James Collier
The Ashland Beacon
ASHLAND 27 ELIZABETHTOWN 25
Ashland’s best drive Saturday night did not result in points when the Tomcats welcomed Elizabethtown to Putnam Stadium.
Instead, it ended with a victory over the Panthers after the Tomcats took possession with 3:53 to play in the game and the offense never left the field until the clock zeros for a 27-25 win. Braxton Jennings and Tay Thomas both eclipsed the century mark on the ground with Jennings leading the way with 131 yards on 17 carries and two scores. Thomas added 113 yards and the final Tomcats score of the night that pushed the lead back to two scores.
Jennings burst free for a 36-yard touchdown late in the first quarter to open the scoring and a 7-0 Tomcats lead after one. Elizabethtown answered midway through the second frame with a 14-yard scamper that cut the Tomcats lead to, 7-6. Jennings second score of the night, a 1-yard plunge, finished off a six-play, 73-yard drive for a 14-6 Ashland lead at the half.
LaBryant Strader hooked up with Brandon Houston for a 55-yard pitch and catch to start the second half and a 21-6 lead. The Panthers needed only 50 seconds to answer with a 28-yard score of their own to cut the deficit to nine. Late in the third, Elizabethtown pulled to within three on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Ryder Gregory to Carter Moberly and trailed 21-18 after three.
Thomas provided a bit of separation for the Tomcats after springing free for a 10-yard touchdown with 8:04 to play in the contest. The drive traveled 70 yards on nine plays and consumed 5:24 off the clock, the second longest sustained drive by the Tomcats who held the ball for nearly 29 minutes.
Strader threw for 117 yards and a score. Houston caught two balls for 95 yards. Cameron Davis provided the game’s only turnover with an interception at the Ashland 1-yard line that thwarted away a Panthers chance at tying the game at 7-7 in the first quarter.
Ashland moved its record to 4-0 against Elizabethtown which includes a pair of State Championship wins over the Panthers.
Ashland welcomes defending district champion East Carter Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
LAWRENCE COUNTY 13 BOYD COUNTY 10
Scoring was at a premium Friday night when Boyd County welcomed Lawrence County.
So were possessions.
Lawrence County tallied only five total possessions in the contest, but two of those ended in the end zone for touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs to a 13-10 win over the Lions.
Boyd County opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Rhett Holbrook to Josh Thornton with 4:05 to play in the first for a 7-0 lead after one. Lawrence County dented the scoreboard midway through the second after Dylan Ferguson got in from three yards out to even the game at 7-7.
Cole Thompson banged through a 29-yard field goal on the final play of the first half for a 10-7 edge at the break, but the Bulldogs would have the final say on the scoreboard after Ferguson’s second score of the night gave the Bulldogs a 13-10 advantage with 2:33 to play in the third.
Malachi Wheeler led the Lions with 70 rushing yards on 18 carries. Rhett Holbrook added 60 yards on the ground.
Boyd County welcomes Holmes Friday night at 7:30 p.m. as it returns to district action.