[ryanparker]

In my opinion, Ashland and Russell are similar in talent. I think this has been the case throughout the years.

It is just that tonight Ashland played like a team that had already played 3 more than respectable teams, been beaten by 2 of them, and frankly, was hungry for a win. Russell played like a team who had played 3 non-quality opponents and had yet to see an opponent the caliber of Ashland. Needless to say, they didn't respond as we Russell fans had hoped.

I think Russell and Ashland are closer in talent than tonight's score indicates. Ashland just plays a much more difficult schedule so their record will almost always look worse at the end of the year.