ASHLAND — Magoffin County was limited to one touchdown as Ashland pulled away to win 49-6 in the first round of the 2022 Class 3A UK HealthCare Sports Medicine State Football Finals at Putnam Stadium on Friday, Nov. 4.
Magoffin County dropped to 4-7 after suffering the setback. The loss eliminated Magoffin County from the Class 3A UK HealthCare Sports Medicine State Football Finals.
Ashland improved to 7-4 after posting the win. With the win, Ashland advanced to the second round of the Class 3A UK HealthCare Sports Medicine State Football Finals.
Setting the tone early in the postseason game, Ashland moved ahead of Magoffin County 28-0 during the opening quarter.
Ashland led 42-0 at halftime and held the Hornets scoreless until the fourth quarter.
LaBryant Strader led Ashland to the win, completing four of five passes for 120 yards and three touchdowns.
Brandon Houston hauled in a 64-yard touchdown pass reception for the Tomcats.
Reaching the endzone twice in Ashland’s win, Asher Adkins reeled in two receptions for 39 yards and two touchdowns.
Ashland rushed 18 times for 210 yards and four touchdowns. Atayveon Thomas paced Ashland on the ground, rushing three times for 77 yards and one touchdown. Along with Thomas, Braxton Jennings, Cameron Davis and Austin Nichols added one rushing touchdown apiece for the Tomcats.
Defensively for Ashland, Troy Gardner registered a team-high nine tackles while Luke Corliss recorded an interception.
Dayon Burchett completed seven of 19 passes for 71 yards and one touchdown for the Hornets. Burchett, a freshman, threw one interception.
Ben Lafferty hauled in a 24-yard touchdown pass reception for the Hornets.
Making multiple catches, Garrett Jenkins reeled in a team-high three receptions for Magoffin County in the postseason matchup.
In addition to Lafferty, a versatile senior, Jackson Gilliland, Ian McCarty and Russell Cruz added one reception apiece for the Hornets.
Magoffin County rushed 27 times for 66 yards in the season-ending loss. Lafferty paced Magoffin County on the ground, rushing six times for 38 yards.
Following Lafferty in Magoffin County’s rushing attack, Curtis Jenkins took nine carries for 32 yards. Chipping in on the ground for the Hornets, McCarty rushed six times for 25 yards.
Jenkins and Brayden Standifer combined to pace Magoffin County defensively, recording four tackles apiece for the Hornets.
Ashland is scheduled to host defending state champion Belfry in the second round of the Class 3A State Playoffs on Friday, Nov. 11.
Following the season-ending loss, Magoffin County has turned its focus to the offseason.
