Published: September 19, 2009 01:04 am      

MARK MAYNARD: This was one to cherish

ASHLAND — They will be talking about this one years from now.

They will talk about Josh Alber’s toughness, some monster hits on defense and a Tomcat team that believed it could beat big, bad Ironton.

In the Bob Lutz era, Ironton has done more than dominate Ashland. They have dismantled the Tomcats, winning 27 of 29 since 1979 going into Friday night’s game in Putnam Stadium.

Ashland had lost 17 in a row to Ironton, dating back to the Tomcats’ state championship season in 1990. They had not won in Putnam Stadium since 1987.

Now the 2009 Tomcats have a place in history, at least when it comes to

the Ironton-Ashland series, after recording a 26-12 triumph before a crowd that had Putnam Stadium busting at the seams with an estimated 6,000 fans.

This team and this game will be remembered.

How big was the victory?

Well, after shaking hands with Ironton, they were having their photographs taken in front of the scoreboard.

You don’t do that for just any win. That’s how long it has been since the Tomcats felt so good after playing the Fighting Tigers.

“This community was starving for this win,” said Ashland coach Leon Hart, who is in his seventh season. “The kids believed. That was the important thing. There was never any tightness.”

The Tomcats had reason to doubt but never did.

Star linebacker Connor Swift was knocked out of the game after suffering a concussion on the opening kickoff.

But they never doubted.

Alber, who is like trying to tackle a rolling manhole cover, gave every ounce on every play. He came over to the sideline in the fourth quarter, bent over and vomited. Then he returned to the game.

That’s how much he wanted it.

Few believed it was going to happen. Alber did and so did his teammates.

“It shows everybody anything is possible,” he said. “My seventh grade year we went 2-8. Who would have thought we would beat Ironton when we were seniors?”

Probably not many thought it would happen this year. Hart told the players not to listen to their parents, the student body or the people in the community.

Hart recalled when he took the Ashland job in 2003 how the community reacted to playing Ironton.

“I was not in town a month and went to the bank to get a loan,” he said. “They asked me what I did and I said I was a teacher and a coach. They asked me what I coached and I told them football. They said ‘Oh, you’ve got to play Ironton every year.’’’

Tony Love, the defensive coordinator, has been involved with Tomcat football for 16 years. This one was huge for him.

“It’s got to be one of the best,” he said. “I don’t know of a better one because of the notoriety and respect they have. They’re respected throughout the state of Ohio, in Kentucky and in West Virginia. Everybody knows Ironton.”

When it was over, the community savored a rare win over their Ohio River rivals. They watched as Ironton’s orange-clad army of fans left early for the exits, an unusual sight in itself.

Longtime Tomcat fan Karl Nichols stood in the corner near the closed end of the field and starting getting emotional while watching the players celebrate. He’s the father of the late Jason Nichols, who etched his name in Tomcat lore with an incredible 392-yard performance in the 1997 game with Ironton that resulted in a 42-41 heartbreaking loss in Putnam Stadium.

“I know he was up there watching this tonight,” said Karl, tears starting to fill his eyes. “He was loving it.”

Dwight Walter, a former Tomcat and a teacher in the Ashland system, remembered celebrating the last home win over Ironton with friends by going down and ringing the bell in front of the police station.

Walter said several friends piled into his Chevette hatchback, including one named Juan Thomas, who was even huge as a freshman. Walter said it was a sight to Thomas in the backseat of that small car.

They never knew it would be 22 more years before the Tomcats would be able to enjoy a win over Ironton at home.

Victories over Ironton don’t come often.

That’s why they will talk about this one for years to come.

MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.