Tyler Harris, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
PORTSMOUTH — The Ironton Tigers have been on a mission from the beginning of the season.
CREDIT: Baylee Harris/SOSA
And while that mission didn’t reach its end on Friday, Ironton was able to check off a pit stop.
The Tigers drubbed OVC rival Portsmouth on Friday by a score of 42-7, and the game wasn’t as close as the score — when your second play from scrimmage is a 31-yard one-handed grab from Ty Perkins, you know you’re off to a good start.
That play set the tone for the rest of the game and Ironton’s senior leaders left no doubt as they led their team to an outright Ohio Valley Conference title.
“These guys have been in the program since they were in eighth grade now,” Ironton coach Trevon Pendleton said of his senior class. “They’re extremely resilient and they have definitely bought into what we are trying to do. We say that there is only one way to be all in, and they are all in.”
Ironton (10-0, 6-0 OVC) scored first on a five-yard touchdown pass from Tayden Carpenter to Landen Wilson — and just four plays in, the rout was on.
While the Trojans (6-4, 4-2 OVC) appeared to have a response to the opening score, a fourth down from the Tigers’ 25-yard line resulted in an interception. That turnover set up the Tigers’ second scoring drive from their own eight-yard line. Ironton went 92 yards on just seven plays, a drive that was capped by a nice leaping grab from Perkins from 23 yards out to move the score to 14-0 at the start of the second quarter.
The teams then traded three-and-outs before turnovers reared their ugly head for the Trojans.
A strip sack and a dazzling interception from CJ Martin set up the Tigers’ next two scores, another 23-yard catch from Perkins and an 11-yard catch and run from Braden Schreck, which put Ironton ahead 28-0 at the break.
“Teams have been loading the box against us lately to stop the run lately,” Pendleton said,”We’re aware of that and Tayden [Carpenter] is just such a good leader for our team. He has been around this program and does a great job reading defenses and knows how to take what they give him.”
Call it what you want, but it was clear that Carpenter was taking not just what was given. He took whatever he wanted on his way to six — yes, you read that correctly, six — touchdown tosses.
Carpenter scored once in the third and fourth quarters, finding Landen Wilson for a four-yard score and then delivering an absolute bomb to Aiden Young for a 50-yard strike to cap off the night.
The Trojans did finally get on the board early in the fourth when Brenden Truett bulldozed his way into the end zone from 10 yards out. It was only the second time the Trojans found their way into the red zone all night long, and that was a testament to a Tiger defense that has been dominant all year long.
“We tell our kids to play with aggression and discipline on the defensive side,” Pendleton said of his team’s defensive efforts. “Our scheme fits that. We have a great staff who do a great job of making sure our kids are ready every Friday night.”
The win marks Ironton’s fourth straight outright OVC championship and ends an undefeated career in league play for the team’s senior class.
But while they’re thrilled with a conference title, they’re not done yet.
Pendleton said his message to his team going forward is simple. “Win or go home.”
The Tigers were led by Carpenter, who finished 13-of-16 through the air for 187 yards and six touchdowns while racking up 46 rushing yards. Perkins was the favorite target, snagging five balls for 97 yards and two scores, and Wilson had two receiving touchdowns while Young hauled in two passes for a tidy 56 yards and a score.
For the Trojans, Tyler Duncan finished the game 20-of-30 passing for 146 yards. Chase and Nolan Heiland caught five passes for 56 yards and six balls for 31 yards, respectively.
In Week 11, unofficially, Ironton is the top seed in Division V, Region 19 and will host Minford. Meanwhile, Portsmouth goes to Union Local.
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