The Gallipolis Blue Devils are coming to town.

Tuesday, September 05, 2000

The Gallipolis Blue Devils are coming to town. And they’re coming rather quickly.

It seems everything the Blue Devils do is in fast-forward, and that speed and quickness becomes a major concern for the unbeaten Ironton Fighting Tigers and head coach Bob Lutz.

Gallipolis, 2-0, has several key players back from last year’s 10-3 team that reached the Division III regional finals. One is fullback Ike Simmons, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound senior who is listed among the top players in the state.

"This is one of the quickest teams we’ll face," Lutz said. "They’re not real big, but they have excellent team speed and quickness. They’re got three or four backs and three or four receivers who can all run well."

Simmons ran for 97 yards and three touchdowns in a 40-6 win last week against Coal Grove. Allen Skinner finished with 92 yards and a long touchdown run, and Tony Moore returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown.

"Simmons and (halfback Bobby) Jones and Skinner can all go coast-to-coast in a hurry, and Moore is a dangerous return man. He ran back a punt for a touchdown in each of their two games," Lutz said.

Moore returned a punt for a touchdown in an 18-6 season-opening win over Meigs.

The Blue Devils lost quarterback and kicker Jeremy Payton to graduation, but junior David Brodeur (5-9, 160) is an ample replacement running the offense. All-around standout Jon Lawhorn punts 40-plus yards a kick, and Clayton Saunders has a strong leg as the placekicker.

"Brodeur is another guy with good speed. He likes to get outside and put pressure on your corners with the threat of running or passing," Lutz said. "And their kicking game is solid all the way around."

The Blue Devils defense is small with 215-pound J. T. Spencer-Howell and 210-pound Clayton Wood the biggest players at tackle.

"They aren’t real big, but they are quick and come off their blocks well. We have to sustain our blocks. They swarm to the football and their linebackers are very active," Lutz said.

Nick Merola (5-11, 185) and Clarke Saunders (6-0, 185) are the linebackers. Nick Reed (5-6, 165) is the nose guard with Nathan Kiskis (6-3, 185) and Skinner (6-1, 175) the ends. Lawhorn (5-11, 160) is the strong safety, Jones the free safety, and Justin North (5-9, 160) and Joel Elliott (5-7, 140) the safeties.