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Ashland 24 Russell 21 FINAL 3 OT
#1
Final
#2
Sounds like an awesome game. Second week in a row Ashland wins in OT at home....
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
#3
Congrats to the Tomcats!!! Sounds like a great played game by both teams.
#4
That was a very good game!!! Very messy by both teams, Despite the score I beleive ashland had control the whole game. 2 weeks, 2 powerhouses, keep it up boys!! Not what I had expected out of a #1 team.
#5
Another big win by Ashland! Does this in any way show how close Russell and Belfry are to each other? I would love to hear what an Ashland fan has to say about that. Ashland is a very difficult place to play. They have a great history of rich football! Great job Ashland on your 2-1 start!
Welcome to the best site in town! If you need anything, just let me know.
#6
Elm street Wrote:That was a very good game!!! Very messy by both teams, Despite the score I beleive ashland had control the whole game. 2 weeks, 2 powerhouses, keep it up boys!! Not what I had expected out of a #1 team.
I need to add that russell needs to keep there heads up, that was one of the hardest fought battles I have EVER seen by two teams.3 ot's I was wore out just watching!! and comparing belfy and russell...I want no part of that one!!!!
I guarantee if ashland isn't playing that night, thats where I will be!!
#7
I bet this was a top 3 classic of all time if attended!
#8
I'd love to get a copy of the game film. Sounds like Ashland's one of the most entertaining teams this year. OT games are ALWAYS fun, and nothing beats an OT win!

Hey Russell, hope to see you guys around Turkey Time.
#9
congrats to ashland sounds like it was a great game
#10
[QUOTE=BelfryJustice]Does this in any way show how close Russell and Belfry are to each other? QUOTE]

Exactly, Belfry and Russell would be a awesome game.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
#11
congrats ashland, i sure was expecting a different outcome, ill be having crow for lunch!!!! have a great season!
#12
I had said earlier that ashland beating belfry was a fluke......I AM SORRY TOMCAT FANS, you guys are FOR REAL. I knew you all had a very good football team, but i didnt expect you all to beat Russell. Congrats on a hard fought win!
#13
This was a great win for the Tomcats. The O-line which doesn't get much press really dominated this game. A lot of mistakes by the Cats kept this game closer than it could have been in my opinion. But give the Cats and Matt Thomas who had the best game of his career a lot of credit for not giving up when things looked down early in the second half.

I believe that a Russell -Belfry matchup would be a good game. I think I would have to give the nod to Belfry's power game.
#14
great game is all I can
#15
hope we can get the respect we earned back.
#16
great win Tomcats the team has come 100 miles from the raceland game.

on the belfry vs. russell match up I would have to take belfry by two touchdowns if not for two stupid clipping penaltys thay would have beat us. but ashland controled russell all except thay lost 5 turnovers.

just my opinion

tomcats keep working hard and you will get where you need to be
#17
great job russell...even tho we play later on in the season, i was rooting for u all. keep ur heads up and get ready for boyd county. way to play...take it to boyd
#18
Does anybody think that raceland is just that good this year??? they have put up some impressive numbers so far. are they flying under the radar? Just an off subject question.
#19
This was a classic. Ashland really controlled the entire 1st half. Russell probably had less than 75 yards or so at halftime. After the first quarter, Ashland led in yardage 125 to -2 or so but was trailing 7-0. Russell had only ran 1 play of offense and it was a fumble and a turnover. Russell created a huge break by forcing Mahan to fumble inside the 5 yard line and returned the ball 85 yards for the Russell TD which set up the halftime score of 7-0.

To start the 2nd half, Russell went to the power I formation led by Kasey Clark and really took the ball straight down the field to take a 14-0 lead. Ashland returned the favor on their next drive scoring on a TD pass from Mahan to McDavid following a fumbled snap from center.

Most of the 2nd half was controlled by Ashland following that but turnovers really kept putting Ashland in bad positions. Late in the game, Matt Thomas ripped off an amazing 40 yard or so TD run to tie the game at 14-14.

On Russell's following possession they were held 3 and out and Ashland used a TO with 1:18 remaining in the game to try to move into position for the regulation win. Ashland took over possession and set up a perfect play to get McDavid behind the defense for the game winning score, but the pass was just barely overthrown by a few yards. On the next play, Mahan's pass was intercepted by Clark and returned inside the Ashland 20. Russell ran a play and set up for the potential game winning FG. The snap was low and rolled to holder who was tackled before the kick ending regulation.

In overtime, Ashland had the ball first and scored on a QB keeper by Mahan after not finding any open receivers. Russell answered quickly on a counter trey by Clark to bring the game to 21-20. Russell opted to go for the tie, but then Ashland called a timeout. During the timeout, Russell second thought and decided to go for the win. (Creepily similar to the Ashland/Belfry game last week) On the ensuing play, before it got started, Russell false started moving the ball back to the 8. Russell then opted for the 1 pointer and we headed to the 2nd OT.

