The Boys of Fall 8-26-25

James Collier

For the Ashland Beacon

ASHLAND 0-1

Facing a 14-0 halftime deficit, Ashland rolled off 14 third quarter points to set up a showdown with Raceland in the final 12 minutes in the season opener Friday night at Clarks Pump and Shop Putnam Stadium.

Ashland drove the ball to the Raceland 19-yard line but an endzone shot on fourth-and-goal failed as the game stayed knotted at 14-14 with 7:22 to play. Raceland never allowed Ashland another shot in the final stanza. The Rams orchestrated a 15-play, 62-yard drive that consumed every second remaining on the regulation clock to steal away a 17-14 win after Jake Waller nailed a 36-yard field goal as time expired.

Ashland’s scoring came from sophomore Justin Hughes guidance in the third after he connected with Mason Wolfe for a 41-yard touchdown strike followed by 6-yard scamper to paydirt along with a two-point conversion to even the game at 14-14. Hughes finished 12 of 22 for 100 yards through the air in his Tomcats debut. He added 36 yards on the ground on six totes. Cam Davis led the Ashland rushing attack with 77 yards on 17 carries. Daylen Farrow kicked in 27 yards on four rushes. Wolfe finished with 67 yards on five catches.

Ashland heads to Tates Creek Friday night.

BOYD COUNTY 1-0

Boyd used a strong second half and a standout defensive performance from Kaleb Kelley to earn a season opening win over Gallia Academy, 31-17. After trailing 10-6 at the half, Boyd outscored Gallia Academy 25-7 including an 18-point fourth quarter surge.

Kelley had three interceptions—all coming in the same quarter to help the Lions pull away late. Kelley also led the Lions with 100 receiving yards on seven balls. Jace Manning made his Lions debut by throwing for 108 yards and rushing for 41 more with a pair of touchdowns. Blake Sexton added a rushing score. Sexton also turned in 11 tackles. Kaiden Nottingham led the Lions with 14 tackles and a sack.

Boyd travels to Rock Hill Friday night.

FAIRVIEW 1-0

Fairview open the season with an 8-6 win over Bath County Friday night.

Jace Murray led the Eagles with 129 yards on 21 carries including a touchdown. Hayden Webster added 43 yards on nine carries. Dreshawn Whitfield, Rylan Hatfield, Murray and Webster led the defense with seven tackles each. Wyatt Bowen and Hatfield had a sack each.

Fairview visits West Carter Friday night.

GREENUP COUNTY 1-0

Greenup wasn’t in any mood for a warm welcome for their former skipper when Pike County Central visited Lloyd Friday night.

Guided by Scott Grizzle, Pike Central was hoping to make the homecoming for Grizzle one to remember. Greenup, however, had other plans. After both teams traded scores to open the contest, it was all Greenup the rest of the way as the Musketeers rolled to a 37-6 win. Jasper Davis made his debut as the Musketeers new signal caller and had an impressive outing with 176 passing yards with two touchdowns while adding 78 rushing yards and two more scores. Ashur Wireman kicked in 64 yards on the ground with a house call. Tyler Johnson hauled in 73 yards on four balls with a touchdown. Landry Lewis also had a receiving TD. Jaxon Law and Christian Wheeler led the Musketeers defensively with 13 and 10 tackles, respectively. Nolan Clarkson had an interception.

Greenup welcomes Russell Friday night for the Backyard Brawl.

RACELAND 1-0

Raceland preaches 48 minutes within their program. Friday night in the Rams season opener at Ashland, they needed every second of the regulation time to start their 100^th season off with a bang.

After forcing a turnover on downs by Ashland on the Raceland 19 with 7:22 to play, the Rams orchestrated their longest sustained drive of the night, 15-plays and 62 yards that consumed the entire 7:22 from the clock as Jake Waller’s 36-yard field goal attempt snuck over the crossbar for the Rams third win in five meetings with the Tomcats.

Landen Stiltner got the scoring going from the word go after the junior tailback found a crease after getting bottled up on the first play from scrimmage and no one was about to catch him as he scampered 71 yards to paydirt and a 7-0 lead 11 seconds into the contest. Jonah Arnett plunged into the endzone for a 1-yard score in the final seconds of the opening stanza to put the Rams in front 14-0.

But the Rams would watch the Tomcats storm back from the dead after they evened the affair at 14-14 through three. Raceland methodically marched down the field to get into field goal range and Waller booted through the three biggest points of the night as the fans in orange and black erupted in celebration.

Stiltner rushed for 126 yards on 15 carries. Shannon Marushi had 62 yards on 14 totes. Arnett added 49 on 11.

Raceland heads to Louisville Friday night for a meeting against Class 6A PRP. 

RUSSELL 1-0

Russell had to play from behind but found a good push down the stretch to knock off Coal Grove, 20-8.

Jayden Frasure was efficient in the passing attack, going 13 of 17 for 174 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 55 yards. Jordan Rowe led the Russell rushing attack with 87 yards on 15 carries. Jayden Pennington caught four balls for 84 yards and a touchdown. Cayden Pennington added 52 yards on four catches. Shawn Deskins added a 17-yard touchdown catch.

Russell visits Greenup Friday night in the Backyard Brawl.