-- — Last season, veteran Belfry coach Philip Haywood saw enough of an Ashland sophomore quarterback named Sam Hunter to be impressed.

Now, Hunter really has Haywood’s attention.

The state-ranked teams meet Friday night at Putnam Stadium and Hunter has the Tomcats’ offense in high gear.

Ashland is off to a 2-0 start, both 44-point outputs, thanks to a relentless and multi-faceted attack with Hunter at the helm.

Already, the athletic left-hander has completed 25 of 36 passes for 387 yards and six touchdowns. A double-threat on rollouts, Hunter averages six yards per carry, including one score.

“He has a great concept of the field, and understands what his role is,” Haywood said. “Hunter had a good game against us last year (84 yards passing) when he was just starting out as a sophomore. He knows when to run, when to throw, and picks out receivers well. That’s just something we will have to deal with.”

Ashland held off the Pirates 22-20 in last year’s matchup, with Josh Alber rushing for two touchdowns and Trey Rogers breaking loose for 113 yards on only eight carries.

Rogers is back as one of the key components in the Tomcats’ diverse offense. Of wideout Cody Withrow’s 10 catches, four have gone for TDs. Sophomores Cody Watts and Malik Massey played major roles last week in a 44-7 romp over Raceland. Watts rushed for 122 yards while Massey came off the bench to score on a reverse and pass reception.  

“Ashland can put a lot of pressure on the defense,” Haywood said. “They stretch you horizontally and vertically.’’

The Tomcats — No. 8 in the Associated Press Class 5A poll — stay on the offensive even after touchdowns, making good on 8-of-12 two-point conversion attempts so far. Hunter has a hand in all eight of them, throwing for six and running for the other two.

“It ought to be 12 out of 12,” said Ashland coach Leon Hart. “With this football team, I’m driven because I understand the talent level we have. Sam does a wonderful job. His ability to scramble and the number of weapons we can put out there makes it hard to defend the two-point play.”

Hart said the thing he likes best about the team’s receivers and running backs is their blocking when the ball is in a teammate’s hands.

“It tells me the kids are unselfish,” Ashland’s coach said. “They are concerned more about the team’s success than anything else.”

Hart is also enthused about the Tomcats’ defensive strides last week. They shut down Raceland’s offense over the final three quarters.

Junior Kyle Bush and sophomore Logan Salow were impressive in their first starts.

Bush, an outside linebacker, led the team in defensive points while making his Ashland debut. He did not play as a sophomore after transferring from Rose Hill Christian and sat out Ashland’s opener because of a shoulder injury.

“Kyle Bush had a monster game,” Hart said. “The tackles for losses and big hits, he had a real impact on that game from beginning to end. I don’t think he’s played a football game since the eighth grade.”

Salow gave the Tomcats a lift with his play at cornerback.

“He had a couple of pass break-ups, four or five tackles and a couple of assists,” Hart said. “Those two came up and made tackles and disrupted the bubble (screen) stuff.”

At the same time, Hart praised sophomore defensive tackle Shannon Justice’s energy and willingness to run to the football.

“There’s one play where Shannon rushes the quarterback, then when the kid throws the ball, Salow makes the play on an eight-yard catch and Justice finishes the play on a tremendous hit,” Hart said. “It shows you the passion and intensity he was playing with.”

Belfry, ranked fifth in Class 3A, has a strong football tradition. The Pirates dropped their opener to Prestonsburg and last week defeated Covington Holy Cross 20-14 in the Pike County Bowl.

“You know going into a Belfry game you better be prepared to play physical or it’s going to be a long night,” Hart said.

Belfry graduated top running back Thomas Varney along with several other starters and Haywood said the Pirates have performed like a young team so far this season.

“We are sort of feeling our way right now,” Haywood said.

Seniors Garett Francis and Cameron Tackett anchor the offensive line.

Special night

The Tomcats will be honoring their 1975 and 1990 state championship teams. There is a reception for the teams at the Elks Lodge immediately after the game.

It will also be Ashland JFL Night where players will be recognized before the game. They are to meet at the back end zone gate at 6:45 p.m.

ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.