[Big Five-0-]

After last night. I feel a lot better about the RAMS chances Friday night!!

Lol! After a second ago, i feel a lot better about the PANTHERS chances Friday night!!

[Scotty_Bronson]

Glad everyone's feeling so good!lol

[RAM-A-DEVIL]

Raceland is nowhere near Belfry!!!

You're right Raceland is at least a hundred miles away:biglmao:

[RAM-A-DEVIL]

Rams by eleventy billion!

[jetpilot]

[Big Five-0-]

Great motivational jetpilot. Already pumped, but this just puts the icing on the cake! GO PANTHERS!!

[AnotherPirateTD]

Good luck Panthers have a safe injury free game. Panthers by 2tds.

[BelfryPride]

Good luck Pikeville! irateSho

[Scotty_Bronson]

Just watch some film of Pikeville and Raceland this year. After seeing both teams, back to back, these teams really are very different. The only similarity is the fact they both have several play makers.

Offense vs Offense:
Raceland is avg 42 pts/game. Can break a big play at any time but has gotten very good at controlling the clock. Make no mistake though, they can score at any given time. Pikeville has seemingly limittless big play capabilities. They average 48pts/game.
The two RBs Beech and Hall, are different types of runners. Both are district players of the year. Hall is a little bit more of a smash mouth, Stephen Jackson style of an RB. While Beech is more along the lines of Eric Dickerson. Neither of these two are THAT caliber, simply describing styles.

Beech's strength lies in his ability to make "that cut". He can run the stretch well, but really runs well in the trap/counter game. His weakness is sometimes he looks too long, and like most runners who seem to never quit running, will fumble at times. His upper body strength has gotte muc better though and that has not been a problem from Beech like it was last year.

Hall's best strength is well, his strength. He has good speed, but you wont see him running many stretch plays. His bread andbutter seems to be off tackle. His weakness, if he has one, is he isnt quite as ellusive. But, his strength makes up for it.

QB comparison:
The biggest difference in Elkins and Charles lies in arm strength, hehas the stronger arm between the two. Other than that, there aint a whole lot of Difference. Both make good decisions for the most part. Both have the abikty to run. Charles has a lttle more speed bit Adam is a bit stronger, or so it seems.

Messer/Estep...i dont have the time or energy to compare these two. Its very possible these two will be in each others face all night. I would expect to see them both have a big game. Two of the best atheletes in single A.

Defense vs Defense:
Pikevilles quick, hits hard, very smart as far as ball awareness. The first two guys secure the tackle, 3rd guy goes for the ball. Raceland plays very much the same. Raceland dline is a little stronger and more experienced than Pikevilles. Pikevikkes lb are better though. Pikevilles weakest point is between the tackles, their strength lies on the edges. Racelands stregth is its secondary and its dline. The Rams LB play is its defenses weakes point.
Raceland yields about 190 yds and 16pts/game and Pikeville yields about 260 yds and 25 pts/game.

[Scotty_Bronson]

Raceland's field can get pretty nasty in the rain. Anyone think Pikeville will have any issues, having played the last 2 games on their dry turf?

[foxbatone]

Because of the rain, Raceland wins in a land side 34-6. Pikeville only score will happen in the 4th, when the game has be already been decided. good luck next year panthers.

[PHSForever]

Because of the rain, Raceland wins in a land side 34-6. Pikeville only score will happen in the 4th, when the game has be already been decided. good luck next year panthers.

Lol. Dream on, buddy. No way Pikeville is held to only 6 points. That shows your ignorance. Belfry has a better D than Raceland (NOT a knock on the Rams) and Pikeville still put up 20 there. Im just pulling for an injury free game both ways. And of course, for a victory for the Panthers. go Panthers!!!

[Ramcat77]

Don't have a clue who is gonna win this game. I was certain Raceland would win it the last two years and we all know how both of those games went. I just hope the game is worth the five bucks I'm gonna spend to get in. I hope both teams stay injury free and I hope the Rams win. Should be a packed house!!!

[SPORTS FAN 101]

Pikeville 35 Raceland 28 in OT

[foxbatone]

Lol. Dream on, buddy. No way Pikeville is held to only 6 points. That shows your ignorance. Belfry has a better D than Raceland (NOT a knock on the Rams) and Pikeville still put up 20 there. Im just pulling for an injury free game both ways. And of course, for a victory for the Panthers. go Panthers!!!

