[nekysportsfan]

Those games a few years ago were some of the best high school football games I've ever seen. The intensity and bad blood between the two programs was special. It brought about great gate money for the schools. If Fairview only hadn't gotten caught playing an ineligible player from Ashland, the rivalry would perhaps still be ongoing because they had established themselves as a viable destination for players from Huntington, Spring Valley, Coal Grove, Ironton, Boyd County, Ashland, and even Charleston. The last remnants of that crew beat Raceland in 2015 as Alex Roy passed to Antwan Washington for the win, a fitting conclusion to the "Believe in the Wood" chapter of local sports. Then it was over for Fairview football. Raceland and Fairview have met 3 times since that game. Raceland has outscored Fairview 134-6 in those 3 games.

Names like Chris Jennings, Gary Felder, Justin Warrick, Chris Kimbro, Jibri Russell, Akeem Webb, Justin Davis, Caleb McKnight, Logan Thovson, Kurtlen Brown, Tanner Dolen, Chase Goble, Clay Goble, Isaiah King, Chris Perkins, Jalen Thomas, Armonde Yetts, Elijah King, Mason Rutherford, Fred Hightower, and Antwan Washington will not be forgotten, though, as the McPeeks had something going for Fairview football.

Now they have taken the show to Lexington at Frederick Douglass where they have compiled a 28-4 record over the first 2 1/2 years there. This year, they've outscored opponents 311-14 so far. Say what you want about the McPeeks, but they know how to build a football program and they certainly brought excitement to local football. What was a crowd of thousands watching this game a few years ago will now be a crowd of only close friends and family.

The attention now shifts up the road to Red Devil Lane this week for the prime time game as Ashland and Russell now supplant Fairview and Raceland as the game to watch in the area. It was fun times for class A football in our area for a few years, though.