[Truth]

Coach Bradley has increased the difficulty of his schedule this year. Ashland has played Newport Cath, Notre Dame, Highlands, Madison Central, Oak Hill, Ohio, and played Perry County Central in a preseason scrimmage. Ashland also has Ironton St. Joe (West Virginia) to play late in the season. By far the toughest schedule in the 16th region.

True, and although they lost to all of the teams you mentioned they are a better team for having played a few better teams. By the way, I believe they play Huntington Saint Joseph rather than Ironton Saint Joseph. The former is often very good. The latter is normally very weak. In any case, it will be a good test for Ashland. It is good that the game is in Huntington because Ashland needs difficult road games. Ashland does play the most difficult schedule in the region but, in reality, that is relative because the region is weak and most play each other and little else. Ashland still needs to put a little more bulk into its schedule if it wants to be a force outside the region.