Published: November 15, 2008 12:52 am            

’Cats get physical with Dixie Heights

Running game, ‘D’ lead win

ASHLAND — Dixie Heights coach Tom Spritzky was worried about Ashland’s physical style of football.

His worst fears were realized.

The Tomcats followed a pounding running game and a pair of big defensive stops in the second half to a come-from-behind 35-24 victory over the Colonels on Friday night in the first-round game of the Class 5A playoffs at Putnam Stadium.

“Winning a playoff game, this feels good, especially after 2-8 (last season),” said Ashland coach Leon Hart. “I’m really proud of these guys.”

The Tomcats, who were absent from the playoffs last season for the first time in 21 years, brought their calling card with them. It was a running game that went thump, thump, thump.

Ashland (7-4) rushed for 376 yards, with Rashard Carter and Josh Alber combining for four touchdowns and 369 yards rushing.

But in the end, it may have been the defense that saved the day.

“Our defense, the two stands they made (in the second half) were the difference in the football game,” Hart said.

The biggest defensive play came in the fourth quarter when Dixie Heights running back Connor Brock was stopped short on a fourth-and-inches by torpedoing linebacker Conner Swift and Bryant Combs.

Ashland was leading 28-24 after Alber had plowed in for his third touchdown on a 1-yard run.

“If you can’t get a half a yard inside the five, you’ve got some problems physically,” Spritzky said. “They were just so much more physical than we were. It showed in the second half.”

Dixie Heights, using more finesse than strength, led 17-14 at the half behind quarterback Ryan Wilson and an 87-yard touchdown run on the Colonels’ first play from scrimmage by Brock.

But even though the Tomcats trailed, the half belonged to them physically.

“We told them they may not see the affects of the pounding in the second and third quarter,” Hart said. “But you saw it eventually.”

Alber, the strong junior fullback, was bullish inside with 141 yards rushing. Carter had 225 yards, including an 82-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that gave the Tomcats breathing room.

The passing game had its moments, too. Sam Hunter completed a 77-yard scoring pass to Combs in the second quarter and tight end Ryan Bonner completed a key third down in the drive when the Tomcats went ahead for good.

“The biggest play offensively was the pass he threw to Bonner,” Hart said. “He willed us to a first down.”

Alber shook loose for a 53-yard run on the next play, shredding tacklers after breaking free on an inside trap play.

“No. 34, he’s a player,” Spritzky said. “When you’ve got big players like No. 70 (Justin Pennington), No. 65 (Josh Salisbury), No. 34 and No. 51 (J.C. Thompson), we knew that give us trouble.”

The game had the same back-and-forth action as Ashland’s 54-44 win over Montgomery County in the regular season.

But after Dixie Heights (4-7) scored in five plays to begin the second half, that was it. The Colonels actually led 24-14 at that point, but Ashland fought back, scoring the last 21 points.

Josh Miller had a key interception in the fourth quarter while the Tomcats were nursing the 28-24 advantage. After that pick, Carter eventually was sprung for the 82-yard touchdown.

“When we lined up, I thought we were in trouble,” Hart said of Carter’s long run. “They had an extra linebacker on that side (of the field). He (Carter) made that kid miss and then made another good cutback move about the 20, and he was gone.”

The Tomcats will play at top-ranked Fort Thomas Highlands next week. Highlands had a struggle with Bryan Station, winning 28-22.

“As long as we’re playing next week, that’s the key,” Hart said.

        

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