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Wildcats end another game early

ASHLAND — Talk about adding insult to injury.

On the game's first possession last night, Ashland owned the ball for all but two plays of the first quarter. With a first down at the Whittier Tech 3-yard line, the Clockers pushed to the 1 but were stuffed and stopped on downs. On top of that, the Wildcats then drove the length of the field for their second 90-plus yard scoring drive in as many weeks. Kicking off a 30-point second quarter explosion with the march, Whittier prevailed in the non-league tilt, 30-6.

Churning out close to 400 yards of newly-minted "Tornado" offense, quarterback Dillon Ryan (152 total yards) once again was the main cog for Whittier (2-0) as he threw for two touchdowns and ran for another.

Senior Steve Surette was Ryan's favorite target, pulling down four of his five completions for 104 yards and both TDs on throws of 56 and 36 yards.

Paul Buccos picked up 41 of his 52 rushing yards on his second quarter sprint to the end zone, getting help from a quartet of underclassmen (sophomore linemen Pat Lawlor and Ryan Tragakis as well as juniors Jordan Britton and John DeAngelo).

After the huge stand to start the game, the defense didn't stop as Nate Allen's interception and 52-yard return perched Whittier 1 yard from paydirt, and Don Leighton swiped another Ashland aerial that he returned to the 12. Both picks ended in Wildcat touchdowns.

Sean Ford, a 6-6 junior, batted down two passes and 6-4 linebacker Ralph Hancock shut down Ashland's outside running game to aid the cause.