A 22-yard field goal by freshman kicker Justin Ashenfelter as time expired in the first-half scrimmage portion of the annual Purple & Gold spring football game on Thursday (April 21) night at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field gave the Purple squad a 17-14 victory over its Gold counterparts.
Ashland played a summer-style 7-on-7 scrimmage in the third quarter on Thursday, and a "rookie bowl" in the fourth quarter.
Gold took a 7-0 lead 3:31 into the scrimmage on a 15-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarter David Murray to junior wide receiver Kamaron Green. Purple tied the game later in the first when freshman tailback Dre Kendrick went into the end zone on a 1-yard run.
In the final minute of the opening quarter, freshman tailback Luke Ogi's 1-yard scoring run put Gold back on top, 14-7.
In the second quarter, it was all Purple, as Kendrick scored his second touchdown on a 2-yard run, then Ashenfelter ended the "game" with his half-winning kick.
For Purple, freshman quarterback John Davies was 10-for-17 for 120 yards. Gold was led by redshirt freshman tailback Andrew Vaughn (52 yards on five carries), Murray (8-for-12, 116 yards, one touchdown, one interception) and freshman wide receiver Stanley Jackson Jr. (two catches, 73 yards).
Jackson Jr. is the Gridiron Club Offensive Player of the Game, while Purple freshman defensive end Tristan Reichelderfer (four total tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss) is the Defensive Player of the Game.
"I thought John Davies, the young quarterback, played well," said Ashland head coach Lee Owens. "I thought Kendrick ran the ball hard at the goal line. Reichelderfer showed up really well.
"It was hard to really tell, because there weren't a lot of veterans playing tonight. The young guys played well."
Of Jackson Jr., playing at a position with several returning productive players, Owens said, "He definitely is in the conversation. He had a great spring. He's so smooth. He's got that great ability to stretch the field and catch the deep ball."
The 2016 Gridiron Club honorees were The Ohio State University football assistant coach Luke Fickell (Sportsman of the Year), OSU football director of player development Stan Jefferson (Lifetime Achievement), Midview High School head coach D.J. Shaw (Martinelli Coach of the Year) and the late Dr. Don Rinehart (Golden Helmet).
Spring Game Sights & Sounds
Spring game scoring PDF – http://www.goashlandeagles.com/sports/fball/2015-16/files/Spring_game_cover.pdf
Spring game team stats PDF – http://www.goashlandeagles.com/sports/fball/2015-16/files/Spring_game_team.pdf
Spring game individual stats PDF – http://www.goashlandeagles.com/sports/fball/2015-16/files/Spring_game_indy.pdf
Spring game defensive stats PDF – http://www.goashlandeagles.com/sports/fball/2015-16/files/Spring_game_defense.pdf
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