Ashland flattens Wooster on senior night behind big plays and forced turnovers

ASHLAND − Senior night couldn't have gone better for Ashland football as it pulled off its first shutout of the season in a 34-0 win over Wooster (2-7, 1-6).

Ashland dominated to the point where the Generals didn't threaten to score until their last offensive drive of the game late in the fourth quarter.

The Arrows' (5-4, 3-3) defense has kept them in every game − even the losses − throughout the season, and they brought the juice tonight, tackling well, rushing the passer relentlessly and even forcing three turnovers, each giving the Arrows a short field to work with on offense.

"Anytime you can get turnovers, it's a good thing," Ashland coach Scott Valentine said. "Some of the turnovers gave us short field position, and we took advantage of them and scored. We hit the gaps and got off blocks well. Our staff did a great job game planning, and our defense executed."

Ashland senior linebacker Josh Pancake flew all over the field and said everyone on defense worked together to perfection.

"It's what we talked about this whole week," Pancake said. "Just filling gaps, reading the game and getting to where we needed to be in our assignments."

Pancake also loved the three turnovers (two fumble recoveries and one interception) the defense forced.

"They were really big," he said. "We could've had some scoop-and-scores, too."

Then there were the big offensive plays throughout the game, none bigger than senior running back Cayden Spotts' 85-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that put the game out of reach for good. Spotts had a game-high 197 rushing yards and three TD runs.

"Spotts was great tonight," Pancake said. "Offense held up their end of the bargain tonight."

Said Valentine of Spotts, "He's been a staple in this offense for his whole career. For him to have that night tonight was big, and our O-line knew it was going to have to be that type of night."

jsimpson@gannett.com

Twitter:@JamesSimpsonII

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland wins big against Wooster on senior night