WHEELERSBURG - In this case, Ironton coach Bob Lutz hopes his Fighting Tigers don't learn any manners.

Ironton played selfish football Friday, controlling the ball for more than 32 minutes as it dominated the Wheelersburg Pirates 21-0.

The Fighting Tigers held the ball for 32:25 of the game's 48 minutes and ran 60 plays on the ground in gaining nearly triple the total yards of the Pirates.

"They were stunting and putting 10 men in the box (at the line of scrimmage) and we were able to pick them up and move the ball," Ironton coach Bob Lutz said.

And Ironton was able to move the ball without leading rusher Jared Murphy who carried just one play before leaving with an ankle injury he sustained Tuesday in practice.

Picking up the slack were Darius Lewis, who moved to fullback, and Marcus Williams. Lewis ran 27 times for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Williams had 100 yards on 20 carries and a score.

"We've got three good backs who all run hard, block well and can break tackles. With Murphy out, Lewis and Williams stepped it up," Lutz said.

Mistakes and missed blocks bogged down three scoring drives in the first half. Ironton drove to the Pirates 14-, 18- and 12-yard line only to come away empty.

"We said at the half if it was a close game, the better conditioned team would win," Lutz said. "We just kept pounding the ball at them and we wore them down."

The Pirates went three-and-out to start the second half and Ironton had the ball at its own 45.

Williams burst up the middle on a 9-yard run with 4:39 left in the third quarter to cap an 11-play drive - all on the ground - and it was 6-0.

"We didn't play with a lot of emotion the first half. We played hard, but the second half we were more emotional and more determined," Williams said.

Brandon Walker recovered a fumble at the Wheelersburg 36, but Ironton failed to score.

After another three-and-out, Ironton marched 67 yards in 10 plays for its second score. Lewis, who had a 20-yard run in the drive, did the scoring honors with a 3-yard run. Josh Adkins passed to Williams for the conversion and it was 14-0 with 6:19 to play.

Chad Miller picked off a Kaskey pass two plays later and Ironton was back in business at the Pirates 22. It took just five plays to score as Lewis bolted around right end from 3 yards out. Miller's kick set the final score.

"I like playing fullback. It's quicker and I like being the first back through instead of the second back," Lewis said. "But I have to give credit to the offensive line. They did a great job. Everything Marcus and I got was because of them."

Wheelersburg had just 60 total yards until its final possession. The Pirates then gained 71 yards and drove to the Ironton 1-yard line before quarterback Tom Kaskey fumbled the ball away with 48 seconds to play.

However, the offensive output was against the Ironton second team defense.

"We threw a 4-man front at them and we were able bottle up their running game and get pressure on the quarterback. We stayed at home and didn't get out of position to make plays," Lutz said. "The defense did a good job."

Ironton finished with 304 total yards including 285 on the ground.

Wheelersburg had 136 total yards with 111 coming on the ground. Brandon White ran five times for 46 yards and Kaskey was held in check with 45 yards on 12 attempts.

Pirates coach Tony Lewis said his team's defense was unable to sustain a "bend but don't break" approach.

"The defense stiffened quite a few times, but when you have that many opportunities inside the 50 with good backs and a good offensive line, you're going to punch it in," Lewis said.

It was the second straight season Ironton has used a big second half to beat the Pirates. Last year, Ironton trailed 10-0 at the break but rebounded to win 22-10.

"We didn't play with a lot of emotion the first half. We played hard, but the second half we were more emotional and more determined," Williams said.

Brandon Walker recovered a fumble at the Wheelersburg 36, but Ironton failed to score.

After another three-and-out, Ironton marched 67 yards in 10 plays for its second score. Lewis, who had a 20-yard run in the drive, did the scoring honors with a 3-yard run. Josh Adkins passed to Williams for the conversion and it was 14-0 with 6:19 to play.

Chad Miller picked off a Kaskey pass two plays later and Ironton was back in business at the Pirates 22. It took just five plays to score as Lewis bolted around right end from 3 yards out. Miller's kick set the final score.

"I like playing fullback. It's quicker and I like being the first back through instead of the second back," Lewis said. "But I have to give credit to the offensive line. They did a great job. Everything Marcus and I got was because of them."

Wheelersburg had just 60 total yards until its final possession. The Pirates then gained 71 yards and drove to the Ironton 1-yard line before quarterback Tom Kaskey fumbled the ball away with 48 seconds to play.

However, the offensive output was against the Ironton second team defense.

"We threw a 4-man front at them and we were able bottle up their running game and get pressure on the quarterback. We stayed at home and didn't get out of position to make plays," Lutz said. "The defense did a good job."

Ironton finished with 304 total yards including 285 on the ground.

Wheelersburg had 136 total yards with 111 coming on the ground. Brandon White ran five times for 46 yards and Kaskey was held in check with 45 yards on 12 attempts.

Pirates coach Tony Lewis said his team's defense was unable to sustain a "bend but don't break" approach.

"The defense stiffened quite a few times, but when you have that many opportunities inside the 50 with good backs and a good offensive line, you're going to punch it in," Lewis said.

It was the second straight season Ironton has used a big second half to beat the Pirates. Last year, Ironton trailed 10-0 at the break but rebounded to win 22-10.

The Fighting Tigers have now won four straight over the Pirates and lead the series 11-3.