I am curious to see how Ashland does this year. I believe they have a lot of firepower but NCC is coming off a championship year.

 

Breds or Tomcats...who ya got?

Ashland has some holes to fill, but they have two very talented running backs that are going to cause a lot of teams problems, add in a decent quarterback that has a year of experience under his belt and many defenses will have trouble.

I think that Ashland wins this one. This will be a great game.

Ashland big...

NCC without QB that most likely would have started means even more offensive trouble for the Breds offense that was already inexperienced at the skill positions. Last year NCC simply outscored Ashland. This year I can't see NCC putting up any kind of point total and I think Ashland will score at least of well as they did last year. So I would say Ashland wins and it may be by a substantial margin.

Ashland won't win by a substantial margin. I'll take Ncc by a TD.

Ashland won't win by a substantial margin. I'll take Ncc by a TD.

 

Maybe. But Baker had a ton of yards last year versus NCC and now Ashland has a compliment to him and RB and a QB that is better. Ashland could not throw it last year and NCC offense controlled the ball all night long. That will not happen this year. NCC defense can only do so much in this game.

...NCC is coming off a championship year.

 

Newport Central Catholic actually lost the 2A Championship to DeSales in 2013.

Maybe. But Baker had a ton of yards last year versus NCC and now Ashland has a compliment to him and RB and a QB that is better. Ashland could not throw it last year and NCC offense controlled the ball all night long. That will not happen this year. NCC defense can only do so much in this game.

All good points, and Long is probably as good as Baker. Long is only one step behind Baker in speed, but on the football field he, at time, looks faster then Baker. Long is going to get his yards, but more importantly, he is going to stop teams from trying to close Baker down and give Baker an opportunity to get his yards as well.

 

Add Prince at QB into the mix and you have a QB that run for some yards and has learned to be patient in the pocket and deliver passes. Ashland will be a tough team for NCC to beat.

Ashland by 3 touchdowns

Ashland wins by 12.

Would love to be able to see this one. Probably one of the best matchups of the week across the state. Two traditional powers going at it this early in the season, don't get much better than that. Not sure what NCC returns off there runner up finish in 2A but the tomcats return a lot of their skill positions. Should be a dandy.

I'll take Ashland by 13. I don't know what NCC returns, but they are always solid. Ashland returns quite a bit and the addition of Jake Long will take a little pressure off of Baker.

 

I stopped by Putnam yesterday to snap a few pictures and check on the construction progress. They are working around the clock, but I doubt the visiting locker rooms will be completed in time. I imagine NCC will be using adjacend Verity Middle School, which is also under construction, as their teams locker rooms.

 

Anyone who can make the game should come, it should be a great atmosphere.

Dont forget to mention that this will be the first game in the new Putnam Stadium. I imagine this Ashland team and crowd will be more fired up than usual. Tomcats by 3 TD's...

Dont forget to mention that this will be the first game in the new Putnam Stadium. I imagine this Ashland team and crowd will be more fired up than usual. Tomcats by 3 TD's...

 

It should be a great atmosphere for early season football.