Myrtle inches closer to clinching first ever playoff berth with win over Ashland
The Myrtle Hawks started slow in their home game against the Ashland Blue Devils on Friday, needing a win to maintain their path towards a playoff berth in their first year of eligibility.
Thankfully for them, though, the old saying is correct: it’s not how you start but how you finish.
The Hawks rattled off 34 unanswered points in the 2nd and 3rd quarters to come away with a 41-6 victory.
The Hawks led only 7-0 at the end of the first quarter and Ashland had the ball at midfield. The Myrtle defense stiffened, though, and did what they have so often done the last two years: rode the capable legs of AI Nugent down the field.
Nugent scored a trio of rushing touchdowns in the 2nd quarter, where he rushed for 108 yards.
The game started with Myrtle’s Carl Graham picking off Ashland on the Blue Devils first play. Three plays later, Jackson Mayer found Nugent for a 57 yard touchdown pass. Mayer would finish the night with 114 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns. Elijah Thompson would also get in on the action at quarterback, tossing a touchdown to Caden Hutcheson.
Myrtle moves to 5-4 on the season (4-1 in district play). They play Coldwater next week with a chance to wrap up a spot in the playoffs.
More pictures from the game on Facebook (Union County Sports) and Instagram.
