[Devil09]

This has always been a big rivalry game that was traditionally dominated by Ashland prior to McGlone arriving at Russell for the 1976 football season...Russell had only won a few times prior to his arrival...Ashland leads the all-time series 31-21 but Russell owns a 4 or 5 game advantage during the 32 seasons McGlone has roamed the sidelines at Russell...

As others have stated you can throw out records when these 2 teams meet and the favorite does not always win...In 2001, the heavily favored Arliss Beach led Tomcats left Henry R. Evans Stadium with a stinging loss...Then, in 2006 the only blemish on Russell's record prior to losing 15-12 to 5A Mercer County in the 3A championship game was a 3 OT loss to the Tomcats...

Over the last 10 years Russell enjoys a 6-4 record against the Tomcats...The games have been tightly contested with few exceptions and several have gone down to the wire...There are only 3 games in the last 10 years that have been decided by 2 touchdowns or more (Russell won 2 of those)...Take away those 3 games and the average margin of victory is less than a touchdown at 5.7 points...There have been 2 OT games (both won by Ashland), a 3 point victory, 1 point victory, and 4 point victory...See a pattern?? That's why this game is so highly anticipated and (barring bad weather) will be the biggest crowd at Putnam Stadium this year...

I saw Ashland in week one against Raceland and Ashland was the better team in the second half of that game...Yes, Raceland had some turnovers and I believe they are the better team overall, but they were outplayed by Ashland in the second half...I expect the type of effort they gave against Pikeville...Pikeville is not a horrible team and they were blasted 47-0 by Ashland...It will take a strong effort by Russell to win this game...I believe from top to bottom they are the better team but, as history shows us, the better team does not always win rivalry games...

It's all about the big boys on the line.