Derrick Webb, Managing Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
WAVERLY — Make no mistake … Ironton had Friday’s game circled on its calendar.
A little over 365 days ago, the Fighting Tigers saw their season come to an end with a 20-14 loss at the hands of Harvest Prep.
So when the two renewed their rivalry in a Division V, Region 19 Semifinal at Waverly’s Raidiger Field, you can bet your bottom dollar that the taste of that loss fueled coach Trevon Pendleton’s group.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
Ironton (12-1) scored 41 unanswered points to return the favor, sending the Warriors packing by a 41-13 final and advancing into Week 14.
“We’ve got to play cleaner. But honestly, our kids are just playing hard,” Pendleton said. “Some of [the penalties] were kind of head scratchers. I don’t want to blame anyone, but whatever. It’s a thing that happens with mixed crews. Overall, it was a good game. It was an evenly called game, but it was just sloppy. A lot of it is on us. We have to clean it up as coaches and clean it up as a team. The kids put in a great effort and they executed.”
Harvest Prep (9-3) found the end zone first and it didn’t take long to do so.
After a long pass play set up the Warriors’ offense deep in Tiger territory, TJ Sall plunged into the end zone from a yard out on 4th and goal to make it 7-0 with 8:56 to go in the first quarter.
That count held firm until the start of the second with Ironton looking to even the count.
After a drive that took the Tigers to HP’s eight-yard line, on a fourth down play, quarterback Braden Schreck found Shaun Terry open inside the one. Terry made the catch, but referees ruled him short of the goal line to give the Warriors the football and keep them in front.
However, that was short-lived.
Harvest Prep was forced to punt and when it did, Jesse Copas got a hand on the pigskin, sending the ball in reverse. Braylon Sturgill then found himself in the right place at the right time, falling on the football in the end zone and forcing a 7-7 tie with 8:53 to go in the half.
Less than five minutes later, and after Terry picked off a pass to give Ironton the ball, Schreck found Zayne Williams for a 25-yard touchdown strike, making it 14-7 Tigers.
PHOTOS: Images from Ironton’s DV, R19 semifinal win over Harvest Prep
It was all Ironton from that point on.
After taking the seven-point lead into halftime, the Tigers struck again with 5:18 left in the third. That’s when Terry took a screen pass 40 yards into the end zone for a 21-7 score.
“Honestly, he’s impressive,” Pendleton said of Terry. “He’s an impressive kid. He does a lot of really good things.”
Less than a minute later, Ironton’s Maddix Markel picked off a pass to put the Tigers’ offense at HP’s nine-yard line. Williams cashed in on that opportunity as well, scoring from a yard out for a 28-7 score with 11:32 remaining.
“You never feel like [you’ve already won]. You’re still coaching all the way to the final whistle,” Pendleton said. “But we know that if we get teams [in that situation] in the second half, we feel pretty good. Our kids work really hard, and I’m not taking anything away from anyone else out there. I’m sure everyone else does. But I’m just very proud of the effort our kids put forward.”
After Ironton’s defense held firm again, Terry went back to work.
Shreck found the Mizzou commit for a 79-yard touchdown, breaking the game wide open at 34-7 and, seemingly, pounding the final nail in the coffin.
But on Harvest Prep’s next possession, Kayden Edwards stepped in front of another pass for an interception and set up the Tigers with prime real estate once again.
“Those guys just fly around,” Pendleton said of the defense. “They don’t give up much and if they do, they’re smart. They adjust and they’re able to overcome it. When things start happening fast, they’re able to take advantage and force turnovers to get the ball back to our offense.”
A few plays later, Tyler Carmon put a running clock into effect at 41-7, scoring from a yard out with 2:56 remaining. The Warriors got a garbage time touchdown to produce the night’s final but Ironton was already well on its way to a DV regional final.
“Harvest Prep is a good football team,” Pendleton said. “But I’m just very proud of our kids and the effort they’ve shown and the way they’ve handled themselves. I’m glad to still be playing.”
Statistically, Schreck paced the Tigers’ offense, finishing 15-of-18 through the air for 298 yards and three touchdowns. Terry was the main beneficiary, reeling in nine catches for 157 yards and a pair of scores. Williams also helped out, rushing 11 times for 45 yards and a touchdown alongside 33 receiving yards and another trip to the end zone.
Harvest Prep’s Collin Boff was 14-of-33 passing for 264 yards with a touchdown and three picks. Sall led the ground game with nine carries for 20 yards alongside a touchdown and added a 74-yard catch.
Overall, the game featured 23 combined penalties for 205 yards.
While the Warriors end their season, Ironton advances to a Division V, Region 19 Final at 7 p.m., Friday at South Point High School. The Tigers will meet with another familiar opponent in Wheelersburg, a 30-14 winner over West Muskingum.
Back in Week 1, Ironton beat the Pirates by a 37-7 final. But many things have changed since.
“We just have to clean things up,” Pendleton said. “We can’t have turnovers and we can’t do little stupid things. It’s a whole new season. We’re different and they’re different. We’re different teams than we were in Week 1. So it’s a clean slate and it’s back to the drawing board.”
SPONSORED BY IRONTON PURETAP
