if Mercer can match this will be a dandy ...