[Squid]

No question about it, Dixie is the better team.

Their offensive line was very, very good. I watched the center (#77) snap the ball and then pick up a defensive tackle on a stunt. He is very athletic, very well coached, and he played an excellent game. The only time I thought the O line didn't really look sharp was when they tried to run the counter trey. The offensive right tackle had a heavily taped ankle, and he just couldn't get out in front of the play.

Ashland had no answer for Dixie's blitzing. We stayed in the spread, and were simply outnumbered. Dixie did a good job of not only bringing the blitz, but the speed that they executed it with was sharp as well.

Dixie was absolutely prepared for Ashland's running game, and with their advantage on the line, they simply shut Ashland down. The only advantage Ashland really had was the matchup at wideout, and the fact that Dixie played (for the vast majority of the game) with no safety. Their committment to shut down the Tomcats' running game left no one deep, but Ashland did not have enough time to take advantage of it.

I actually hate it for Dixie that they have to play Highlands next week. If they had a different route, they would probably make a decent run in the playoffs.

After 6 games or so, Ashland was at +16 or so on turnovers. I said then, that sooner or later, it would catch up to them. Without turnovers, we probably wouldn't have beaten Belfry, and a couple of the other games would have been MUCH closer. Turnovers are a part of the game, but you can't build a game plan around them (not that the Ashland staff did).

All in all, the Ashland staff did a pretty good job this year. When you look at the lack of depth they started the season with on the offensive line, and then consider what injuries have done to that line, they've really done a solid job of filling the gaps.

Tough way to end the season, but in all honesty, the trip back to Highlands wasn't going to be very pretty either.