By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

The first round is over. That means everyone travels.

Some just not as far as others.

The Ironton Fighting Tigers are back on the road while the Symmes Valley Vikings leave their homefield for the final time as they move on to the second round of the Ohio High School Athletic Association football playoffs.

Ironton (7-4) traveled to Amanda-Clearcreek last week and came away with a 12-9 win over the Aces in the Division IV playoffs. The Fighting Tigers face the only unbeaten team in Region 15 at 7 p.m. on Saturday when they play Johnstown-Monroe (11-0) at Hamilton Township High School.

Ironton is facing a 112-mile, two and a half hour trip while Johnnies’ fan will travel 36 miles in about 45 minutes.

The other Region 15 semifinal game has Coshocton (9-2) facing St. Clairsville (10-1) at Zanesville.

Symmes Valley (10-1) will play the Beallsville Blue Devils (9-2) at Athens High School in a Division VI Region 23 semifinal game at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The Vikings will be making about a 70-mile trip that will take about an hour and 40 minutes. Beallsville will go about 100 miles and take approximately two hours and 20 minutes.

The other Region 23 semifinal gamehas New Washington Buckeye Central (9-2) playing Zanesville Bishop Rosecrans (7-4) at Westerville Central High School.