LEXINGTON – Coming off last week’s big win over Mansfield Senior, the Ashland Arrows were focused on maintaining their momentum and not letting their guard down against a struggling Lexington team.

That focus propelled Ashland (7-1, 4-0) to a 33-0 halftime lead en route to a 40-0 win against the Minutemen in an Ohio Cardinal Conference contest.

“We definitely did not want to take this lightly,” Ashland quarterback Keagan Armitage said. “We wanted to practice the same way we have every week because you don’t want to underestimate your opponent.”

Lexington (1-7, 0-5) was playing without quarterback and defensive standout Cade Stover, who suffered a shoulder injury last week. Sophomore Alex Green got the call under center in Stover’s place Friday night.

“A great player like that, you never like to see hurt, but when he’s not playing it gives you a different look,” Ashland coach Scott Valentine said.

The Arrows struck first on the third play of the game when Armitage hit Kamrin Knowlton-Goings on the sideline. Knowlton-Goings eluded the Minutemen and made his way to the end zone for a 45-yard touchdown. Owen Reef kicked the extra point to put Ashland up 7-0.

Ashland fumbled on the Lexington 20 on the next drive and Bryke Williams had a 31-yard touchdown run wiped away by a holding penalty before Armitage dashed in from 10 yards out. Reef added another extra point to give the Arrows a 14-0 advantage.

Williams had a 39-yard touchdown dash called back to start Ashland’s next drive, which ended with a fumble in the end zone.

Landon Plank’s 60-yard punt return for a touchdown was called back by yet another penalty, but the Arrows didn’t let that stall their momentum. Five plays later, Reef scored from 22 yards out and added another extra point for a 21-0 edge.

Lexington put together its longest drive of the game – 11 plays – but it ended with an incomplete pass on fourth down from the 20.

Valentine’s squad then marched 80 yards in six plays, capped by a 5-yard touchdown pass to Mitch Heilman. Ashland struck quickly again on its next drive when Armitage found Manny Langston down the left sideline for a 43-yard touchdown.

Armitage added a 1-yard touchdown run on Ashland’s first drive of the second half, giving the Arrows a 40-0 lead and a running clock for the rest of the game.

Ashland’s defense held Lexington to 2 yards of total offense in the second half and just 123 for the game.

“We had to be prepared for whatever they were going to do and I thought our guys read their keys and attacked the ball,” Valentine said.

Armitage completed 11-of-13 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns. He added another 42 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Reef carried 10 times for 65 yards and a touchdown, and caught three passes for 53 yards. Bryke Williams carried five times for 57 yards and caught two passes for 53 yards. Langston caught two passes for 50 yards and a touchdown, and Knowlton-Goings added 81 yards and a score on two catches.

“We had some big plays but I feel bad for Bryke Williams. He had some big runs called back,” Valentine said. “But I liked the way we had multiple guys doing things. That’s what we like to do.”

Green accounted for most of the offense for Lexington, rushing 16 times for 81 yards and completing 6-of-17 passes for 43 yards.

Next week, Ashland hosts West Holmes and Lexington travels to Madison.