Kroger KSR Game of the Week: Lawn Chair Nation Unique and Loud in Raceland’s 38-14 Win over Paintsville

Raceland supporters have persistently asked to host the Kroger KSR Game of the Week for three years now. They got their chance on Friday night and the Lawn Chair Nation didn’t disappoint. I made the two-hour trip east on Friday and really didn’t know what to expect. I’d been to Ashland a few times but I didn’t know where Raceland was on the map, to be honest.

First, I was floored by the beauty of the neighborhood that surrounded the Rams’ football facilities. The streets were made of bricks. Pictures of veterans and those that are serving our nation were proudly displayed on signs which made for a picturesque backdrop. The pristine ride into the stadium certainly set the stage for a wonderful day in an exceptional Kentucky city. I love Class A football. Often stadiums are in neighborhoods or the center of small towns. That was Raceland.

I greatly enjoy traveling across Kentucky for high school football games because of the communities and atmospheres that make for unique environments. Once I arrived at the stadium I became infatuated with what seemed to be hundreds of lawn chairs that were set up just out of bounds in both end zones. A fan told me that the seats were placed as early as Wednesday to ensure a good view of the game. Thus, #LawnChairNation became a thing. Unique and fun. Raceland’s saying is “This is Home” and that’s more than just words for the faithful following. I felt at home there. Community pride was evident and remarkable.

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Tailgating began around 4:00 PM. The theme was Soup Night for simplicity purposes due to multiple pregame festivities which included the school honoring seniors from across multiple sports. If you’ll remember, I went on and on about Mayfield’s pregame environment and tailgating. For the record, Mayfield and Raceland are 385 miles apart. Football state. Raceland was similar and it was noticeable that supporters took pride in feeding the community prior to kickoff.

I was unaware that Raceland and Paintsville are rivals. The Rams and Tigers produced the most physical Kroger KSR Game of the Week that I’ve seen so far in 2022. The two teams flat-out got after each other. The Rams eventually won the game 38-14 and secured the Class A, District 6 championship.

Raceland’s Noah Wallace scored the game’s first touchdown from eight yards out in the first quarter. The Rams also had two turnovers in the Red Zone before senior kicker Peyton Ison nailed a 28-yard field goal just before the half to extend RHS’s lead to 10-0 at the half.

Paintsville marched the football to the Raceland 11-yard line before missing a field goal attempt. The Rams took over and immediately gave the football back to Paintsville. Tiger quarterback Frederick James was hit early and often in the game but managed to toss a 39-yard touchdown pass to tighten the game at 10-7. Raceland QB Logan Lundy threw a 59-yard touchdown pass and the Rams went on to score 21 points in just under four minutes to open the game up 31-7 in the third quarter. Raceland closed it out to secure the 38-14 victory.

Back to the Lawn Chair Nation. As you can tell, this fascinated me leading up to the game. But, once the football was kicked off, I completely understood its necessity. The stands were completely packed. Cars were parked on the side of the road with fans watching the game from on top of the hillside. The place was filled to capacity and it was a beautiful site. Football matters in Raceland. It’s a community event. I was incredibly impressed. I was graciously met by Ram supporters, school administrators, and players’ parents before kickoff. They were hospitable and welcoming. I definitely want to go back.

If you are a football person like me, I highly suggest that you make the trip to Raceland to take in the experience. You won’t be disappointed. #LawnChairNation #ThisIsHome.

Kroger is a staple in your hometown community just like high school football. There’s nothing quite like Friday nights in the Bluegrass. We are honored to share this journey with Kroger and you for the third consecutive season.