Meleski’s 3 TDs lift Ashland
Blows out Bellingham in crossover contest
ASHLAND 42 BELLINGHAM 14
ASHLAND — With four nonleague victories in the bank to start the season, the Ashland football team appears ready for a run at their third consecutive TriValley League Large title.
The Clockers were calibrated perfectly on Friday night against defending TVL Small champion Bellingham in a crossover contest as senior Andrew Meleski ran for 190 yards and three touchdowns on just 11 carries as Ashland cruised to a 42-14 victory.
“We were just more physical up front,” said Meleski. “We got the run game going and that opened up the pass game and everything. We definitely like to set the tone up front and run the ball hard.”
Ashland put things away early, finding the end zone on four straight possessions in the first half and then again on its initial possession after the break to build a 35-0 lead, pulling its starters midway through the third quarter.
The Clockers didn’t need to throw much, but when they did they were effective as Luke Herter was 3-for-4 for 114 yards and two scores. He hit Jake Troutman on a short pass for his first completion and Troutman got one block and was gone down the sideline, needing to make just the last man miss at the goal line for a 61-yard TD and a 7-0 lead.
Meleski then took over, scoring on the next three drives. He busted an 85yarder right up the gut for his first, then capped longer Clocker marches with runs of 11 and 2 yards to give the hosts a 28-0 edge at halftime.
The Clockers held Bellingham to 35 yards from scrimmage in the first half, 33 of which came on its final drive that stalled at the Ashland 37, sacking reigning TVL Small MVP Gavin Elder four times.
Bellingham (2-2) recovered an onside kick to begin the second half but Elder was intercepted on the first play and Ashland cashed in with a 19-yard TD pass from Herter to Matt Gillis.
Elder and top receiver Calvin Polchlopek made some noise against the second stringers with deep touchdown connections of 38 and 40 yards. Elder finished with 161 yards passing, 134 of them to Polchlopek on eight catches.
Ashland now enters the TVL Large portion of its schedule, starting with a Holliston squad it shared the crown with in Fall II along with Norwood.
“We definitely want to win a third year in a row,” said Meleski.
“It’s a big one against Holliston. We have to keep playing physical and playing hard and have a great week of practice.”