The Boys of Fall
James Collier
Ashland Beacon
ASHLAND 48 ROWAN COUNTY 0
Ashland did not get many chances with the ball Friday night, but the Tomcats capitalized on every opportunity they had.
After Rowan milked over 6 minutes off clock on their opening possession, Ashland went to work by dismantling the Vikings 48-0 in running clock fashion. Braxton Jennings accounted for three first half touchdowns, two rushing and a reception from Brandon Houston to lead the Tomcats to their seventh win in as many weeks. Jennings finished with 69 rushing yards on three carries and 37 receiving yards.
Tay Thomas opened the second half scoring with a pick-6 early in the frame for what would be the first of two Ashland defensive scores in the period. Cam Davis rumbled 48 yards to paydirt then added another pick-6 by the Tomcats two plays later to put the running clock in motion. Keshawn Newman closed the scoring with a 6-yard run in the fourth.
Thomas led the Tomcats with 96 rushing yards on five carries. Davis added 81 on three. Ashland limited Rowan County to only 122 total yards of offense in the shutout.
Ashland visits Boyd County Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
BOYD COUNTY 48 GREENUP COUNTY 14
Boyd County found itself down 14-0 midway through the first quarter Friday night against Greenup County in a key district contest.
But the Lions showed why the game is a marathon and not a sprint after rolling off 48 unanswered to knock off the Musketeers, 48-14. Boyd evened the contest after one at 14-14 and added another 13 for a 27-14 Lions lead at half.
Brody Stevens dashed 36 yards in the opening minute of the game for a 7-0 Greenup lead. Tyson Sammons made it 14-0 with a 21-yard run with 5:42 to play in the frame but the Lions slow start was quickly erased. Cole Hicks hauled in a 30-yard pass from Rhett Holbrook to trim the deficit to seven. Dakota Thompson dashed two yards with one minute in the quarter to even the contest at 14-14.
Marcus Brumfield caught Holbrook’s second TD of the night late in the second to give the Lions the lead for good. Holbrook added some separation with 52 seconds before the half with a 45-yard scamper to paydirt. Holbrook went 14 of 18 through the air for 228 yards and ran for 71 more on nine totes.
Camaron Collins added to the lead with a 13-yard run midway through the third. Holbrook tossed a 66-yard bomb to Garrett Crum four minutes later to push the game out of reach. Hunter Hendrick capped off the scoring with a 3-yard run in the final stanza.
Crum had 84 yards on three catches. Hicks had 84 yards on four balls. Brumfield added 57 on six. Sammons had 113 rushing yards for Greenup. He threw for 84 more but was picked off three times.
Boyd County welcomes Ashland Friday night at 7:30 p.m. Greenup exercises its bye week.
RACELAND 43 HAZARD 0
Another long road trip down US23 for Raceland provided the same outcome as the previous two.
A Rams win.
Raceland upended Hazard, 43-0 at Daniel Field for the Rams sixth win in seven meetings while scoring the most points ever in the series. Raceland tallied four interceptions—one for a score—while holding Hazard to 151 total yards of offense on the night.
Logan Lundy lit up the scoreboard in the first half with three passing touchdowns to send the Rams to the half leading 21-0. Lundy hooked up with Parker Fannin late in the first for an 11-yard score and a 7-0 lead after one. Bryson Rowsey hauled in a quick hitter from Lundy then dashed down the sideline 24 yards for the score and a 14-0 lead.
Raceland had a Cam Bell interception return erased from the scoreboard just before the half, but the Rams needed only three plays to reapply the points back after Lundy found Fannin for a 31-yard score. Fannin caught four balls for 94 yards.
Brody Austin opened the second half scoring with a 45-yard pick-6 to make it 28-0. Noah Wallace put the running clock in motion with a 70-yard scamper to paydirt with 6 minutes to play in the third. Landen Stiltner closed the scoring with a 22-yard run midway through the fourth.
Lundy went 7 of 11 for 127 yards. Wallace rushed for 129 yards on 11 totes.
Raceland welcomes Fairview Friday night at 7:30 p.m. to open district play.
RUSSELL 14 WEST CARTER 9
Russell defeated West Carter, 14-9. Ethan Pack rushed for 127 yards and a score. Elijah Hankins rushed for 51 yards and a score. Pack completed only one pass in five attempts, hooking up with Parker Mitchell for a 17-yard strike. Pack and Mitchell each had interceptions.
Russell welcomes Lewis County Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
NICHOLAS COUNTY 60 FAIRVIEW 20
Fairview fell 60-20 to Nicholas County Friday night in Westwood to start district play.
Xavien Kouns took the opening kickoff in for a touchdown to give the Eagles an early 7-0 lead. Jace Manning threw for 220 yards but was picked off twice in the losing effort. Roman Mayes caught six passes for 86 yards. Kouns had 69 yards on nine catches.
Fairview travels to Raceland Friday night at 7:30 p.m.