ASHLAND — Staggering statistics soaked up storylines this past weekend, with four area teams scoring at least five touchdowns, a couple of Hunters finding the end zone at will, and one radio announcer left speechless.

The Quarterback hates to start with a negative number (actually it’s quite in the positive range), but I’m going to get it out of the way as quickly as the Boyd County Lions hope to erase it from their memories.

Pike County Central made the most of its nearly 100-mile bus trip to Cannonsburg on Friday night. In fact, the Hawks almost traveled the same distance on the field. Well, I’m exaggerating a bit, but 401 yards in the first half alone was enough to prompt the QB to think about packing it in this week after picking Boyd County in The Independent’s weekly predictions. The Hawks rolled out 524 yards of offense compared to Boyd County’s 38, including a minus-22 rushing-yardage clip

While that’s an enormous pill to swallow, maybe a rivalry game with Fairview on Friday night can rejuvenate the Lions.

Fairview’s defense and Lawrence County’s offense put up eye-opening digits as well ... we’ll get to that.

The only area game decided by less than two possessions was Johnson Central and Knox Central. The Golden Eagles pulled out a 29-28 squeaker of a victory in overtime. Oh, and how could I forget the thrilla in Paintsville-a? Magoffin County edged the Tigers by five.

Since...

-Lawrence County’s 151 points in its first two games are the most points in a two-game span for any local team since... before the Great Depression. The 1930 Ashland Tomcats piled up 591 points during an undefeated season 80 years ago. They rocked Georgetown and Louisville Manual to the tune of 164 combined points, and they were unanswered! In fact, during a five-game stretch that season, the Tomcats outscored their opponents 366-0!

The 1999 Lawrence County squad came oh so close. It opened its season with 150 points in two games under Chuke Williams.

This year’s Bulldogs put a 76-spot on Paintsville and cranked out 75 points in a pummelling of Shelby Valley on Friday.

-East Carter had not scored exactly two points in a game since... 1999. In a 31-2 loss to Greenup County, Tim Baldwin’s Raiders’ only score was a safety. Aaron Baldwin’s team recorded a safety to start the game on Friday night at Fairview, but lost the contest, 42-2.

-Russell has not scored more than 14 points against Ironton since... ever. The Red Devils looked as if they would put an end to the drought on Friday night as they took 13 points into the half. However, Ironton held Russell scoreless in the second half to extend the streak of never allowing 14 points to the rival in 25 meetings.

Helmet Stickers

-Lawrence County running back Hunter James has been called “special” by Bulldogs coach Luke Salmons. If special means 10 touchdowns in 18 total touches, the QB would have to totally agree. James continued a scintillating start to 2010 with a 10-carry, 289-yard performance against Shelby Valley. He added two catches for 60 yards as he found the end zone five times. Maybe a prevent defense would work more effectively on James. Just joking. Kinda.

-Ashland quarterback Sam Hunter earns four stickers from the QB for the second straight week. The junior lefty compiled 300 total yards and had four touchdowns in a Tomcats’ win over Belfry.

-Raceland’s Tyler Farley went 11 of 14 passing for 260 yards and five touchdowns against Fleming County. Four stickers fair enough?

-Fairview senior Zach Segina looked like a man on a mission against East Carter. He tallied four sacks and had several tackles as he led Fairview’s defense to a nearly a complete stoppage of the Raiders, who beat the Eagles last season. The Raiders had just 25 yards of offense.

Three stickers: Lawrence County offensive line, Corey Lyle (Greenup County), Caleb Bentley (Lawrence County).

Two stickers: Danny Cline (West Carter), Trey Rogers (Ashland), Tanner Locey (Russell), Hayden Kiser (Lawrence County).

One sticker: Brian Warner (Ironton), Gary Felder (Fairview), Cody Withrow (Ashland).

*Note: Statistics were not provided to The Independent by Rowan County or Johnson Central.

Snyder’s Super Seven

I guess it’s about time the QB unveils his rankings of northeastern Kentucky teams, since we are now three weeks into the season.

1. Johnson Central (2-1)

2. Ashland (3-0)

3. Lawrence County (2-0)

4. Greenup County (2-1)

5. Rowan County (3-0)

6. Fairview (3-0)

7. Raceland (2-1)

Payne-less Exit

One primary piece of the Putnam Stadium puzzle was missing at the end of the Ashland-Belfry game on Friday night. Radio announcer David “Dirk” Payne was nowhere to be seen or heard during the final minute of play. Payne, who works as a sideline reporter for WBVB-FM, was ejected after voicing his, uh, opinion to a referee. Not on the air, of course.

TV Coverage

Ohio Southern University and Time Warner Cable will present four local high school football games this season on Channel 25.

All games will be aired on the night of the game at 11 p.m.

This week, Russell at Ashland will be aired.

Next week, Ashland at Ironton will be aired on Sept. 17.

On Oct. 22, Raceland at Russell will be on TV.

Also, Rock Hill at Coal Grove will be aired on Oct. 8.

Tweet Sheet

Tweet the QB at dindependentqb at twitter.com. Follow the QB every Friday night as he updates scores from around the area.

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