ASHLAND —
Ashland’s offense and defense still pack some kind of wallop.
Never mind the significant graduation losses and a rash of preseason injuries.
The Tomcats surged out of the starting gate with a 30-point first quarter to make quick work of Lawrence County, 51-20, Friday night at Putnam Stadium.
New offensive starters Aaron Elam and Quentin Baker struck quickly on touchdown plays, then standout defensive end Cade O’Bryan took over by thundering to the end zone on two fumble returns for a 30-0 lead with 2:45 still remaining in the opening period.
“I’m really proud of our team,” O’Bryan said. “We were up 51-7 (early third quarter) when all the starters went out. It was a great start to the season, something we can hopefully continue.”
Lawrence County coach Joey Cecil felt like his team ran into a buzzsaw.
“I’ve got to compliment Ashland and their program,” Cecil said. “I hope that’s the best line we are going to see all year, because they are really good.”
Baker, a freshman tailback, took advantage of excellent blocking to score three touchdowns in his high school debut. He finished with 78 yards on 10 carries.
“Undescribable,” Baker said afterward. “Our line was incredible. I couldn’t ask for anything better than that. All the yards and the touchdowns, it wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
Baker’s quickness and ability to read blocks also made it difficult on Lawrene County defenders.
“He’s got something special there,” Cecil said. “Some things you can’t coach.”
After Evan Yongue found a huge up the middle for 62 yards on Ashland’s first play from scrimmage, Baker took a handoff and bounced outside and sprinted 16 yards to the end zone with his first varsity carry.
“Awesome,” Baker said of the feeling. “It’s great to be a Tomcat.”
Baker stepped into a starting role after senior Cody Watts was lost with a knee injury during the preseason.
“It’s terrible what happened to him,” Baker said. “I just have to fill his shoes and try to make the best out of everything.”
Ashland coach Leon Hart said Baker was extremely nervous as the Tomcats’ season opener drew closer.
“He had his worst week of practice, but you wouldn’t have known it tonight,” Hart said. “Our whole team came out tonight and really responded well.”
Elam, a junior taking over at quarterback for record-breaking Sam Hunter, made his first pass of the season a beauty. He lofted it long down the middle, hitting Logan Salow in stride behind Lawrence County’s secondary for a 53-yard score.
“Elam steps in and you can tell in that system he feels comfortable with it,” Cecil said. “Even losing a guy like Hunter, Ashland looks good at quarterback.”
The 5-foot-11, 210-pounder finished 3 of 5 for 99 yards and also broke loose for a 30-yard TD.
O’Bryan got into the scoring act in a big way with two touchdowns in a span of just over a minute.
First, he stripped the ball from a Lawrence County runner and took it 34 yards for a score. On the next possession, O’Bryan grabbed a loose ball following a failed Bulldog pitch and thundered 69 yards to the end zone.
“If you saw him run, you see how talented he is,” Hart said of the 6-3, 245-pounder. “Not too many defensive linemen run that far, then come back and do it again.”
O’Bryan credited his scoop-and-score to a drill that assistant coach Steve Dowdy runs in practice.
Ashland got a 3-yard TD run from Baker in the second quarter and Elam’s 30-yarder made it 44-7 at halftime.
Baker went up the middle from 28 yards out early in the third quarter to make it 51-7.
Lawrence County got scoring runs from quarterback A.J. Cyrus and Devon Perry in the fourth quarter.
“I tell you what, we didn’t stop competing,” Cecil said.
ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.
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