[FBALL]

Don't get me wrong. I hope Burgess comes in and runs like Jerome Bettis. I haven't even seen Raceland play...but everyone has me convinced that they are more like the Ironton Tigers than the Raceland Rams! That leads me to believe that Russell is going to need some tricks in their bag (no pun intended)to pull a win out on Friday.

You've been talking to the wrong people.

As for Raceland's line the only place they have a big size advantage is at the gaurd positions due to the type of offense and speed it requires to play gaurd in Russell's offense. The gaurds for Russell are small for offensive linemen but they are very good athletes and very strong kids.

For Raceland Logan is a monster. 6'3" 250 and very athletic and strong. The Johansson kid is very strong as well at 6'4' 270. Very physical player but lacks in technique and football experience. Other than that I'd say the line play is about even.

You can match size for Russell with Dillon at 6'4" 280 and Miller at 6'3" 280.

The size and strength of both teams linemen will be pretty even. Don't believe everything you hear OR READ. Raceland, despite what some people have said or written, has played a much easier schedule than what Russell has.

Russells Schedule

Greenup County (W 49-13)
Boyd County
West Carter (W 44-9)
Ashland (L 36-10)
East Carter (W 42-7)
Lawrence County
Lewis County
Simon Kenton
Mason County
Raceland


Racelands Schedule

Ashland (W 19-16 in OT)
East Carter (W 43-13)
Fairview
LCA
Greenup County (W 40-6)
Paris
Paintsville
Nicholas County
Russell
West Carter (yet to play)

Common opponents are shown with the result in (). As you see they are pretty similar except for the Ashland game. Which as you well know is by far the worst game Russell played all year long and a huge rivalry in which it was obvious that Ashland was more fired up for. All though comparing scores does not always tell the whole story it does give you a guideline to look at. In this case both teams really appear to be pretty even.

As for the rest of the schedules. Russell's foes (Boyd County 5-3 4A, Lawrence County 0-8 4A, Lewis County 0-8 3A, Simon Kenton 5-4 6A and Mason County 6-2 3A) are a much tougher go of it than Raceland's foes (Fairview 6-2 1A, LCA 6-3 1A, Paris 2-6 1A, Paintsville 4-4 1A and Nicholas County 2-6 1A).

Simon Kenton and Mason County are both far better than anyone else on Racelands schedule. The rest of the schedules are comparable but Boyd and Lawrence are better than anybody else on Racelands schedule besides LCA who is a very good offensive team but very weak on defense. Lewis County would be on par with Paintsville and Nicholas. Fairview and Paris fall in between.

I hope this rambling (no pun intended) helped to understand just how evenly matched these teams are.

By the way, did you tell my little buddies I said high? Feel free to relate this comparison to them if you wish.