Every game this season the Ashland Tomcats have exploded, and the debris they’ve left behind is a landscape of points.

Ashland’s offense has all ready rolled up 185 points, an average of more than 46 a game. What makes the offense even scarier is the fact the Tomcats don’t rely on any single player.

That explosive offense will create a major challenge for the Ironton Fighting Tigers who host the unbeaten Tomcats Friday in the 75th game of the interstate rivalry.

“They’ve got a lot of weapons and they can score about any way you can imagine,” said Ironton coach Bob Lutz. “They’ve got a great passing game, but they run the ball really well. They put a lot of pressure on your defense.”

The key weapon is 6-foot, 175-pound junior quarterback Sam Hunter.

“He’s a heck of an athlete. He hurt us last year and he’s better this time around,” said Lutz.

Last week in a 61-7 rout of Russell, Ashland (4-0) rolled up 520 yards offense with Hunter throwing four touchdown passes on 11-of-14 for 202 yards. Two of his incomplete passes were drops.

Trey Rogers ran 12 times for 133 of Ashland’s 318 yards. The Tomcats scored on all eight possessions.

Ironton (3-0) only beat Russell the previous week 29-13.

“We’ve got a heck of a challenge in front of us,” said Lutz.

Hunter corps of receivers includes Ryan Whetsel (6-0, 185), Cody Withrow (6-3, 170) and tight end Andrew Nunley (6-1, 190).

John Stafford (5-9, 170) and Trey Rogers (5-10, 170) are the running backs.

Up front is C.J. Suttles (6-1, 235) at center, David Kureger (6-3, 250) and Slater Swift (5-11, 180) at the guards and Trent Hardy (6-3, 235) and R.J. Johnson (6-1, 220) at the tackles.

While much of the attention focuses on the Ashland offense, Lutz said the defense is rapidly improving. The Tomcats only allowed Russell 140 yards offense and they’ve only given up 16 points per game.

“They’re quick and aggressive. They swarm the ball,” said Lutz. “They can put pressure on you with their defensive line and they have a lot of experience in the secondary. Their linebackers really clean things up.”

Hardy at tackle and Stafford at end spearhead the defensive line.

The other tackle is Johnson with Corey Gregg (6-3, 220) at end. The down guards are Shane Davidson (5-10, 235) and Krueger.

The linebackers are Shane Justice (6-0, 200) and Swift while the secondary is comprised of corners Logan Salow (5-9, 155) and Matt McLeod (5-11, 170) and Whetsel at safety

Ashland is ranked seventh in the Class 5-A poll.