Youngbloods

To address a couple of questions... yes Adkins was one of the players that left. The majority of players that I'm talking about didn't leave the school but left the program in middle school. I know that players come and go in different sports, but there were specific reason. As well, a starter on last years football team left and is now play for another school. And as for the baseball situation, it's in the controversial issues thread on here.

Well, all I know is it's a mess. I've been told so many things over that last couple of hours my head's spinning. Everything from parents going to the board saying that if Howell's not gone they're leaving, to Swift not retiring so he knows that Strader won't get the job. I'm not sure what to believe. Not sure who's running things. Between this, the baseball issues, and so many football players leaving, I'm not sure what will become of the athletics at Ashland. With all that said, I hate this for my Tomcats.

Just heard about this myself. Interesting turn of events. Where will Ashland turn for a replacement? Conway and Strader are both assistant coaches, will one of them get the nod or will they go with an outsider? Should be interesting to see what unfolds.

Or with correct information.

Nope. I wish this would be a good game, but I'm not looking forward to it. Ashland will win by 15+.

Great game for the Cats! We still need to learn how to close out games. Boyd made it a game in the 2nd half. Same thing happened when we played Greenup Co. Really need to get better against the full court press. Down the road, if not fixed, this could be our Achilles heal.

WOW!! Game day, and I had to go to the 3rd page to find the thread... District Championship on the line, and this is all we have. I know we have a very little chance at winning this game, but geez... Ashland will play with JC for about a half, then the Eagles start to pour it on. Just hope there are no injuries. Better to lose this game and win the second meeting anyway... IMHOP

Good win for Ashland. I do think that we wore them down just like JC did last week.

Believe me I'm Ashland through and through, but this district is the weakest in the state, IMHO. Looking at the teams they have beat, it's something like 14/28. I hate that it is that way. I mean no disrespect to any 64th district team, but next to Ashland, JC and possibly Greenup, no one is any good. Yes we have rolled some teams, but lets face it, they were not good. The next two game should give us our best challenge since the GW game. We've played no one to get us ready for JC. I'm picking Ashland for the win tonight, but just because we are 6-2 doesn't mean that we can win. I believe that if Greenup plays a solid game they very easily could pull out the win on homecoming night. Lets face it though, when we play JC, we just might be the Boyd Co/East Carter/Rowan Co team on the field. Hope I'm proven wrong.

That's a good question... His health might change my prediction.

Ashland needs to play better than they have the past two games. I think they will pull it out in a close one, but needs to get things going. Play calling has got to improve. Ashland 28 Russell 17

Someone please explain how Johnson Central is not tops on 4-A.

I'm wondering if this should be a thread of it's own.

After the game coach Love was asked about the play calling at the end of the game and said that, "Braxton is the best player on the field, and we just needed to make our blocks and get him a hole." I understand the statement, but first, I don't think a coach should make a statement like that on the air. Number 1, it shows that you seem to favor one player over the other. Number 2, you're basically calling out your offensive line publicly. I will say that I called the long pass play to Caines when they were at our own 25 yard line with 1:57 left in the game before it even happened. Then, the guy I was sitting with called the last for plays of the game when we were first and goal on GW's 6 yard line before they happened. I mentioned to one person behind me (my earlier statement regarding Coburn) he said, "He doesn't have the right last name." Take that for what's it worth. I'm just frustrated with Ashland football right now. To me, it seams like a one man show, and believe me when I say that I'm not alone in these thoughts.

Play calling at the end of the game was a little suspect, IMO. 4 qb draws between the guards? Even with a bum ankle, Coburn could have beaten one man, fallen forward and got 3 yards. Toss it out to him and let him see what he can do. If nothing else let Ratliff roll out for an RPO, that way, at least he can try and sprint to the corner of the end zone. Again, JMHO.

I wonder if this will go all the way up the chain of command... As in, if any coaches will lose their jobs. I hate this situation and that this has become an issue for today's youth. I just hope it will all come out and the people that need to be punished get punished as well as the help they need.

Very unfortunate indeed.

Not going to get in to it too much. Apparently there is an issue regarding inappropriate pictures being passed around by football players. One player already dismissed, police at school confiscating phones, others dismissals are likely to happen.

Not sure Ashland can keep up with the Patriots in this on. Our secondary will be tested by GW's qb, who already has D1 offers. I did see where he threw 3 pics last week. Hopefully Caines, Carley and Hester can disrupt timing patterns and come up with some pics of their own. I just hope what's going on at the school with the football team will not be a hinderance in tonights game.

Should be a great atmosphere, like always. Ashland is going to have to play much better to come out of Putnam Stadium with the win, and avoid a 2 game losing streak to the Rams. We are going to have to have some type of ground game. The passing game should be there, granted, Ratliff needs time. This game, and I hate using the cliche, will be won in the tranches.

Ashland 4 and out after losing yardage. 1-10 Black Bears at Ashland's 45 yard line.

It was ugly for the Cats today. Spring Valley varsity scored two touchdowns, with two extra points, and a 40+ yard field goal. Ashland varsity had no touchdowns and only 3 total first downs. SV JV scored at will agains our JV. The only touchdown we had came from the freshman... Greg compleation to Pittman for a long touchdown pass. Ashland just couldn't do anything with SV line or pretty much anyone for that matter. Ratliff struggled to find receivers, however, Rogers made a couple good catches over the middle for short gains. Hester and Colburn had no running room what so ever. On the other hand, SV varsity did whatever they wanted to. Adkins threw the ball well, no downfield passes, but hit the open receiver when he had the chance. He also ran the ball well, something we didn't see with him last year.

Very true, I just hope no injuries occur during this scrimmage. Getting backups key game type experience is extremely important. Keeping everyone healthy is also high on the coaches agenda. I know that the injury bug has apparently hit Spring Valley, with their all-state qb out. Again, hopefully everyone can stay healthy.

With a makeshift OL, will Ashland have enough beef to keep Spring Valley out of their backfield? Stone (center) is out, Jordan takes his spot, but I couldn't see who took Jordan's spot at tackle yesterday. Either way, I hope the inexperience doesn't hurt them too bad.

I agree with all of these. I'll add a couple more to this... Give the fans/bluegrasspreps something to talk about. Get backup some reps so you can create a functional depth chart. Make sure line play is consistent and center/qb exchange is consistent. Allow for mistakes and what needs to be fixed. Not show too much.