[GOREDDEVILS]

By MARK MAYNARD The Independent
ASHLAND — Russell’s freshman put an exclamation point on their first undefeated season in more than 20 years.
The Red Devils defeated Ashland 41-16 in the 61^st annual Kiwanis Bowl on Thursday night at Putnam Stadium. Five different players scored touchdowns to put the finishing touches on an 8-0 season – the first perfect record since 1991.
“This is a great team, with the emphasis on team,” said Russell coach Buford Hurley, still wet from a dunking the players gave him near the game’s end. “They worked hard in the offseason and stayed together as a group.
“They bought into what we were doing. We started a new weight program and it paid off for them.”
The Red Devils snapped a three-game Kiwanis Bowl losing streak and scored their most points since 2004 in the rivalry game that was in its 34^th year. The previous Kiwanis Bowl games were between Ashland junior highs Coles and Putnam. Ashland and Russell started playing in 1979.
Eighth-grader Nick Conley scored a pair of first-half touchdowns as Russell sprinted to a 20-0 halftime lead. A late goal-line stand kept momentum on Russell’s side.
“Absolutely the key to the game,” Hurley said of the stand. “It’s right before the half and then they get the ball to start the second half. That was a big difference in the game.”
Instead of cutting into the lead, the Tomcats ran out of time at the one-yard line despite getting an extra down.
Conley put the Red Devils ahead with a 68-yard sprint to the end zone in the first quarter. He scored again on a 1-yard run after a bad snap put Russell on Ashland’s 12-yard line. Quarterback Jacob McKee made it 20-0 on an 11-yard keeper and a two-point conversion pass to Landon Brewer, another eighth-grader.
“We knew we were going to be able to score some points,” Hurley said. “We have great balance with our running backs. This group has good speed and good strength.”
Speedy Spencer Cole, who hadn’t carried in the first half, made his first attempt a lightning bolt 67-yard touchdown run. Kurtis Miller’s extra point made it 27-0.
Ashland seemed to find its stride with the late drive to end the first half behind hard-running Jaxson Pruitt, who finished with 124 yards rushing. He led a 13-play scoring drive before Dylan Blevins pounded into the end zone on a 1-yard run. He also ran in the two-point conversion to make it 27-8.
Russell came right back, this time with Matt Ellison scoring on a 2-yard run. He had back-to-back 12-yard carries to set up the score. Miller’s kick made it 34-8.
Ashland came back again, this time with Cody Cline doing the bulk of the rushing before scoring on a 14-yard sweep. Quarterback Drew O’Bryan ran in the two-point conversion.
Russell closed the scoring on Brodie Schroder’s 2-yard run and Miller’s third extra point kick.
The red Devils held a 321-185 advantage in total yards. Conley ran for 117 yards, 104 coming in the first half. Cole had 77 yards, all in the second half. McKee picked up several key first downs on quarterback keepers.
It was the last game for Ashland freshman coach Jack Harris, who is retiring after the school year.
“I have a lot of respect for him and the Ashland program,” Hurley said. “We all do here at Russell.”
Conley was named Russell’s top offensive player while Sam Smith was the top defensive player. Smith’s father, also named Sam, was the top defensive player in the 1981 Kiwanis Bowl.
Ashland’s top offensive player was Pruitt and the top defensive player was Grant Krueger.
Kiwanis Bowl queens were Lauren Gross (Russell) and Erika Bonner (Ashland). Russell attendants were Cassie Fultz, Evee Long, Chloe Thorner and Ashton Young. Ashland attendants were Hannah Baer, Stevee Bradley, Carley Conley and Paige Kennedy.