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http://dailyindependent.com/localsports/...er-for-now

Kyle Hobstetter The Independent
ASHLAND — The Raceland-Russell football rivalry is over ... for now.

The two schools separated by just three miles will end their series after this season.

“Me and (Raceland coach T.J. Maynard) have talked and that’s the conclusion we’ve come to,” Russell coach Ivan McGlone said. “That’s the only comment I have.”

Raceland coach T.J. Maynard is disappointed in the decision to end the series.

“It’s unfortunate because of the proximity of the game and the natural rivalry that it was,” Maynard said. “It was great preparation for the playoffs for the both of us. But we’ll just move on.”

After being played for 48 years, the series took a break in 1974. Then in 2007 the series returned, with Raceland winning four and Russell only once.

Russell leads the series overall with a record of 27-19-7, and the two teams do have a Week 11 meeting this season.

“We were hoping to continue the series because it’s been great,” Maynard said. “We’re going to miss it, we’re going to miss the atmosphere.

“I've been on both ends of (three) rivalries (Greenup County-Raceland, Russell-Raceland, Russell-Greenup). To me those three games are no-brainers.”

Maynard said there are already teams calling him about the open week next year, including Danville, Tates Creek and Clark County, but travel expenses could be an issue.

The Rams’ 2013 non-district schedule includes East Carter, West Carter, Boyd County, Greenup County, Lawrence County and Ashland.