Staff Reports

SPRING GARDEN – Sand Rock senior quarterback Alec Ashley’s 2-yard touchdown run with 24.2 seconds remaining lifted the Wildcats to a dramatic 19-16 football victory over Spring Garden on Friday.

The Wildcat win snapped an eight-game losing skid to the Panthers (0-2).

Ashley finished the game running for 88 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns. He also completed 13-of-21 pass attempts for 152 yards and a score for Sand Rock (1-0).

Spring Garden scored first on Brady Ruark’s 21-yard touchdown run. Ruark ran in for the 2-point conversion, giving the Panthers an 8-0 advantage with 7:54 remaining in the first quarter.

Sand Rock answered just before the first quarter ended on Ashley’s 6-yard touchdown run. The extra point was no good, keeping Spring Garden in front 8-6.

Lucas McGatha extended the Panther lead on an 11-yard touchdown run. Ruark ran in another 2-point conversion to provide the Panthers a 16-6 advantage at halftime.

After a scoreless third quarter, Ryker Woodall caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Ashley with 8:07 remaining in the game. The point after was good, trimming Spring Garden’s lead to 16-13.

That set the stage for Ashley’s game-winning 2-yard score. The extra point was blocked by Brody Lemons.

Woodall led the Wildcat receivers with five catches for 63 yards and a touchdown. Brycen Murphy caught four passes for 47 yards. Lucas Brown added 45 yards on 11 carries.

J.T. Miller led Sand Rock’s defense with three tackles and four assists. Cooper Tucker tallied six assists with a tackle. Woodall finished with five assists.

Ruark ran for 73 yards on 11 carries with a score for Spring Garden. Ben Baker led the Panther ground game with 89 yards on nine totes.

Cayden Thompson tallied 12 tackles on defense for the Panthers. Baker made 10 stops. Bryant Williams managed nine tackles and a sack. Lemons accumulated eight tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery. McGatha finished with eight tackles.

Spring Garden hosts Appalachian to begin Class 1A, Region 8 play on Friday, Sept. 4. Sand Rock is also at home next Friday when it hosts Ider to begin Class 2A, Region 8 action.