I am not saying that Raceland D is better, I am just saying a muddy field makes a difference. Ignorance is yours, did you all play Belfry on a muddy field, the answer is no! One of the disadvantages of never playing in a wet environment on the road, is all I am saying. Now if the game was played on a dry field the game would be all together different. Pikeville has a great team this year and a great program, but Raceland has a great program to. I have nothing but respect for the Panther program and there community, this is my opinion and mine alone.

[PHSForever]

I am not saying that Raceland D is better, I am just saying a muddy field makes a difference. Ignorance is yours, did you all play Belfry on a muddy field, the answer is no! One of the disadvantages of never playing in a wet environment on the road, is all I am saying. Now if the game was played on a dry field the game would be all together different. Pikeville has a great team this year and a great program, but Raceland has a great program to. I have nothing but respect for the Panther program and there community, this is my opinion and mine alone.

No, the played Belfry on turf. They have, in the past 2 years, played several times on wet/muddy fields, and have done well each time with essentially the same personnel. It does make a difference, which is why I've been saying it will not be a high scoring shootout. But it goes both ways in terms of effect on teams. Look no further than RIUTG's response about how he played on a power run team and hated playing in the rain or mud because it made it harder to stay on blocks due to the unsure footing. That could play both ways. You've no doubt got your own opinion on it, but the fact is, Pikeville WILL score more than 6 points. They are just too explosive. Will they score enough to win? That I don't know, because I have much respect for the Raceland program and know they will be tough. The fans have always been classy, and we have tried to reciprocate that classiness (I hope we have), so I wish everyone safe travels and an injury free night. Go Panthers! Wish I could be there tonight, but will be rooting for you!

[PHSForever]

Just watch some film of Pikeville and Raceland this year. After seeing both teams, back to back, these teams really are very different. The only similarity is the fact they both have several play makers.

Offense vs Offense:
Raceland is avg 42 pts/game. Can break a big play at any time but has gotten very good at controlling the clock. Make no mistake though, they can score at any given time. Pikeville has seemingly limittless big play capabilities. They average 48pts/game.
The two RBs Beech and Hall, are different types of runners. Both are district players of the year. Hall is a little bit more of a smash mouth, Stephen Jackson style of an RB. While Beech is more along the lines of Eric Dickerson. Neither of these two are THAT caliber, simply describing styles.

Beech's strength lies in his ability to make "that cut". He can run the stretch well, but really runs well in the trap/counter game. His weakness is sometimes he looks too long, and like most runners who seem to never quit running, will fumble at times. His upper body strength has gotte muc better though and that has not been a problem from Beech like it was last year.

Hall's best strength is well, his strength. He has good speed, but you wont see him running many stretch plays. His bread andbutter seems to be off tackle. His weakness, if he has one, is he isnt quite as ellusive. But, his strength makes up for it.

QB comparison:
The biggest difference in Elkins and Charles lies in arm strength, hehas the stronger arm between the two. Other than that, there aint a whole lot of Difference. Both make good decisions for the most part. Both have the abikty to run. Charles has a lttle more speed bit Adam is a bit stronger, or so it seems.

Messer/Estep...i dont have the time or energy to compare these two. Its very possible these two will be in each others face all night. I would expect to see them both have a big game. Two of the best atheletes in single A.

Defense vs Defense:
Pikevilles quick, hits hard, very smart as far as ball awareness. The first two guys secure the tackle, 3rd guy goes for the ball. Raceland plays very much the same. Raceland dline is a little stronger and more experienced than Pikevilles. Pikevikkes lb are better though. Pikevilles weakest point is between the tackles, their strength lies on the edges. Racelands stregth is its secondary and its dline. The Rams LB play is its defenses weakes point.
Raceland yields about 190 yds and 16pts/game and Pikeville yields about 260 yds and 25 pts/game.

Really like your analysis. I think Special Teams play will be a deciding factor, if not THE deciding factor. People sleep on the Pikeville D all year for giving up rush yards, but the fact is, they've been bend but don't break in philosophy for a while now. It has worked, for the most part, because Thacker is good at the halftime adjustments necessary to finish strong. Prestonsburg rushed well in the 1st half, essentially got meaningless yards in the 2nd. Hazard rushed like MONSTERS in the 1st, the second half was a different story. The only reason that game ended up being close at the end was onside kickoffs being recovered by Hazard, giving them short field. That was a near disaster that has since been well corrected for the most part. Belfry got theirs, like they do against everyone. We were simply outmanned, and outplayed, by a superior team. I could go on, but you don't get to 11-1 against the schedule Pikeville has played, without having a better than decent D. Same for the Rams. Just different D styles.

