GROVEPORT – It looked like Coshocton was turned into Co-Shocked-Time.

Monday, November 13, 2000

GROVEPORT – It looked like Coshocton was turned into Co-Shocked-Time.

Averaging 45 points a game and featuring two 1,000-yard rusher and a 1,000-yard passer, the Coshocton Redskins were looking to showcase their offense in Friday’s Division IV Region 15 semifinal playoff game.

But this time it was Ironton’s defense that applied the shocking stopper to the Coshocton offense as the Fighting Tigers came away with a 27-6 win.

"They’ve got a good offense and some skilled players, but our defense ain’t too shabby," Ironton coach Bob Lutz said. "We’ve been playing pretty good defense all season. We knew we’d be tested tonight (Friday) and we were up to the challenge."

Ironton held the Coshocton running game to just 153 yards on 31 carries, and 42 of those yards came at the end of each half when Ironton had loosened its defense.

Josh Harmon, Redgie Arden, and Drew Mains each victimized Coshocton quarterback Kyle Myers with an interceptions. Myers had thrown only three interceptions all season.

"(Coshocton) mixed it up and had a lot of different formations. We had a different plan and different assignments this week and we just executed it right," Harmon said.

Ironton, 10-1, dominated once again with its ground game behind the blocking of offensive linemen Eli Dalton, Mark Gleichauf, Kyle Hankins, Erique Bacon, Mark Mains, Chad Parker, Roman Fry, and Arden. The Fighting Tigers had 51 rushing attempts for 256 yards and finished with 281 total yards.

Fullback Matt Kelly was the workhorse with 26 carries for 130 yards – both career highs – and scored two touchdowns. Tyler Scior added 98 yards on 12 rushes and he had a touchdown.

"I got a little tired at the end, but I just kept pumping. I didn’t expect it going in, Not going it, but we had the tackles whipped. The line was blocking great," Kelly said. "I think we just outhit them."

The Fighting Tigers now play Licking Valley next Friday night in the Region 15 championship game, probably at Lancaster or Portsmouth. The winner will advance to the state semifinals to face the winner of Germantown Valley View and Cincinnati Wyoming.

Licking Valley waxed Utica 33-7 in the other Region 15 semifinal game.

"We just have to go play next week. We know what we have to do," Harmon said.

It took the Fighting Tigers some time to get started.

Ironton stopped a Coshocton drive at the 32 and then put together a 68-yard, 15-play drive capped by Kelly’s 1-yard touchdown run with 7:25 left in the half.

The Redskins used a 15-yard facemask penalty on Ironton and an 18-yard run by Davis to get to the 18-yard line. But Justin Moran’s 35-yard field goal attempt was wide right with 5:17 on the clock.

It didn’t take long for Ironton to get going the second half when Scior broke a 42-yard run on the first play to the Coshocton 11. But a penalty on fourth-and-1 at the 2 force Tommy Lutz to kick a 24-yard field goal that increased the lead to 10-0.

Three plays after the ensuing kickoff, Scior force Myers to run right and throw on the run. The result was an interception by the stretched-out Arden at the 42.

Arden then caught a 25-yard pass from Mains to the Coshocton 33. Four plays later Scior scooted 7 yards around left end and it was 17-0 at the 6:10 mark.

Scior had 97 of his rushing yards in the second half.

Coshocton, 11-1 and ranked second in the final Associated Press poll, put together its best offensive effort of the game by driving 80 yards in 12 plays for its only score.

A 9-yard pass to Stoney Nelson got the ball to the 30, and then Nelson made a one-handed diving reception at midfield on the next play.

Nine plays later Davis scored on a 7-yard run. A penalty moved the ball back on the conversion and the Redskins missed the attempt and it was 17-6 with 1:28 left.

Although the score seemed to give Coshocton new life, the Ironton offensive line sucked that life right out on the ensuing possession.

Ironton used another time-consuming drive that covered 57 yards in 15 plays. Although the drive stalled at the 4, Tommy Lutz kicked his second field goal of the game from 20 yards out and it was 20-7.

After a 20-yard pass from Myers to Nelson, Drew Mains picked off a pass and returned it 35 yards into Coshocton territory. A late hit moved the ball to the 32 and four plays later Kelly bolted 15 yards for his second touchdown of the game and it was 27-6.

"I think we frustrated them with our long drives. They weren’t used to not having the ball," coach Lutz said. "But we didn’t play as well as we could. We made some little mistakes that cost us. We should have had two more touchdowns and they never should have scored."

Davis finished the game with 94 yards on 12 carries for Coshocton. Fullback Ricky Ciccone did not play due to an illness.

Coshocton 0 0 6 0 – 6

Ironton 0 7 10 10 – 27

Second Quarter

Irn – Matt Kelly 1 run (Tommy Lutz kick) 7:25

Third Quarter

Irn – Tommy Lutz 24 FG 9:20

Irn – Tyler Scior 7 run (Tommy Lutz kick) 6:10

Csh – Bryan Davis 7 run ( kick failed) 1:28

Fourth Quarter

Irn – Tommy Lutz 20 FG 4:40

Irn – Matt Kelly 15 run (Tommy Lutz kick) 1:12

Csh Irn

First downs 15 14

Rushes-yards 31-153 51-256

Passing yards 101 25

Total yards 254 281

Sacked-yards lost 1-12 1-7

Passes 9-19-3 1-2-0

Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties-yards 6-57 6-62

Punts-average 1-35.0 2-28.0

Individual Leaders

RUSHING – Coshocton: Bryan Davis 12-94, Nick Corder 8-55, Stoney Nelson 9-14, Kyle Myers 2-minus 10. Ironton: Matt Kelly 26-130, Tyler Scior 12-98, Maurice Murphy 3-8, Josh Harmon 3-14, Drew Mains 7-6.

PASSING – Coshocton: Kyle Myers 9-18-3 101, Bryan Davis 0-1-0. Ironton: Drew Mains 1-2-0 25.

RECEIVING – Coshocton: Nick Corder 2-14, Ryan Forbes 2-20, Bryan Davis 1-7, Stoney Nelson 4-61. Ironton: Redge Arden 1-25.

MISSED FIELD GOAL: Coshocton, Justin Moran, 35 (WR).