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PROCTORVILLE — With postseason positioning looming large over Friday’s matchup between Ironton and Fairland, the atmosphere certainly had a playoff-esque feel.
However, by the end of the night, the Fighting Tigers had shifted the narrative to just how dominant they can be when they click on all cylinders.
Behind a stout running game that ripped off nearly eight yards per carry, Ironton (7-1) handed the Dragons their first loss this season by a decisive 41-0 final.
CREDIT: Baylee Harris/SOSA
And that’s despite a bit of a slow start.
“[Fairland] had a great game plan,” Ironton coach Trevon Pendleton said. “They were able to come out and execute at a high level early. We didn’t play so sharp early. We kind of put ourselves in some bad situations. But our kids kept their heads down, we went in at halftime and made some adjustments and the kids were excited to come play in the second half. It showed.”
As soon as the game began, Fairland (7-1) promptly made a defensive stop, holding the Tigers to a three-and-out. But after Ironton punted, the Dragons returned the favor with a turnover — an interception from Tristan Engle.
That set the tone throughout the remainder of the first half as defense came to the forefront.
Fairland managed to drive into the red zone, but only to see the offense stall and turn the ball over on downs. That was the closest call to a score in the first quarter.
The Tigers finally lit up the scoreboard in the second with 10:05 to go, thanks to a 41-yard pass from Braden Schreck to Tyler Roach that made it 6-0. But that was all she wrote on the offensive end through the first two 12-minute stanzas.
The third, however, told a different story.
After the break, Ironton’s offense had awoken from its slumber.
Just 1:20 into the second half’s action, on a drive that was powered by Zayne Williams, Ironton took a 14-0 lead when Williams found paydirt from two yards.
Fairland, now facing a two-score deficit, was left looking for answers.
But instead of finding one, the Dragons were forced to go three-and-out, which gave way for the Tigers to make it a three-score lead.
This time, it was Jesse Copas capping off a four-play drive as he plunged in for a seven-yard score to push the tally to 21-0 with 8:15 to go.
Ironton had seized all momentum and Brycen Mullins added to it with an interception on Fairland’s next possession, setting up his offense with excellent field position.
The Tigers cashed in with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Schreck to Roach on the very next play, making it 28-0 with 6:11 to play.
Fairland again went three-and-out, and Shaun Terry made the Dragons pay on Ironton’s next drive with a seven-yard touchdown run, capping a 29-point quarter and pushing the lead to 35-0.
The Tigers’ final score of the night came with 1:30 remaining as Bowen Gossett scored from a yard out to put the icing on the cake.
“Our refocus in the locker room [was key],” Pendleton said. “The kids did a great job. Our guys got a kick in the butt at halftime. They started to play with discipline, they started to play with a chip on their shoulder and that showed. They were playing a lot faster and a lot more energetic.”
Williams rushed eight times for 86 yards and a touchdown while Terry had six totes for 78 yards and a score. Schreck was 9-of-14 passing for 121 yards and a pair of touchdowns while Roach finished with four receptions for 85 yards and two scores.
Fairland was paced by Jack Hayden, who had 16 carries for 49 yards while Kam Kitts posted nine carries for 33 yards. Hayden was 4-of-7 through the air for 32 yards with an interception.
In Week 9, Ironton will host Gallia Academy while Fairland looks to bounce back against Coal Grove at home.
“The field conditions weren’t great,” Terry said. “But our playmakers stepped up big tonight. We had different players making plays. That’s what we needed. We needed someone to come out and play big.”
“We have many different playmakers and it’s a different dude each game,” Schreck added. “We had a sluggish start. But you have to push through that. In big games, you have to face adversity.”
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