Ashland freshman runs tough again in blowout of Vikes

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September 22, 2012

Ashland freshman runs tough again in blowout of Vikes

Aaron Snyder For The Independent The Daily Independent Sat Sep 22, 2012, 11:40 AM EDT

ASHLAND — “Q” is becoming a master of drawing O’s all over the football field.

Ashland freshman running back Quinton Baker spun circles around Rowan County tacklers on his way to four touchdowns in a Tomcats blowout of the Vikings on Friday night at Putnam Stadium.

The scoreboard reading “48-0” painted about as pretty a picture as Ashland coach Leon Hart could have drawn up to open Class 4A, District 8 play.

“We didn’t have a good week of practice,” Hart admitted. “It was almost like we were going through the motions all week. But you really couldn’t tell (tonight). I bet when we look at the film we’ll find very few missed assignments.”

Ashland (5-1) rediscovered the ball-hawking team that it was the first three weeks of the season.

Following two straight games without a takeaway, the Tomcats came up with a grand total of five of them on Friday — three fumbles (recovered by Shannon Justice, Cade O’Bryan and Miles McGranahan) and two interceptions (Braxton Harshaw, McGranahan). Three of them gave Ashland excellent field position in Rowan County territory.

Baker danced his way to the end zone three times in the first quarter to help Ashland to a 20-0 lead.

“Our offensive line did a good job of creating holes for Quinton, but if we missed somebody, he made them miss,” Hart said. “The kid knows how to find the end zone.”

Baker went in from five, 14 and 14 yards out in the first period.

Perhaps the most impressive move of the night came on Baker’s second TD. A couple Vikings got their hands on him for what looked like a sure tackle, but the 14-year-old hit the spin button again, maneuvering out of their grips as if he was a character in Madden 13.

The first quarter wasn’t all about Baker, though, as plenty of Tomcats got involved to create an insurmountable deficit for Rowan County.

Tristan Malloy delivered a hit on Chris Baker that popped the helmet off the speedy Viking running back; O’Bryan and Justice wreaked havoc on quarterback Justin Graham in the backfield; and Aaron Elam started his night off right.

Elam finished 4 of 7 for 57 yards, with three completions going the way of Logan Salow. He also connected with Baker on a two-point conversion.

“That’s as well as I’ve seen (Elam) throw it,” Hart said. “We gave him more flexibility this week, like we did with (graduated star quarterback Sam Hunter). Now, he had a much better week of practice, and it was evident out there tonight.”

Rowan County (2-4) had some success moving the ball. Graham, hobbled by an ankle injury, hit Zack Taylor for a couple 25-plus yard passes. And he found Carson Plank for a pair of nice completions.

However, Rowan County never achieved offensive rhythm, mainly because of Ashland’s dominance up front.

The VIkings tried to run 5-foot-10, 290-pound Keontae Moore up the middle several times in the early going, but the Tomcats limited the big back to 46 yards on 12 carries.

Then they attempted to stretch the field with Baker and Graham, but the two combined for 29 yards on 17 total rushes.

“Our defensive tackles and linebackers were responsible for stopping the inside run game, and they did a nice job,” Hart said.

Ashland’s run game continued to work fluidly, as Baker was able to rest a bit. He tallied 16 carries for 111 yards, which was the fewest amount of attempts he’s had since Week 2 against Raceland.

Jeremy Jackson, who Hart said gives Ashland “an added speed dimension,” motored his way to 51 yards on eight attempts to go with a TD.

Ashland blew a 26-0 halftime lead open to a 34-0 advantage on Baker’s fourth touchdown, a one-yard burst setting the stage for his two-point completion from Elam.

After Rowan County’s fourth turnover on downs — one was a blocked field goal — Elam scampered 15 yards for a score. He then found Salow for the two-pointer to make it 42-0.

Tyler Sutton came in and racked up 59 yards on six carries and lifted the Tomcats to a 48-0 lead on a 4-yard TD run with 8:52 to go.

Rowan County’s final possession ended with McGranahan’s interception.

AARON SNYDER can be reached at asnyder@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2664.

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