Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

It started with the offensive line and ended with the defensive line.

Bishop Watterson’s offensive line started the game with a scoring drive and the defensive line helped shut down two early Ironton scoring threats as the Eagles beat the Fighting Tigers 42-8 on Friday at Tanks Memorial Stadium.

“It’s up front where it all starts. Across the front they are sound. They dominated up front,” said Ironton coach Mark Vass.

The Div. III power with Div. I talent racked up 391 yards on the ground and added another 64 through the air for 455 total yards.

Ironton (5-2) was limited to 64 yards on the ground while quarterbacks Tanner Dutey and Tristan Cox combined to go 9 of 16 for 115 yards.

Watterson went 70 yards in seven plays with the opening kickoff as quarterback Andy Elberson kept on a 10-yard run for a 7-0 lead.

Ironton moved from its own 27 to the Watterson 47 before a sack on third down forced the Fighting Tigers to punt.

It took the Eagles six plays to score again as Walter Green ran 1-yard for the touchdown. Elberson had a big 36-yard run to key the drive.

Ironton came right back with a drive to the Watterson 27 sparked by a 36-yard Dutey to Dion Brown pass.

Patrick Lewis ran 27 yards for a touchdown but the play was called back due to a holding penalty and the drive stalled at the 25.

Watterson took nine plays to cover the distance with Elberson running 17 yards for the touchdown. Michael Harper’s third PAT gave the Eagles a 21-0 lead with 5:06 on the clock.

Ironton got to the Watterson 44 before having to punt, but the Eagles coughed up the ball attempting to field the kick and Ironton recovered at the 13.

However, two plays netted 2 yards and an incomplete pass led to fourth down where Dutey was sacked for an 8-yar loss.

“If we score a couple of early ones, you don’t know what happens,” said Vass. “But they’re a helluva good ball club. They’re very solid all the way across.”

The Fighting Tigers felt they were still in the game to begin the second half, but on the second play Mike Vlahakis scooped up a bad option pitch and ran 30 yards for a touchdown and a 28-0 lead.

But Ironton wouldn’t quit.

The Fighting Tigers went on a 76-yard, 12-play drive that culminated on Tanner Schweickart’s 2-yard scoring run. Lewis ran for the conversion and it was 28-8.

The key play in the drive was a 41-yard pass from Cox to Aaron Stephens.

But the defense was unable to get a stop as Watterson answered with a 66-yard, 5-play drive. Green carried four of the five plays including the final 2 yards for the score and a 35-8 lead.

Ironton hosts Bishop Hartley next Friday.

Watterson 14 7 21 0 = 42

Ironton 0 0 8 0 = 8

First Quarter

Wa — Andy Elberson 10 run (Michael Harper kick) 9:29

Wa — Walter Green 1 run (Michael Harper kick) 2:43

Second Quarter

Wa — Andy Elberson 17 run (Michael Harper kick) 5:06

Third Quarter

Wa — Mike Vlahakis 30 fumble return (Michael Harper kick) 11:11

Irn — Tanner Schweickart 2 run (Patrick Lewis run) 6:34

Wa — Walter Green 2 run (Michael Harper kick) 4:48

Wa — Walter Green 4 run (Michael Harper kick) 1:34

Team Statistics

First downs 21 6

Rushes-yards 41-391 36-64

Passing yards 64 115

Total yards 455 179

Cmp-Att-Int 4-6-0 9-16-0

Fumbles-lost 3-2 1-1

Penalties-yards 6-52 3-20

Punts-average 0-00.0 3-31.7

Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Watterson: Walter Green 11-110, DeAndre Golden 7-55, Ben Kaminski 7-36, Andy Elberson 3-66, Jacob Graham 4-14, Cody Calhoun 6-53, Evan Woosley 2-14, Chris Farhat 2-11, Patrick Pirrman 1-1, Sam Maglicic 1-2, Ben Kaminski 7-29; Ironton: Patrick Lewis 11-37, Trevor White 7-15, Tanner Schweickart 3-3, Tanner Dutey 3-minus 3, Tristan Cox 6-3, Dion Brown 1-2, Matt Thomas 3-1, Jeremy Bodmer 1-4.

PASSING—Watterson: Andy Elberson 4-6-0 64; Ironton: Tanner Duty 4-6-0 49, Tristan Cox 5-10-0 66.

RECEIVING—Mike Vlahaki 1-34, Alec Greene 1-34, Ryan Urquhast 12-5; Ironton: Aaron Stephens 3-52, Trevor White 2-20, Dion Brown 1-36, Patrick Lewis 2-10, Tanner Schweickart 1-minus 3.

MISSING FIELD GOALS: None.