Tomcats edge past Rams with defensive stand in OT

RACELAND — Many times you hear the phrase "football is a game of inches".

And this years' edition of Ashland versus Raceland was a textbook example.

After a comeback by Raceland to tie the game in regulation, the Ashland Tomcats made a goal line stand in the overtime period to thwart the Rams from pulling off another upset and walked away with a 28-21 win on Friday night at Ram Stadium.

The thrilling finish was set up in regulation when Seth Morris' punt was downed at the Ashland 1, forcing the Tomcats to have to run the final 6:09 remaining in the game.

The Tomcats would move the sticks three times but the Raceland defense would finally come up with the needed stop as Jackson King came from his linebacking position and tackled Simpkins for a 4-yard loss on third down and force the Tomcats to punt.

Following the a 30-yard punt return from Arnett, Raceland would take over at the Ashland 29 with 1:39 showing on the clock.

A Waller 12-yard completion to Vanderhoof and an 11-yard run from Arnett quickly set the Rams up at the 6.

One play later, Waller improvised on a scramble and zig-zagged his way 7 yards into the end zone to make it 21-20.

Morris split the sticks on the extra point to tie the ballgame up with 55 seconds.

In the overtime, the Tomcats took possession first and needed just one play to score.

Stutler made a play fake to Luke McCoy and hit Justin Hughes on a slant for the 10-yard score. Max McCallister nailed the extra point to make it 28-21.

A face mask penalty on first down moved the ball to the 7 for the Rams. Then a play later, Arnett slashed his way just inside the 1 and tackled inches from the goal line. Then on 3rd-and-goal, Waller tried to sneak it in but McCoy came unblocked and met Waller and stuffed him for no gain.

A costly false start penalty pushed the Rams back to the 6 and still facing a 4th-and-goal situation.

On the final play, Waller delivered a pass over the middle to his intended receiver Eli Evans, but Trevonte Taylor was there to pull the ball away as the two got their hands on the ball and secure the win for the Tomcats.

Taylor turned out to be the bellcow for the Ashland offense, carrying the ball 15 times for a game-high 136 yards to go along with his 81-yard dash that put the Tomcats ahead 21-14 early in the fourth.

Two other Ashland backs — Daylen Farrow and Luke McCoy — both found the end zone as the offense out-rushed Raceland 264 to 123 for the game.

The Tomcat defense also showed they could bend but not break against Raceland's potent offensive attack.

After tying the game up at 7-all on McCoy's run, the Ashland defense came up with a huge stop after the Rams drove into their red zone.

As would be the trend all night, the play would come down to inches.

Facing 4th and less than a yard, the Rams tried to power for the first down. However, both Hagan Samuels and Simpkins were there to stop Stiltner just shy of the line to gain and take possession at their own 18.

The stop would later lead to Farrow's rushing score to give the Tomcats their first lead of the night.

The Rams were led offensively by Waller, who went 11 of 14 passing for 168 yards. His top target was Eli Evans who pulled in 4 receptions for 113 yards, including an electrifying 88 yard touchdown pass on the Rms very first play from scrimmage.

Ashland 7 7 0 7 7 = 28

Raceland 7 0 7 7 0 = 21

First Quarter

Race — Eli Evans 88 pass from Jacob Waller (Seth Morris kick), 8:02.

Ash — Luke McCoy 30 run (Max McCallister kick), 5:15.

Second Quarter

Ash — Daylen Farrow 10 run (Carson Jones kick), 11:09.

Third Quarter

Race — Landon Stilter 4 run (Seth Morris kick), 0:06.

Fourth Quarter

Ash — Trevonte Taylor 81 run (Max McCallister kick), 10:14.

Race — Jacob Waller 4 run (Seth Morris kick), 0:06.

Overtime

Ash — Justin Hughes 10 pass from Tanner Stutler (Max McCallister kick).

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Ash Race

First downs 11 11

Rushes-yards 42-264 44-123

Passing yards 38 168

Total yards 302 291

Cmp-Att-Int 4-12-0 11-14-1

Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-0

Penalties-yards 5-48.5 4-35

Punts-average 5-28.2 3-34.7

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING – Ashland: Daylen Farrow 4-19 TD, Luke McCoy 3-40 TD, Maverick Ashby 3-1, Trevonte Taylor 15-136 TD, Brody Simpkins 7-27, Tanner Stutler 9-32, Jaylan Strader 1-9; Raceland: Jonah Arnett 7-25, Aidan Bell 2-5, Jacob Waller 13-18 TD, Landen Stiltner 21-74 TD, Landon Bloss 1-1.

PASSING – Ashland: Tanner Stutler 4-12-0 38 TD; Raceland: Jacob Waller 11-14-1 168 TD.

RECEIVING – Ashland: Kody Millette 1-17, Trevonte Taylor 1-9, Justin Hughes 1-10 TD, Jaylan Strader 1-2; Raceland: Jonah Arnett 1-8, Eli Evans 4-113 TD, Scout Wilks 2-13, Charlie Vanderhoof 4-34.

MISSED FIELD GOALS – None.