The Boys of Fall
James Collier
Ashland Beacon
FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS WEEK 1
ASHLAND 56 HARRISON COUNTY 14
Ashland started on its heels to start the postseason with a visit from Harrison County, but when the Tomcats landed on their feet, there was no slowing them down.
After falling behind 6-0 on the first play from scrimmage by the Thorobreds, the Tomcats rolled off 56 straight for a 56-14, running clock win at Putnam Stadium.
A pair of Cam Davis rushing touchdowns in the first quarter gave Ashland an answer and the lead for good in the first-round route. Davis endzone visits covered 19 and six yards. He also added a 48-yard receiving touchdown in the second.
Ashland blew the game open in the second stanza with four endzone visits by four different players. Braxton Jennings hauled in a 24-yard pass from LaBryant Strader with 8:32 to play in the half. Tay Thomas stomped 17 yards to paydirt three minutes later, Davis tacked on with his third score and Brandon Houston closed the frame with a 24-yard pass from Strader for a 42-6 halftime lead.
Nate Freize hauled in a 1-yard pass to open the third quarter and Asher Adkins closed out the Ashland scoring with a 23-yard run with 12 seconds to play in the frame.
Strader went 11 of 13 for 195 yards and four touchdowns. Thomas paced the Tomcats with 99 rushing yards. Davis tallied 57 receiving yards and added 25 on the ground.
Ashland travels to Covington Catholic Friday night.
BOYD COUNTY 14 MASON COUNTY 7
After a rout of Mason County in the regular season, Boyd County found itself in a grind it out type of game Friday night in Maysville to open the postseason.
But Rhett Holbrook did what he has done all season long, come through in the biggest moments for the Lions as they held on for a 14-7 first round win over the Royals.
Holbrook threw for 146 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another that proved to be the equalizer in the win. Garrett Crum hauled in the touchdown strike. Boyd County’s defense came up big as well with a pair of fumble recoveries and three sacks.
Boyd County travels to Johnson Central Friday night looking for their first win over the Golden Eagles since a 30-0 win in 2002.
RUSSELL 42 BOURBON COUNTY 8
Russell wanted to leave no doubt Friday night to open their postseason inside the friendly confines of Henry R. Evans Stadium.
Ethan Pack and Andre Richardson-Crews marched up and down the field to lead Russell to a 42-8, running clock win over Bourbon County.
Pack threw for 115 yards and a pair of touchdowns and ran for 62 yards and two more scores. Richardson-Crews added two endzone visits while rushing for 60 yards in the win. Richardson-Crews dented the scoreboard for the first score of the night with 8:34 to play in the first with a 1-yard plunge and a 7-0 lead. Pack’s first score followed four minutes later and a 14-0 Russell lead after one.
Pack and Richardson-Crews scores bookended a Parker Mitchell 23-yard touchdown reception from Pack and a 35-0 lead at the half. Mitchell caught his second TD of the game to open the third with a 27-yard grab. Mitchell finished with 56 yards on three balls.
Russell travels to Lexington Catholic Friday night.
SAYRE 48 FAIRVIEW 8
Fairview fell to Sayre, 48-8 Friday night in the opening round of the postseason. No stats were reported.
Fairview closes its season at 2-9.