Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

ASHLAND, Ky. — And yer out.
No, this wasn’t a baseball game but it seemed more like a circus as the Ironton Fighting Tigers lost 35-0 to the Ashland Tomcats on Friday.
Ironton head coach Mark Vass was flagged for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and ejected midway through the third quarter.
Vass was arguing a fumble call — or non-fumble as it was.
Russell Rogers caught a pass for Ashland but fumbled and Garrett Carrico grabbed the ball. As Ironton’s defense trotted off the field the officials ruled no fumble and Vass was flagged trying to get an explanation.
The 30 yards in penalties got the ball to the Ironton 14 and the momentum swing enabled the Tomcats to score seven plays later to lead 28-0.
Ashland (3-2) tacked on a score by Blake Hester as he went 5 yards for a touchdown with 5:18 left to set the final score.
Trailing 14-0 at the half and Ironton had the ball to begin the second half. But the Fighting Tigers fumbled and the Tomcats recovered at the 13. Two plays later quarterback Braxton Ratliff hit Aroq Colburn with a 15-yard scoring pass.
The game was scoreless until an 11-yard scramble for a touchdown by Ratliff with 2:23 left in the half.
Blaine Collins kicked the conversion for the 7-0 lead.
Ashland got a touchdown with 2:23 left in the half on an 11-yard scramble by Ratliff and it was 14-0.
Both teams threatened on their first possession.
Ashland took the opening kickoff and used a 30-yard scramble by Ratliff to get to the Ironton 28.
But a bad snap cost the Tomcats 18 yards and a fourth down pass at the 27 went for only 7 yards
Ironton then marched to the Ashland 15 on 10 plays but the drive stalled and a 32-yard field goal attempt was long enough but wide.
The Fighting Tigers’ offense generated just 183 yards offense and the defense allowed 437 yards.
Ironton visits South Point next Friday.
Ironton     0    0    0    0    =    0
Ashland    0    7    14    14    =    35
Second Quarter
Ash — Braxton Ratliff 11 run (Blaine Collins kick) 2:23
Third Quarter
Ash — Aroq Colburn 15 pass from Braxton Ratliff (Blaine Collins kick) 9:16
Ash — Ryan Bryant 2 pass Braxton Ratliff (Blaine Collins kick) 1:49
Fourth Quarter
Ash — Aroq Colburn 6 run (Blaine Collins kick) 9:35
Ash — Blake Hester 5 run (Blaine Collins kick) 5:18
——
Irn    Ash
First downs    12    23
Rushes-yards    29-89    45-282
Passing yards    94    155
Total yards    183    437
Cmp-Att-Int    12-17-0    11-16-0
Fumbles-lost    4-1    2-0
Penalties-yards    8-80    6-36
Punts-average    3-35.0    1-29.0
——
Individual Leaders
RUSHING —Ironton: xxx; Ashland: Aroq Colburn 12-89, Blake Hester 17-87, Braxton Ratliff 10-61, Willie Cline 2-15, Keontae Pittman 1-21, team 1-minus 18.
PASSING — Ironton: Gage Salyers 8-10-0 64, Ayden Barnes 4-7-0 30; Ashland: Braxton Ratliff 11-16-0 155.
RECEIVING — Ironton: Garrett Carrico 1-9, Tanner Wilson 1-8, Reid Carrico 5-44, Brycen Thomas 1-5, Jordan Grizzle 3-24, Alex Cox 1-3; Ashland: Cameron Conley 2-16, Isaac Caines 1-45, Russell Rogers 3-41, Ryan Bryant 1-2, Aroq Colburn 2-23, Blake Hester 1-0.