By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

The only thing the Ironton Fighting Tigers can expect this week is the unexpected.

Ironton coach Bob Lutz said the Chillicothe Cavaliers are a team that force teams to prepare for almost everything.

“They have a quarterback who can run and one who can pass. They have run formations but they will spread you out,” said Lutz.

“Defensively, they usually play a straight 5-2 except against us. They’ll play different fronts and stunt from anywhere. In the secondary they will play about every coverage there is you can play. They’re a hard team to read.”

The Cavaliers are 0-2 with tough losses to Hamilton Township, 27-23, and Big Walnut, 38-22.

“They’ve been the victim of some big plays,” said Lutz. “They had a bad snap on a punt that allowed Big Walnut a touchdown, and they had punts returned from touchdowns in both games. They could easily be 2-0.”

The offense is led by fullback Tim Beard (6-foot, 165 pounds), tailback Julius Lee (5-11, 135) and the quarterback tandem of Luke Barnes (5-10, 155) and Ryan Mathis (6-0, 165).

“Their fullback and tailback both run hard and they have good speed,” said Lutz. “(Barnes) is quick and can run. He’s a lot like the Russell quarterback. (Mathis) has a pretty good arm and he throws the ball well.”

On the receiving end of the passes are a pair of fast and athletic players in Jalen Jones (5-11, 165) and Corey Wagner (5-8, 140).

The offensive line had big George Beverly (6-4, 305) at center, Jalen Mischal (5-10,185) and Ryan Millikin (5-9,165) at the guard, Tyler Roe (6-3, 255) and Josh Leonard (6-3, 240) at the tackles while Donald Turley (6-2, 155) and Marcus Dunn (6-1, 170) share the tight end job.

Zach Johnson (6-3, 180) is the flanker.

Chillicothe’s defense relies on its speed and quickness led by Dunn and Johnson at inside linebacker.

Roe is the nose guard, Tyler Howard (5-11, 240) and Nick Knisel (5-9, 215) the tackles, and Stefan Hinty (5-8, 170) and Caylib Holt (5-11, 170) the ends.

Milikan and Adam Bixler (6-0, 150) are the corners with Turley the strong safety and Jones the free safety.

Ironton (2-0) won last year’s meeting 24-6.

“They have a quarterback who can run and one who can pass. They have run formations but they will spread you out,” said Lutz.

“Defensively, they usually play a straight 5-2 except against us. They’ll play different fronts and stunt from anywhere. In the secondary they will play about every coverage there is you can play. They’re a hard team to read.”

The Cavaliers are 0-2 with tough losses to Hamilton Township, 27-23, and Big Walnut, 38-22.

“They’ve been the victim of some big plays,” said Lutz. “They had a bad snap on a punt that allowed Big Walnut a touchdown, and they had punts returned from touchdowns in both games. They could easily be 2-0.”

The offense is led by fullback Tim Beard (6-foot, 165 pounds), tailback Julius Lee (5-11, 135) and the quarterback tandem of Luke Barnes (5-10, 155) and Ryan Mathis (6-0, 165).

“Their fullback and tailback both run hard and they have good speed,” said Lutz. “(Barnes) is quick and can run. He’s a lot like the Russell quarterback. (Mathis) has a pretty good arm and he throws the ball well.”

On the receiving end of the passes are a pair of fast and athletic players in Jalen Jones (5-11, 165) and Corey Wagner (5-8, 140).

The offensive line had big George Beverly (6-4, 305) at center, Jalen Mischal (5-10,185) and Ryan Millikin (5-9,165) at the guard, Tyler Roe (6-3, 255) and Josh Leonard (6-3, 240) at the tackles while Donald Turley (6-2, 155) and Marcus Dunn (6-1, 170) share the tight end job.

Zach Johnson (6-3, 180) is the flanker.

Chillicothe’s defense relies on its speed and quickness led by Dunn and Johnson at inside linebacker.

Roe is the nose guard, Tyler Howard (5-11, 240) and Nick Knisel (5-9, 215) the tackles, and Stefan Hinty (5-8, 170) and Caylib Holt (5-11, 170) the ends.

Milikan and Adam Bixler (6-0, 150) are the corners with Turley the strong safety and Jones the free safety.

Ironton (2-0) won last year’s meeting 24-6.