In the 2nd OT, Russell had the ball first but was stopped on 4 consecutive plays and did not score at all holding the score at 21-21. On Ashland's possession, they chose to play conservatively and ran consecutive QB sneaks and opted to kick the potential game winning FG on 3rd down. The kick was missed and we headed to the 3rd OT. After the missed kick, Ashland's student section rushed the field thinking the kick was good and had to be escorted back to the stands.

In the 3rd OT, Ashland was held for 3 plays without scoring and opted for the FG to take the lead. Preston Freeman redeemed himself as he put this one through the uprights for the 24-21 lead. Russell was then held on 3 consecutive plays and opted for the FG to tie the game. The kick went up and was close, but was just outside the left upright.
#20
Ashland really could have taken this game more easily if it hadn't been for their turnovers. Ashland fumbled 8 times in this game. 6 were on the C/QB exchange. 3 of those fumbles resulted in turnovers. Ashland also threw 2 interceptions (one near the end of each half). Those 5 turnovers really kept Russell in the game and even resulting in one of their TDs.

As was said earlier, the Ashland O-line has not gotten enough press for this game. They had atleast 2 and at times 3 new starters on the O-line that were created by shakeups along the front and switching of positions and the return of all area lineman Lacey Snodgrass who led the team with an absolutely dominating performance in his first game this season back from injury.

This O-line gave running lanes to Matt Thomas who hadn't seen a hole open up all season. Not sure on the stats, but Thomas may have had close to 200 yards rushing last night in his greatest game so far as a Tomcat.

As for a comparison between Russell and Belfry, Belfry is the better team from what I've seen. It took some lucky breaks for Ashland to beat Belfry while it took lucky breaks for Russell to stay with Ashland. It would still be an amazing game, but I don't think Russell would have any answer for May and he'd be the deciding factor and I believe Belfry would win by 2 TDs.
#21
Tomcat68 Wrote:As for a comparison between Russell and Belfry, Belfry is the better team from what I've seen. It took some lucky breaks for Ashland to beat Belfry while it took lucky breaks for Russell to stay with Ashland. It would still be an amazing game, but I don't think Russell would have any answer for May and he'd be the deciding factor and I believe Belfry would win by 2 TDs.

68 Keep in mind that this is an early season game. The devils have only played 2 games. Both again larger schools. I think that by seasons end the Devils will be the dominate team in AA in this part of the state.Maybe the dominate team in the entire area. Russell gets all their bigger tune up games over with early. Ashland seems to start small and build up from there.

Make no mistake the Devils wiil ahve a strong run in the playoffs.:thumpsup:
#22
Elm street Wrote:Does anybody think that raceland is just that good this year??? they have put up some impressive numbers so far. are they flying under the radar? Just an off subject question.
they will do good but I want to see them play ncc and then I will give them props?
#23
I'm proud of our offensive line, they really came around. Lacy Snodgrass played one heck of a game, and Sophomore tackle Justin Pennington got his first varsity start tonight and played extremely well.

The way we ran the ball in this game shocked me. I was surprised to see Matt Thomas run as well as he did (I believe he had around 220 yards rushing), and I hope he keeps it up. Darrell Mahan did a good job throwing the ball, but we still had around five dropped passes in this game. The dropped passes, along with the fumbles, really hurt us at crucial points during the game (Two of the dropped passes were on third down, one was on fourth down).

Our defense came up big for us, especially in the three overtimes. We held Russell to 190 total yards this game, and Kasey Clark had 143 of those yards. One of the things I was concerned about before this game was that we would focus too much on Kasey Clark, but the defense did a good job of reading their keys and keeping their composure, even after Clark pulled off some nice runs.

All in all, this game was great to watch. Ashland and Russell have played some great games in the past, but I doubt any of them were as exciting as this one.
#24
Elm street Wrote:Does anybody think that raceland is just that good this year??? they have put up some impressive numbers so far. are they flying under the radar? Just an off subject question.

I was thinking the same thing this weekend at work. Raceland barely beat Ashland, and has kicked the crap out of their next two opponents.

While I'm sure Ashland had a down game against them, I think Raceland is just the real deal.

Wouldn't it be nice though, to have A, AA, and AAA teams all within 15 minutes of eachother in the playoffs? What would something like that say for that region?
#25
Sarrr Wrote:I was thinking the same thing this weekend at work. Raceland barely beat Ashland, and has kicked the crap out of their next two opponents.

While I'm sure Ashland had a down game against them, I think Raceland is just the real deal.

Wouldn't it be nice though, to have A, AA, and AAA teams all within 15 minutes of eachother in the playoffs? What would something like that say for that region?

Making the playoffs isn't enough for the groups of teams in this area. This "15 minute area" perennially places EVERY team in the playoffs which includes: 2 single A teams (Raceland and Fairview), AA Russell, and 2 AAA teams (Ashland and Boyd County). Not to mention powerhouse Ironton, OH just across the river. There are some great teams and players being produced in this area right now.

There have even been 4 potential NFL players participate in recent years including RB Arliss Beach of Ashland of the Green Bay Packers, K Aaron Petry of Raceland of Ohio State University, OL Roman Fry of Ironton of Clemson, and OL Jeremy Sheffey of Boyd County of West Virginia University.

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