Minneola High School head football coach Aaron Schilde knew the consequences of failing to stop Ashland High School running back Ben Fox.
On Friday night, the Wildcats experienced those consequences.
Fox rushed for 114 yards and three touchdowns on just 10 carries — all in the first half — as the Blue Jays defeated the overmatched Wildcats 44-0.
"I didn't expect (Fox) to be able to march up the field like that," Ashland head coach Jesse Stebens said. "Ben's our main back, though, and credit goes to the offensive line."
Ervin Swonger rushed five times for 66 yards, most of which came on a 48-yard first quarter touchdown run.
The Blue Jay defense was also stellar, holding the Wildcats to just 86 yards of total offense.
Minneola rushed for minus-28 yards in the second half.
Minneola won nine games a year ago, but lost key players on offense and defense to graduation.
Many returning players have little game experience, Schilde said.
"For our young kinds, they kind of got thrown to the wolves." he said. "They just weren't physically ready to go out there and play against these kids."
Ashland jetted to an early 14-0 lead on scoring runs by Fox and Swonger.
Blue Jay junior Jay Luerman intercepted a pass from Minneola quarterback Brandy Shumate, then hauled in a 43-yard reception from Ashland's Austin Stebens on the ensuing drive.
Terrell Osborn scored from two yards out with 1:55 left in the first quarter to propel Ashland to a 22-0 lead.
Fox scored on runs of two and 26 yards in the second quarter, and Ashland led 38-0 at halftime.
Ashland junior Luis Quitana scored on a three-yard run with 1:11 left in the fourth quarter to end the scoring.
Minneola's best chance to score came midway through the fourth quarter with a first-and-goal situation from the Ashland 3-yard line. But penalties, coupled with a quarterback sack, forced the Wildcats into 4th and goal from the Ashland 23-yard line.
The Wildcats would turn the ball over on downs.
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Minneola High School head football coach Aaron Schilde knew the consequences of failing to stop Ashland High School running back Ben Fox.
On Friday night, the Wildcats experienced those consequences.
Fox rushed for 114 yards and three touchdowns on just 10 carries — all in the first half — as the Blue Jays defeated the overmatched Wildcats 44-0.
"I didn't expect (Fox) to be able to march up the field like that," Ashland head coach Jesse Stebens said. "Ben's our main back, though, and credit goes to the offensive line."
Ervin Swonger rushed five times for 66 yards, most of which came on a 48-yard first quarter touchdown run.
The Blue Jay defense was also stellar, holding the Wildcats to just 86 yards of total offense.
Minneola rushed for minus-28 yards in the second half.
Minneola won nine games a year ago, but lost key players on offense and defense to graduation.
Many returning players have little game experience, Schilde said.
"For our young kinds, they kind of got thrown to the wolves." he said. "They just weren't physically ready to go out there and play against these kids."
Ashland jetted to an early 14-0 lead on scoring runs by Fox and Swonger.
Blue Jay junior Jay Luerman intercepted a pass from Minneola quarterback Brandy Shumate, then hauled in a 43-yard reception from Ashland's Austin Stebens on the ensuing drive.
Terrell Osborn scored from two yards out with 1:55 left in the first quarter to propel Ashland to a 22-0 lead.
Fox scored on runs of two and 26 yards in the second quarter, and Ashland led 38-0 at halftime.
Ashland junior Luis Quitana scored on a three-yard run with 1:11 left in the fourth quarter to end the scoring.
Minneola's best chance to score came midway through the fourth quarter with a first-and-goal situation from the Ashland 3-yard line. But penalties, coupled with a quarterback sack, forced the Wildcats into 4th and goal from the Ashland 23-yard line.
The Wildcats would turn the ball over on downs.
