The Boys of Fall
Football Recap 8-27-24
James Collier
Ashland Beacon
ASHLAND 1-0
Ashland needed a bit to get the offensive unit moving in the right direction. After flipping possessions with Raceland over a scoreless first quarter, the Tomcats offense promptly made a pair of house calls before the half to roll to a 28-7 win over the Rams in the season opener.
LaBryant Strader methodically marched the Tomcats up and down the field through the air as the Rams defense stymied the visitors much of the night. Strader threw for 210 yards and three touchdowns in the lopsided win. Sam Lyons had a career night as in the receiving core after catching five passes—two for scores—for 100 yards. He tallied 123 yards on five catches all of last season. He also added an interception. Cam Davis led the Tomcats rushing attack with 43 yards on six totes. He also added 60 yards on five balls through the air. Braxton Jennings finished with 41 yards on 14 carries and had a pair of touchdowns, one on the ground and the other through the air on a fourth down conversion that put the Tomcats up 14-0 before half.
Adam Frame led the Tomcats defensively with 12 stops. Ryland Kelley had eight tackles—two for loss—and the lone Ashland sack on the night. Jennings also tallied a pick.
Ashland heads to West Jessamine Friday night before unveiling its new turf at Putnam Stadium on Sept. 6 against Harvest Prep.
BOYD COUNTY 1-0
Boyd County scored early and often in the Lions home opener with South Point to cruise to a 38-0 win over the Pointers.
Boyd led 7-0 after one but took a 24-0 lead in to the half and never looked back. Rhett Holbrook led the Lions offensive attack with 194 passing yards and three touchdowns in the rout. Brody Castle paced the rushing attack with 65 yards on 10 carries. Thomas Crawford hauled in three balls for 82 yards and a pair of scores. Cole Hicks added another.
Boyd County visits last season’s Class AAA State runner up, Bell County Friday night.
FAIRVIEW 1-0
A donning of a new era in Westwood saw the boys from the “Wood” come home with a season opening victory for their new head coach Alex Roy. Fairview battled from down to Bath County to mount a comeback win, 32-22 in Owingsville. It is the first season opening win for Fairview since defeating Morgan County in 2020.
Jace Manning completed 15 of 23 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns. Jeffery Everetts had six catches for 123 yards and three scores.
Fairview is idle this week and welcomes Betsy Layne on Sept. 6.
GREENUP COUNTY 1-0
Greenup County was not about to let history repeat itself this season to start the 2024 campaign.
After falling behind last year to Coal Grove in an eventual defeat, Greenup made sure this season had a different ending. Tyson Sammons carved up the Hornets defense to lead the Musketeers to a 37-14 win while becoming the all-time leading rusher at the school.
Sammons ran for 158 yards on eight carries while scoring a pair of touchdowns. He also threw for two more and had 135 yards through the air. Waylon Perkins also made a house call and finished with 56 yards on nine carries. Drew Boggs had two grabs, both for touchdowns.
Greenup visits Russell Friday night.
RACELAND 0-1
After departing 16 seniors from last season’s state runner up squad, it was no secret the Rams would have some growing pains early on. Those were clearly seen as the Rams struggled mightily to move the ball offensively as they fell 28-7 to Ashland in the season opener.
After a scoreless first frame, the Rams defense surrendered a pair of scores to the Tomcats, including a touchdown on fourth-and-eight with just under three minutes to play in the half that put the visitors in front 14-0.
Landen Stiltner provided the Rams with their only score of the night on a three-yard plunge to the endzone late in the fourth. Stiltner led the Rams with 82 yards on 16 carries. Parker Ison started at quarterback for the Rams and threw for 72 yards but was picked off twice. Jacob Waller saw action behind center after the half and completed both passes he threw, including a 30-yard strike to Linden Sammons for the Rams longest play from scrimmage in the game.
Raceland welcomes Letcher County Central Friday night in their annual Hall of Fame Game.
RUSSELL 0-1
An early injury to Russell quarterback Elijah Hankins left the Devils struggling to move the ball and Mason County took full advantage of the misfortune for a 21-12 win at home.
Hankins led the Devils to an 6-0 lead on their first drive of the game but Russell went into the half down 14-6. Jayden Frasure replaced Hankins and scored on a long run in the second half but the Devils fell 21-12.
Russell welcomes Greenup County Friday night.
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