Out of curiosity, what is the Ram depth like after the starters on the Dline? I read the article about the starters and the huge freshman sub, but didn't see much else about the rest of the rotation. That line is massive for 1A!

[GoHerd_22]

The freshman isn't a sub.. He is and has been a full time starter since week 4. 6"1 300+ and moves as well as any HS d-linemen I have ever seen. IMO he by the time he is a senior he will be the most highly recruited player ever from Raceland. Reminds me of Glenn Dorsey when he played for LSU. Don't get me wrong, Wallace is just a freshman and still makes freshman mistakes but you'll see tonight that he also makes a ton of plays that nobody else on the field can make.

[PHSForever]

The freshman isn't a sub.. He is and has been a full time starter since week 4. 6"1 300+ and moves as well as any HS d-linemen I have ever seen. IMO he by the time he is a senior he will be the most highly recruited player ever from Raceland. Reminds me of Glenn Dorsey when he played for LSU. Don't get me wrong, Wallace is just a freshman and still makes freshman mistakes but you'll see tonight that he also makes a ton of plays that nobody else on the field can make.

Ok, the paper made it sound like he subbed in, I wasn't trying to demean him.

[GoHerd_22]

Pikeville will have trouble in the mud.. They have played 10 games on turf this year. Tough transition to a muddy field.

[GoHerd_22]

Didn't think you were PHS, just sharing my thoughts on his skill level. Kid can flat out play.

[Scotty_Bronson]

Really like your analysis. I think Special Teams play will be a deciding factor, if not THE deciding factor. People sleep on the Pikeville D all year for giving up rush yards, but the fact is, they've been bend but don't break in philosophy for a while now. It has worked, for the most part, because Thacker is good at the halftime adjustments necessary to finish strong. Prestonsburg rushed well in the 1st half, essentially got meaningless yards in the 2nd. Hazard rushed like MONSTERS in the 1st, the second half was a different story. The only reason that game ended up being close at the end was onside kickoffs being recovered by Hazard, giving them short field. That was a near disaster that has since been well corrected for the most part. Belfry got theirs, like they do against everyone. We were simply outmanned, and outplayed, by a superior team. I could go on, but you don't get to 11-1 against the schedule Pikeville has played, without having a better than decent D. Same for the Rams. Just different D styles.

Out of curiosity, what is the Ram depth like after the starters on the Dline? I read the article about the starters and the huge freshman sub, but didn't see much else about the rest of the rotation. That line is massive for 1A!

Raceland has about 4 guys capable of playing called upon on the dline. Nevan Johnson(6'4 290) is primarily an OT, but plays well at DT as well. The center, Lucas Bradley, can play DT. There are a few sophs that have seen time. Just cant lace their names off the top of my head. Wallace is a beast. The smallest dlineman that starts, is 6'2 240.

[Scotty_Bronson]

^Bradley is about 6'0 270/280

[Panther Thunder]

Preview in the Daily Independent was great! They do a great job!

[Mastadon89]

What time is it!?

[NoPicks]

Is it game time yet??!!!! Going to be a great one! Go Rams!

[Scotty_Bronson]

Rain, Shine, Hail or High Water, I will be there with bells and rain gear on! Goina be a big time game, in a big time atmosphere, whith a big time crowd. I'd venture to say a monsoon wouldnt affect these fan bases from coming out! Panther Nation chomping at the bit after the loss to Fairview in last season Regional Champ game, while Ram Natiońis starving for that signature win to put the program on the map as a legit 1A contender each year. A win tonight for Raceland will do wonders for the program.

[FBALL]

I may get stuck at work but I'm going to try and make it to the game .


Well here is my prediction anyway.

Ams 48
Panthers 28

[fourth and goal]

The muddy field will be a big concern for the RAMS. Beech's biggest asset is his cutting ability. The last time we played on a very wet field a Ram stadium. I believe Beech was held under 50 yards rushing. His footing was terrible. Always on his side without being hit.
The upside. It will be harder for Pikevilles undersized linemen to get any footing or angles and sustain any kind of holes. Got a feeling whoever can run up the middle with consistency will win this game.

[BHS78]

Raceland 28
Pikeville 21