The Boys of Fall
James Collier
Ashland Beacon
ASHLAND 49 SIMON KENTON 42
It was a first half shoot out at Putnam Stadium Friday when Ashland welcomed Simon Kenton.
Both teams combined for 70 first half points and a 35-35 halftime score. But the Tomcats defense won the battle of second half adjustments with only 21 total points in the final 24 minutes—14 scored by the Tomcats—to secure a 49-42 victory over the Pioneers.
LaBryant Strader threw for 228 yards but was picked off for the first time this season in the win. Tay Thomas paced the Tomcats with 185 rushing yards and a pair of scores. Braxton Jennings visited the endzone three times on the ground and added a go-ahead touchdown with a 28-yard pick-6 late in the final stanza to put the Tomcats in front for good.
Thomas opened the contest with an explosive 76-yard run only 24 seconds from the opening kickoff and a 7-0 Ashland lead. Simon Kenton countered with its first of three touchdowns in the frame and a 21-14 lead after one.
Simon Kenton opened a two-score lead to start the second, but the quarter was owned by Jennings for the Tomcats. Jennings finished with three rushing scores in a matter of six minutes with scoring runs of three, eight and six that evened the game at the half.
Simon Kenton’s lone second half score came with 2:49 to play in the third but the Tomcats two biggest plays of the night would come in the final 12 minutes. Thomas cracked a 93-yarder midway through the frame and Jennings’ pick-6 sealed the win. Jennings also added 77 receiving yards. Brandon Houston led the Tomcats with 141 yards on four catches.
Ashland plays host to Harrison County Friday night in the opening round of the Class 4A Playoffs.
GREENUP COUNTY 59 FLEMING COUNTY 44
Greenup County tallied 521 total yards and worked behind six Tyson Sammons touchdowns in a 59-44, offensive shootout win over Fleming County.
Sammons threw for 203 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 160 yards and three scores. Ike Henderson rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown as the Musketeers rolled off 318 rushing yards. RJ Veach added a rushing touchdown. Brody Stevens caught two passes for 88 yards and a score. Aiden Gue had two touchdown receptions.
Greenup County visits Covington Catholic Friday night to open the Class 4A Playoffs. Cov Cath is the top ranked team in the class.
PIKEVILLE 39 BOYD COUNTY 15
Boyd County stood tall for a half with the two-time defending Class A State Champion Pikeville Friday night.
But the Panther broke the game open with a 21-point third quarter en route to a 39-15 win over the Lions.
Marcus Brumfield hauled in a 19-yard pass from Rhett Holbrook with 7:38 to play in the half to even the game at 8-8. Pikeville went to the half up 15-8 with their first of four consecutive touchdowns that gave the Panthers a 36-8 lead after three. Brumfield closed the scoring with a 22-yard run. Camaron Collins led the Lions with 40 yards on four carries. Brumfield had 22 on five totes and caught three balls for 32 yards.
Boyd County travels to Mason County Friday night to open the Class 4A playoffs. The Lions hammered the Royals, 45-21 in Week 4.
LCA 48 RACELAND 21
LCA running back Brady Hensley simply could not be stopped Friday night when the Eagles visited Raceland.
Hensley stampeded for 265 yards on 13 totes and five touchdowns to lead the Eagles to a 48-21 win over the Rams to close the regular season.
LCA took a 13-0 lead after one on a pair of Hensley runs. Raceland attempted to answer with a 13-play, 57-yard drive that resulted in a turnover on downs leaving the Rams down 13 with the half winding away. LCA answered with their third touchdown of the half and a 19-0 lead at the break.
The Eagles needed just over one minute before Hensley streaked 40 yards to paydirt and a 26-0 lead. Noah Wallace bullied himself into the endzone on a 22-yard score after running over a would-be tackler at the 15 and finding an angle to the pylon for the TD. Wallace added a 1-yard touchdown early in the fourth and finished with 102 yards on 20 carries. Isaac Browning added a 1-yard score late in the fourth.
Raceland welcomes Berea Friday night to open the Class A Playoffs and Senior Night for the Rams.