[Tomcat68]

One heck of a game, but a big disappointment and letdown for the Tomcats. Russell took the opening kickoff and drove near the Ashland 30 before turning the ball over on downs. Ashland's first offensive series was as terrible as can be. Minimal gains on 1st and 2nd down. 3rd down, low snap that rolls between Ian Holbrook's legs. He is sacked inside his own 5 after recovering the snap. Ashland punts to their own 40 and Russell is hampered by a holding penalty bringing the ball near midfield. Russell drives inside the Ashland 20. Russell then throws an interception into the endzone (I believe INT by Luke Bonner). Ashland is swallowed up offensively once again by a swarming Russell defense. Ashland lines up to punt. Good snap, good catch, good blocking, but the punter holds the ball for a very long time before kicking. Kick is blocked and the ball is scooped and return for the opening score of the game. PAT was good giving Russell a 7-0 lead. Ashland then retaliates. A quick drive ended by a near 50 yard pass from Holbrook to Angel Gurule. PAT was good tying the game at 7-7. On Russell's ensuing possession they are forced to punt. The punter catches the ball inside his own 5 yard line but touches his knee to the ground while picking up a low snap. Play is called dead and Ashland takes over on the Russell 2. Very next play, Ashland runs an isolation play but the ball is fumbled by Ashland's Matt Thomas. A few meaningless series follow and it is now halftime. Russell scores in the second half making the score 14-7. Ashland retaliates once again with another huge bomb from Holbrook to Gurule. He is taken down on the 5 yard line. Ashland sputters to the Russell 2 before opting for a field goal. Field goal was short and left leaving the score 14-7. A few series of punts pass and the 3rd quarter ends. Ashland strikes on another bomb from Holbrook to Gurule, their 3rd large play as a tandem of the night. PAT is no good as it never makes it above the linemen. Score stands at 14-13 in favor of Russell. A series of back and forth punts for each team follow and Russell has the ball driving and eating up the clock with 5-6 minutes to play. Russell scores with 1:30 left on a Kasey Clark TD run. His second of the night. PAT is good leaving the score at 21-13. Ashland takes over with good field position after the kickoff around their own 40. A pass to the left flat for 20 yards and gets out of bounds. On the Russell 40 and driving. Clock stopped around 1:15. Next play has lots of confusion as Ashland lines up in wrong formation. Holbrook scrambles up the middle for minimal gain. Next play receivers continue to have confusion. Play is stopped upon the snap for illegal procedure. Next play is a pass over the middle for a first down but the clock is running. Holbrook spikes the ball. Ensuing play, Holbrook is sacked. Ashland keeps composure and runs a successful 3rd down play gaining the first down and getting out of bounds inside the Russell 5 after the ball is tipped with 15 seconds remaining. The clock continues to run down to 9.8 seconds before it is stopped. Holbrook drops back to pass but sees a running lane to the endzone. It quickly closes as Holbrook is tackled near the goal line as time runs out on the Tomcats. Final Score - Russell - 21 Ashland - 13.

Not sure on positive stats for the game. Ashland's place kicking game struggled heavily after the departure of their kicker last week. Gurule of Ashland had atleast 4 catches, maybe more, for around 200+ yards. Holbrook completed a very high percentage of his passes with maybe 250 total yards in the air with 2 TDs and 1 INT and maybe another 30-50 yards on the ground. Ashland's running game was not present. Their only running success came out of the shotgun with carries by Holbrook and Tyler Reliford.