Published: October 30, 2009 03:57 pm      

Kiwanis Bowl tonight at Putnam

Ashland — For Ashland and Russell’s freshmen football teams, the entire season revolves around this rivalry game.

“It’s like the Super Bowl,” said Ashland sixth-year coach Jack Harris. “It’s as good as it gets for a freshman game.”

The Kiwanis Club hosted a luncheon at the Chimney Corner Cafe on Wednesday in preparation for tonight’s Kiwanis Bowl, the annual meeting between the two schools at Putnam Stadium.

Each coach and several players from each team expressed what the game means to them.

Logan Salow, the Tomcats’ quarterback and safety, has been named a game captain for Ashland. He remembers the 1998 Kiwanis Bowl most fondly, which happened to also fall on Oct. 29.

The 4-year-old Logan trick-or-treated in neighborhoods near Putnam Stadium before witnessing a remarkable game by his older brother, Eric.

Eric Salow scored five touchdowns, including a return of a blocked punt, a fumble recovery return and three TD receptions. Former Tomcat great Arliss Beach also rushed for a score.

Drew Walters, whose father Phil played in the 1978 Kiwanis Bowl and whose brother was captain of a winning Ashland team recently, also spoke in front of a crowd that included members of the Kiwanis Club, both schools’ athletic directors, players, coaching staffs, and the elected queens from each school.

C.J. Johnson, Cody Watts and Matt Tillett also each spoke from the Ashland side.

Preston Herring, Austin Heaberlin, Dylan Howard, Gage Stevens and Troy Huffine each spoke for Russell.

“These players talk about it in the offseason, during the summer and all season,” said Russell coach Buford Hurley II. “They almost wish the season away sometimes.”

The Kiwanis Bowl squared Ashland junior highs Coles and Putnam against one another for 27 years before Coles and Putnam merged into one school, Verity, in 1979.

Since then, Russell and Ashland freshmen have combatted, and Russell leads the series 20-10.

Harris hopes Ashland can avenge for a close loss last season, which ended with a botched extra point. The Tomcats coach is just 1-4 in the rivalry.

“Every time we go in thinking we have an edge, we go in and stub our toe,” Harris said. “The records don’t matter.”

Tonight’s matchup kicks off at 7 and involves an undefeated Ashland team and Russell, which is 5-3.



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