ASHLAND, Ky. – Ashland’s 1984 football team found a day at the Beach isn’t always fun.
The 2001 Ashland Tomcats, led by Arliss Beach’s 311 yards rushing and three touchdowns, throttled the 1984 Tomcats, 49-28, in Putnam Stadium in a TOMCAT TALES simulated football game.
Beach scored on runs of 16, 72 and 14 to trigger a rushing attack that piled up 474 yards. Quarterback Ryne Salyer completed 6 of 8 passes for 49 yards.
“We couldn’t contain Beach, it was simple as that,” said 84 Tomcat coach Vic Marsh. “We fell behind 21-0 and it was a long game of catch-up. Trying to chase down Arliss when you’re trying to catch up made it that much longer.”
The 2001 Tomcats went ahead 21-0 two minutes into the second quarter when Beach took a handoff, broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage and headed for the sideline on the way to a 72-yard touchdown run.
“Backbreaker for them,” said 2001 Tomcat coach Larry Hall. “That run put us in the driver’s seat and when Arliss is driving the bus, it’s good for us.”
Beach carried 24 times and averaged 13 yards per run. Matt Johnson also had a big game with 113 yards and two touchdowns for the 2001 Tomcats. The 1-2 punch of Beach and Johnson proved to be too much.
Quarterback Chuck Broughton completed 12 of 26 passes and four touchdowns for the 1984 Tomcats. Lee Evans (two), David Gifford and Jeff Koontz had the receiving TDs. Kent Feazell was held to 53 yards rushing on 14 carries. He broke loose once for a 30-yard gain but was largely held in check by the 2001 defense, led by safety Josh Duley with 12 tackles.
“We knew containing Feazell was going to be big,” Hall said. “We did a good job on that but let Evans get behind us twice. Broughton has a good arm and they gave him good protection.”
Gifford had four catches for 62 yards and Koontz caught an 82-yard touchdown bomb from Broughton.
“You know passing isn’t my game but when you fall behind 21-0, you have to score in a hurry,” Marsh said. “We couldn’t keep up with them.”
The 2001 Tomcats led 28-14 at the half and 35-21 going into the fourth quarter. The 84 Tomcats were never closer than 14 points.
Real life
1984 Tomcats finished 7-5 and Broughton was a second team Courier-Journal All-State quarterback.
2001 Tomcats finished 8-4 and Beach made All-State and scored 39 TDs and 2,503 yards rushing in record-breaking season.
1984 TOMCATS 0 14 7 7 – 28
2001 TOMCATS 14 14 7 14 – 49
FIRST QUARTER
2001-Arliss Beach 16 run (Jordan Sloan kick)
2001-Matt Johnson 3 run (Sloan kick)
SECOND QUARTER
2001-Beach 72 run (Sloan kick)
1984-Lee Evans 7 pass from Chuck Broughton (Sven Steinnender kick)
2001-Brandon Swimm 10 run (Sloan kick)
1984-David Gifford 12 pass from Broughton (Steinnender kick)
THIRD QUARTER
1984-Evans 12 pass from Broughton (Steinnender kick )
20001-Ryne Salyer 7 run (Sloan kick)
FOURTH QUARTER
2001-Johnson 4 run (Sloan kick)
1984-Jeff Koontz 82 pass from Broughton (Steinnender kick)
2001-Beach 14 run (Sloan kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATS
1984 RUSHING: Feazell 14-53, Riedel 9-49, Stephens 2-10.
2001 RUSHING: Beach 24-311, Johnson 21-113, Salyer 7-35, Swimm 4-15.
1984 PASSING: Broughton 12 of 26 for 212 yards.
2001 PASSING: Salyer 6 of 8 for 49 yards.
1984 RECEIVING: Evans 4-31, Gifford 4-62, Feazell 2-17, Koontz 1-82, Pendel 1-20.
2001 RECEIVING: Davis 4-39, Schweitzer 2-10.
MARK MY WORDS 2 