Ashland Blazer checks in at #9 in this week's BGP Class 5A Rankings.

 

The Tomcats are 4-0 and have convincing wins over Belfry and Raceland -- two other ranked teams in lower classes.

 

Ashland has games with two Ohio schools -- 3-0 Ironton and winless Waverly -- before hosting Johnson Central in their district opener.

 

Does Ashland have enough to compete in their 5A region or are they the product of a small class schedule feast?

I think Ashland is one of the upper tier 5A teams and will compete. They've taken care of business so far, and the fact that the teams were from lower classes does not make Ashland a lesser team. Now...are they the region favorite? No. But they will be heard from before all is said and done, I think.

I'll buy them to win their district. I think they can beat Johnson Central at home.

Buy all you can get. The price is going up, on the strength of their balanced offense.

 

Can Ashland beat Highlands? Not many could (regardless of class size). But they will be competitive with the rest of their Region.

I would definately buy Ashland. As Graybeard alluded to, their offensive balance of run and pass is scary along with their depth in the backfield. Sam Hunter is an stellar athlete and QB and will give any team fits that has to game plan for him. They are fast on defense on well disciplined in their assignments. IMHO I would put Ashland above JC in the district. JC has hit an offensive slump the 2 games they have played and the defense has been unable to shut people down. JC has the talent in place to be the frontrunner in the district, but right now I would go with Ashland as the odds on favorite.

This is the last score that will ever be posted on Ashland's old scoreboard in Putnam Stadium. The new scoreboard will be installed before the next home game (Johnson Central). The score was the result of last week's game with rival and close neighbor Russell.

A little plus for Ashland this season is their chief district rival (Johnson Central) is at home. If they win the district they have home-field advantage through the first three rounds of the postseason, likely meaning Dixie Heights, Covington Catholic, and Highlands.

 

Of course the negative to that is that they had Dixie at home in the first round last year and got handled.

 

So I'm thinking about buying, but probably holding right now.

Buying in the district. Unconvinced otherwise.

As a friend to the Ashland program I would buy Ashland. The Tomcats are always well coached and usually play tough. I think the biggest with the Tomcats is they tend to not always believe in themselves. I really feel this team is better than Dixie and Covington Catholic, but anybody beating Highlands in 5A is something that is a tough thing to do.

... So I'm thinking about buying, but probably holding right now.

 

Buying in the district. Unconvinced otherwise.

 

Not surprising - and fair enough. I hope the Tomcats get a chance to show you what they can do on the field.

Not surprising - and fair enough. I hope the Tomcats get a chance to show you what they can do on the field.

 

Ditto. Nothing I'd like better than a November trip to Putnam Stadium. Always wanted to see a game there.

Sell... no, wait, buy!

 

What exactly am I buying?

Ashland is a quality team, if you are without a team when they are hosting Johnson Central, I would go to that one. I expect that game to be one of the best in the series. Should be a great high school game.

Ashland is very good this season and will probably be even better in the near future so I'll buy. They are the best team in our area of northeastern Kentucky and I hope they represent our area well come playoff time. It's a good time to be an Ashland fan right now. Look at the exciting games they've got coming up over the next couple of months. Ironton at Tanks Memorial Stadium, Johnson Central at Putnam, and then the possibility of Covington Catholic and then Highlands at home. I don't know about the rest of the area, but I would certainly be there pulling for Ashland if they play those teams in the playoffs. It's time for them to come through against the Northern Kentucky teams.

 

Oh...and Graybeard...you didn't have to say who the "visitor" was on your scoreboard pic. :-)

Not surprising - and fair enough. I hope the Tomcats get a chance to show you what they can do on the field.

 

I hope so too. I'd love to see Ashland make a run, if anything just for some new blood at the top.