Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

ASHLAND, Ky. — That strong wind wasn’t part of a storm. It was the air being let out of the Ironton Fighting Tigers.

Down 14-0 to begin the second half, Ironton took the kickoff and used nine minutes to drive 61 yards in 15 plays. But a fourth-and-5 play was stopped for a 1-yard gain and frustration set in.

Ashland (4-0) took advantage of the deflated Fighting Tigers to score four second half touchdowns — three on long runs — as the Tomcats posted a 41-0 win Friday night.

Quinton Baker proved to be a one-man offense for Ashland with 21 carries for 263 yards and four touchdowns on runs of 5, 37, 85 and 51 yards. The rest of the offense managed just 17 yards until the backups took over and had 93 yards.

“We just didn’t contain Baker. That pretty much sums it up,” said Ironton coach Mark Vass.

“There were a couple of times it looked like we had him stopped and he broke out of there. We moved the ball pretty decent, but we couldn’t finish our drives and then Baker’s big runs made it even tougher to come back.”

Ironton (0-4) could only generate 126 net yards rushing led by Desmond Young with 90 yards on 14 carries.

The Fighting Tigers have had trouble finishing drives in previous games. Part of the problem is due to injuries, mainly last year’s leading rusher D’Angelo Palladino who again played sparingly due to a nagging injury.

The teams traded turnovers and then punts to start the game. Ironton was backed up at it own 10-yard line and a 28-yard punt enabled Ashland to get the ball at the Ironton 32.

Four plays later Baker went 5 yards for a touchdown and Hunter Gullett’s kick made it 7-0.

Ironton drove into Ashland territory but a fourth down pass was intercepted and the Tomcats were at the Fighting Tigers’ 44. Three plays later Baker got loose on a 37-yard scoring run and it was 14-0.

The Fighting Tigers fumbled at their own 22 and a penalty put the ball at the 11. But the defense stopped the Tomcats and the two teams sparred the rest of the half as neither threatened.

Ironton then came out to start the second half with its time-consuming drive only to come up empty.

Ashland took over and on third-and-1, Baker went 85 yards for the score and it was 21-0 at the 1:54 mark.

Although Ashland had an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at the end of the touchdown, the extra 15 yards on the penalty didn’t help and Ironton was forced to punt.

A short punt gave Ashland the ball at its own 49 and Baker went the distance on the first play to make it 27-0.

Ashland got two fourth quarter touchdowns on a 55-yard jaunt by Noah Roberts and a 4-yard run by Brad Hall.

Ironton opens Ohio Valley Conference play at home next Friday at 7 p.m. against Portsmouth.

Ironton 0 0 0 0 = 0

Ashland 7 7 13 14 = 41

First Quarter

Ash — Quinton Baker 5 run (Hunter Gullett kick) 0:55

Second Quarter

Ash — Quinton Baker 37 run (Hunter Gullett kick) 7:08

Third Quarter

Ash — Quinton Baker 85 run (Hunter Gullett kick) 1:54

Ash — Quinton Baker 51 run (kick blocked) 0:00

Fourth Quarter

Ash — Noah Roberts 55 run (Hunter Gullett kick) 7:12

Ash — Brad Hall 4 run (Hunter Gullett kick) 3:12

——

Irn Ash

First downs 10 10

Rushes-yards 47-126 33-384

Passing yards 4 2

Total yards 130 386

Cmp-Att-Int 1-9-2 1-5-0

Fumbles-lost 3-1 1-1

Penalties-yards 2-21 7-50

Punts-average 5-30.4 2-34.0

——

Individual Leaders

RUSHING —Ironton: Desmond Young 14-90, D’Angelo Palladino 11-25, Andrew Barker 6-19, Garrett Carrico 3-6, Ethan Duncan 2-8, Travis Gayhart 1-0, Jaxson Pleasant 1-0, Ty Gunther 1-minus 7, Jake Isaac 8-minus 15; Ashland: Quinton Baker 21-263 4-TDs, Noah Roberts 4-63 TD, Kurtlen Brown 2-17, Aroc Coburn 1-11, Tate Dowdy 1-12, Connor Fannin 1-8, Marcus Daniels 1-7, Brad Hall 1-4 TD, Braxton Ratliff 1-minus 9.

PASSING — Ironton: Jake Isaac 1-9-2 4; Ashland: Tate Dowdy 1-3-0 2, Braxton Ratliff 0-2-0.

RECEIVING — Ironton: Lucas Campbell 1-4; Ashland: Noah Roberts 1-2.