Ashford beats Rehobeth

ASHFORD — With Thursday night’s game having no bearing on the playoffs for the Yellow Jackets, Ashford head coach Chip Harris was eager to see if his team was motivated to play the regular season finale.

It took just a few minutes for the Jackets to ease Harris’ concerns. Ashford jumped out to a 21-0 first half lead and took advantage of four Rehobeth turnovers — all in Ashford territory — en route to a 28-15 win.

Ashford finishes the regular season 6-4 and will travel to either Jackson or UMS Wright next Friday in the first round of the AHSAA Class 4A playoffs. Rehobeth finishes the season 3-7.

“I was a little concerned about our motivation, but you would think with a county rivalry and a lot at stake there, our team would play hard, and we did,” Harris said.

It took just more than four minutes for Ashford to gain a lead it would never relinquish. A Heath McCray recovery of a fumbled punt set up Ashford inside the Rehobeth 5. From there, Ladavion Williams carried in from four yards out for a 7-0 lead.

Rehobeth attempted to establish the running game with Darius Streeter, but the mistake-prone Rebels couldn’t find an offensive rhythm.

Quarterback Madison Williams was able to find Dallas Snell for a couple of nice completions, but he managed only one consistent drive during the half.
Meanwhile, Ashford made it 14-0 on a 22-yard reverse run by Mike Ray early in the second quarter to make it 14-0, then made it 21-0 on the next drive when quarterback James Gardner connected with Malvin Anderson for a 7-yard touchdown pass. Ashford outgained Rehobeth 159-91 in the first half.

After an uneventful third quarter, the Rebels’ offense awakened in the fourth. Williams scored on a 9-yard touchdown run early in the period to make it 21-7. Rehobeth held Ashford on the next possession and drove down the field again, thanks in part to a 55-yard reception by Snell.

However, Rehobeth fumbled inside the Ashford 5, and Gardner recovered to end a threat.

The Rebels did pick up two points a few plays later when the Jackets were smothered in the end zone. The safety came two plays after a 95-yard Anderson run was negated by a holding penalty.

Another Rehobeth fumble was recovered by McCray on the Rebels’ next drive, and the Jackets put the game away on a 41-yard burst by Anderson to make it 28-9.

Rehobeth scored with 21 seconds left on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Williams to William Skipper.

“The first half was about as good of a half as we have played all year,” Harris said. “We held on in the second half, and our guys had enough composure to finish the deal.”