The Russell Red Devils were riding high entering Friday nights match-up against the Ashland Tomcats. And why shouldn't they be? Russell was coming off a hard fought(and rare) win last week over a traditional power from Ohio. Russell also drew confidence from having defeated Ashland last year at Putnam Stadium and many of those Devils returned this year. Unfortunately for Russell, Ashland also had some familiar names back from last year. Specifically Quinton Baker "The Touchdown Maker".

 

The Marshall commit rushed for 146yds, gashing the Russell defense on TD runs of 34, 2, & 67 yards. He also added a 96yd kickoff return TD for good measure as Ashland dominated the Red Devils 49-23 at Henry R. Evans Stadium.

 

In addition to Q's four scores, QB Tate Dowdy(twice) and RB Kurtlen Brown(once) also found the end zone for Ashland. Nick Conley, RB Nathan Brinkman, and DL Austin Braden provided the scoring for Russell. Braden's TD was the highlight of the night for the Red Devils as the sophomore 2nd stringer ripped the ball away from an Ashland ball carrier and rumbled 70+yds for the TD. However, it was waaaay too little, waaaay too late.

 

Baker's star power was so great on this night that he actually triggered a power surge that caused the lights to go out at one end of the field..... OK, I may have exaggerated that part a little. But the lights did go out in the first half, forcing the game to be played at one end of the field for the remainder of the night.

 

The last time a power outage affected a local football game was way back in 1998, when Beechwood visited Ironton(OH) and bad weather caused the lights to go out at Tanks Memorial Stadium. In a strange coincidence, last night Beechwood just happened to be back in the area playing Ironton for the first time since then.

 

Back to Baker... Kash Daniel and Josiah Robbins had better move over and make room for Ashland's stud RB on the list of Mr. Football frontrunners. If Ashland continues to win(a showdown between potentially unbeaten Ashland and unbeaten Johnson Central looms large) and Baker continues piling up numbers, he's got as good a shot as anyone at winning the award. Although, there's a bigger trophy I'm sure he'd rather get his hands on this year.

 

The Tomcat team I saw last night is the best team I've seen Ashland have in many years. There's a long way to go, but I could very easily see this team playing on the final weekend of the season in Bowling Green.

 

As for my Red Devils, they'll lick their wounds and regroup. After three consecutive opponents that gave them very little room to breathe, Russell now enters the portion of the schedule that should allow them to catch their breath a little. Getting QB Jacob McKee healthy for the district slate is of the utmost importance.

 

Russell next travels to Cannonsburg to take on the Boyd Co. Lions. Ashland returns to Putnam Stadium to host a bruised and battered Ironton team still looking for its first win.

Great job DMC. Thanks for the article.

Great job DMC.

Great job DMC. Thanks for the article.

 

Great job DMC.

 

Thanks, fellas.

Very nice DMC. Enjoyed the read.