Ashley does it all for Zebras

Pine Bluff running back Walter Ashley has 2,431 yards and 24 touchdowns rushing, 887 yards and 12 touchdowns receiving, 748 yards and 4 touchdowns on punt returns and 950 yards and 1 touchdown on kickoff returns in his high school career.
Pine Bluff running back Walter Ashley has 2,431 yards and 24 touchdowns rushing, 887 yards and 12 touchdowns receiving, 748 yards and 4 touchdowns on punt returns and 950 yards and 1 touchdown on kickoff returns in his high school career.

— Greenwood has Drew Morgan, but Pine Bluff has Walter Ashley.

That’s good enough for Zebras Coach Bobby Bolding.

“He’s had a great career here,” Bolding said. “He’s done it in two completely different offenses. We throw it to him, pitch it to him, hand it to him, let people kick it to him and try to block for him.”

Ashley, who has 5,016 career all-purpose yards, will play his final high school game in Saturday afternoon’s Class 6A final against Greenwood at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

The Bulldogs (13-0) have won 37 consecutive games, with Morgan a major cog in the seventh-longest winning streak in Arkansas high school history.

Morgan has caught 170 passes for 2,468 yards and 37 touchdowns and rushed 165 times for 1,335 yards and 27 touchdowns over the past three years. He’s also scored on kickoff and punt returns.

Ashley, 5-8, 175 pounds, has career numbers that are equally robust.

He has 2,431 yards and 24 touchdowns rushing, 887 yards and 12 touchdowns receiving, 748 yards and 4 touchdowns on punt returns and 950 yards and 1 touchdown on kickoff returns.

Greenwood Coach Rick Jones said containing Ashley will be a priority Saturday.

“No. 5 is a huge problem,” Jones said, referring to Ashley. “He’s elusive, he’s strong and fast. Guys like that, you have to keep those guys in front of you. When you run behind an offensive line as big and physical as they are, there are issues, no doubt about it.”

Ashley has already made life difficult for another 7A/6A-Central opponent this fall.

In the Aug. 31 season opener at Fort Smith Northside, Ashley had 465 yards rushing, receiving and on returns, and scored four touchdowns, in a 53-27 victory.

Ashley rushed 16 times for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns (4 and 12 yards), caught 4 passes for 144 yards and 1 touchdown (62 yards), returned 3 kickoffs for 134 yards and 1 touchdown (87 yards), and returned 2 punts for 83 yards.

Bolding said it was the type of performance he expects from Ashley, adding the goal each week is at least 300 all-purpose yards.

“He can do so many things, and intelligent enough to learn it all,” Bolding said.

Bolding said Ashley was used mostly as a slotback as a sophomore and junior, when the Zebras were a double-slot option team.

Pine Bluff (12-1) is stronger in the skill areas this fall, Bolding said, leading to more of a “Spread” look.

Ashley lines up “all over the place,” including tailback and wide receiver, Bolding said.

Bolding said Ashley doesn’t possess exceptional speed, but isn’t often caught from behind often.

“What he can do is make a cut on the dime and not slow down, and make somebody miss without slowing down,” Bolding said.

“When he’s north and south doing that, he’s extremely dangerous.”

Morgan orally committed over the summer to Arkansas State, but Bolding said Ashley isn’t being heavily recruited at the moment.

“He’s going to leave high school with over 5,000 allpurpose yards, and he’s got the academics,” Bolding said.

“I sure hope he gets a chance.”

Sports, Pages 27 on 11/30/2012

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