By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

The Ironton offense was imitating a whirlwind while the defense did an imitation of a brick wall.

Ironton scored 42 points in the first half including 35 in the first quarter while running only 9 plays and the defense held the Gallipolis Blue Devils to 99 total yards of offense in the Fighting Tigers 49-10 romp on Friday night.

The Fighting Tigers returned 2 punts for touchdowns, had a long pass for a score and another loss pass set up a short scoring run, and got an interception return for a score — all in the first quarter as they easily beat the winless Blue Devils.

“Everyone stayed focused and did what they needed to do,” said Ironton coach Trevon Pendleton. “We had a very good week of practice. Our kids understand that the most important game is the next one. We need to move on and focus on Portsmouth.”

The win means the Ironton seniors lost at Tanks Memorial Stadium just once during their careers. The group were freshmen when Ironton lost 25-7 to Cincinnati Moeller in 2021.

This season the Fighting Tigers lost a home game against Canada’s Clarkson North 28-27 but the game was played at Green High School due to weather damage at Tanks Memorial Stadium.

“This is a special group. They work endlessly, They have a great attitude and have given a great effort and done everything we’ve asked,” said Pendleton.

“To play as many games as we’ve played and to play as many regular season games and home playoff games and to only have one regular season loss is special.”

Ironton (8-1) didn’t take long to break the scoreless tie as Gallipolis went 3-and-out and Shaun Terry returned the punt 61 yards for the touchdown just 10:02 into the game.

David Fields kicked the first of 5 extra points and it was 7-0.

The Blue Devils fumbled the kickoff and Brycen Mullins recovered at the 20-yard line. After an incomplete pass, Schreck and Braydon Baker combined on a 20-yard pop pass for the touchdown at it was 14-0 with 9:43 on the clock.

On the third play of Gallipolis’ next possession, Mullins picked off a pass and returned the ball 21 yards for the touchdown. Fields’ kick made it 21-0 at the 9:16 mark.

The Pick-6 was the third this season for Mullins.

Forcing another 3-and-out, Ironton got the ball at its own 30-yard line. Zayne Williams ran for 2 yards and then Schreck hit Terry in stride for a 61-yard pass play down to the Gallipolils 7.

Williams scored on the next play and Fields’ kick pushed the lead to 28-0 with 6:35 on the clock.

A third Gallipolis punt was a line drive that went just 8 yards and Josh Johnson grabbed the ball and returned it 36 yards for the touchdown with 4:41 left in the quarter. Fields made it 35-0.

The final touchdown of the quarter came on a 48-yard pass from Schreck to Terry and it was 42-0 following Beckham Waginger’s conversion kick.

Gallipolis (0-9) got on the scoreboard against Ironton’s second kickoff team as Enoch Patterson returned the kick 86 yards for a touchdown with 10:20 left in the half. Cory Mock kicked the conversion and it was 43-7

But Ironton answered in just 2 plays as Schreck hit Tyler Roach for 13 yards and then Tyler Carmon ran through the defense and down the sideline for a 57-yard scoring run.

Waginger’s kick made it 49-7 with 6:57 on the clock.

Ironton had 278 total yards with 142 passing as Schreck hit on all 4 of his passes with 2 going for touchdowns. The Fighting Tigers had 136 yards rushing led by Carmon with 57 yards on the one carry.

Terry had 108 yards receiving on just 2 catches and scored once.

Ironton closes out the regular season at rival Portsmouth next Friday before returning home the following week for the first round of the Division 5 playoffs.

Gallipolis will host South Point next Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Gallipolis    0 7 0 3 = 10

Ironton     42 7 0 0 = 49

First Quarter

Irn — Shaun Terry 61 (David Fields kick) 10:02

Irn — Braydon Baker 20 pass from Braden Schreck (David Fields kick) 9:43

Irn — Brycen.Mullins 21 interception return (David Fields kick) 2:16

Irn — Zayne Williams 7 run (David Fields kick) 6:35

Irn — Josh Johnson 36 punt return (David Fields kick) 4;41

Irn — Shaun Terry 48 pass from Braden Schreck (Beckham Waginger kick) 0:00

Second Quarter

Ga — Enoch Patterson 86 kickoff return (Cory Mock kick) 10:20

Irn — Tyler Carmon 57 run (Beckham Waginger kick) 6:57

Fourth Quarter

Ga – Cory Mock 26 field goal

———

Ga Irn

First downs 4 7

Rushes-yards 11-41 12-136

Passing yards 58 142

Total yards 99 278

Cmp-Att-Int 6-16-1 4-5-0

Fumbles-lost 2-2 1-1

Penalties-yards 1-5 2-15

Punts-average 4-26.85 1-43.0

Individual Leaders

RUSHING–Gallipolis: Braylon Rathburn 2-38, Parker Burris 5-3, Enoch Patterson 3-1, Wyatt Warren 1-minus 1; Ironton: Tyler Carmon 1-57 TD, Zayne Williams 2-9 TD, Brycen Mullins 1-35, Tyson Harvey 2-8, Braiden Linn 1-6, Brian “Bubby” Kidd 1-10, Barkley Litton 3-12, Team 1-minus 1.

PASSING–Gallipolis: Braydon Rathburn 6-16-1 58; Ironton: Braden Schreck 4-4-0 142 2-TD, Nick Sites 0-1-0.

RECEIVING–Gallipolis: Parker Burris 2-44, Chris Hines 1-8, Enock Patterson 2-minus 3, Wyatt Warren 1-9; Ironton: Shaun Terry 2-109 TD, Braydon Baker 1-20 TD, Tyler Roach 1-13.

MISSED FIELD GOALS–None.