This score ended about as I thought, although P'Burg did score their last td against the younger players.

 

I thought the running offense looked pretty good tonight especially between the tackles. Matt Thomas again had a good night running as did the O-line blocking on the run straight up.

 

We missed quite a few open receivers tonight and against a good team that could really hurt you. The passing attack is really going to have to step it up for this team to make it deep in the playoffs.

Not to mention Prestonsburg had a reciever drop a WIDE open pass with not a person within 10 yards of them...the game was alot closer then the score indicates..

 

 

I will agree that if P'burgs QB was on in the first half like he was in the second half this game would have been alot different.

I think Coach Hart was upset because Ashland was taking a knee to end the game and Pburg called their last 2 times out's during the final minute.

 

 

ohhh pleasee.....Ashland still had Thomas in the last series running the ball, and they also threw a pass. I'm pretty sure everyone in the stadium was under the impression that Ashland was trying to score, so Pburg took their timeouts to set up the D.

 

BTW..The Thomas kid is a GREAT back....

Is next week Ashland's open week?

 

Great game Tomcats! :thumb:

Not to mention Prestonsburg had a reciever drop a WIDE open pass with not a person within 10 yards of them...the game was alot closer then the score indicates..

As did the Tomcats. If Darrell Mahan had thrown the ball a bit further to McDavid, that would have been 6.

I am so happy for Matt Thomas. I don't know what has gotten into him these past few weeks, but it appears as if he is finally playing up to the expectations and lofty standards Ashland fans had made for him. It couldn't happen to a nicer or more deserving kid. I'm sure some of the credit goes to an outstanding o-line in front of him, but the Matt Thomas I saw at the Russell game was the one I had been waiting to see. He was hitting the holes without hesitation or dancing around. And he knew when to turn on the jets and when to showcase his moves. It appears as if he has continued this, with multiple 200 or close to 200 yard games. This kid is a junior, and if he keeps this level of play going and his confidence strong, he could very well go down as the great running back we all thought he could become.

 

I like the way Ashland is playing right now. Hopefully I'll be able to get back in town and make it a couple more games this year.

Congratulations to Ashland. Great win on the road against a decent Prestonsburg team that had some carry-over issues from last year (a mutual feeling, as I recall). Dropping this game is probably a good idea, at least for a year or two, and if nothing else, for a cooling off thing. Maybe Prestonsburg can fill the vacancy with Johnson Central next year. Everyone will be looking for games under the new class system, and it could develop into a healthy, natural, mutually rewarding game for both schools.

I will agree that if P'burgs QB was on in the first half like he was in the second half this game would have been alot different.

Alot of his yards came in the second half with a backup safety and a backup corner and 2 backup monsters in the game, like the drive where he threw it down the field every play and ended up punchin it in from the 1.

A good road win for Ashland at a hard place to play . It really does not really matter how close you might think the game was or wasn't it just depends on which side you sit on.The most important thing to work on this week will be our passing or the lack of one.

I wasn't going to bring this subject up but since you did then I will put in my five cents worth. I thought the officiating in this game was rather poor.

 

I wonder why no Ashland fans have brought up the gift call they got when Thomas clearly touched the football late in the second quarter on the punt return ? P-burg comes up with the football at the Ashland 20, down 7 points with 2:00 left in the first half, only to see the "POOR OFFICIATING" crew give the ball back to Ashland !!!!!!

Seems like it may have been close at that point huh ?

Did think it was rather funny to hear Dickie Martin immediately say the refs were "taking over the game" after Thomas run was called back late in the third quarter "TYPICAL" Dickie !!!!!!!

All ive got to say is good win for the Cats over the officials they got robbed last night. It was pitiful, the things happening on the field that werent called. late hits were very abundant from Pburg. And does anyone know if its legal or any kinds of rules with changing your jersey number after halftime? There was a guy from pburg who did that who had a personal foul in the first half. I wonder if this was picked up by the officials or if they just counted him as a different player.

P-burg threw everything they had at the T-cats, but it just wasn’t enough on this night. :cry: Like others have said – I’ll happily take an 18 point road win any time.

 

However, I have some concerns about Ashland:

 

• In the last 2 games (P-West and P-burg) the T-cats haven’t played hard enough early, they seemed to wait till late in the game to put their opponent away.

o It’s good that they play hard in the 4th quarter

o But, it would be good to see them put someone away early – show a killer instinct, especially on the road.

• Up till this game the team has shown steady improvement each week – I didn’t see it this week. We’re not good enough yet.

• Our passing game was off

• Our pass defense was not good – just lucky we didn’t get hurt a couple of times

 

The bright spots I saw:

 

• Mat Thomas is running hard – quickly becoming a premiere running back (may challenge Russell’s Clark for best in the area this year).

• O-line continued playing strong

• Run defense played well

• Fields Davis and Josh Cordle both are running like men

• Big play capability – a must have for this team

o But, I would like to see more sustained drives – we’ll need them against better teams.

 

I’m glad that Coach Hart wants to end this series – it doesn’t do anything for Ashland. We need to be playing teams our size or larger to get us ready for play-off games. If we’re going to play 2A schools, we need to stay with the top programs like Russell and Belfry. IMO we need to look for central or northern Kentucky teams to play – because that’s our road through the play-offs next year.

 

Just one posters opinion,

Graybeard

Prestonsburg just could not cover the kick off. I think this is probally the best Pburg has looked all year though. They had a few passes fall short. If they could have made it down feild this game could have been interesting. In all honesty i wasn't that impressed with Ashland. They are going to have alot of trouble out of JC this year. JC would probally name the score on the team i watched tonight.

The Tomcats had over 400 yards of total offense. Over 300 rushing. Thats pretty darn good if you ask me. Good win for the Tomcats!

Alot of his yards came in the second half with a backup safety and a backup corner and 2 backup monsters in the game, like the drive where he threw it down the field every play and ended up punchin it in from the 1.

 

 

Well it was in the first half,which I am assuming was against the starting defense where if there was good throws it would have easily been 6 points, on at least 3 occasions that I remember.