Brock Netter, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CANTON — 1979. 1989. 2024.
For the third time in program history, and the first time in 35 years, Ironton is bringing a state championship trophy back to Tanks Memorial Stadium.
The Fighting Tigers (15-1) used two electrifying touchdown receptions from Shaun Terry to grab an early lead before the defense avoided a late catastrophe, cementing a 28-17 win in Saturday’s Division V State Championship at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
Demons exercised. Checklist complete. Trophy secured.
“It feels like the weight of the world is lifted off our shoulders,” Ironton coach Trevon Pendleton said. “These guys have worked so hard. The flow of the game didn’t really go how we wanted or expected. But when push came to shove, we had to lean on our guys. I just cant say enough about this group of seniors. It’s just a special class. They’re great kids.”
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
Ironton chewed up over seven minutes of clock to open the game and, facing 3rd and 6 from Liberty Center’s 35-yard line, the offense struck pay dirt.
Schreck connected on a slant to Terry, who hurdled a defender, cut back and scored a 35-yard touchdown to go ahead 7-0.
After forcing a Liberty Center (15-1) punt, the Tigers went back to work. After Terry moved the sticks to extend the drive, he took a jet sweep on the next play and found a seam. The Mizzou commit sprinted 45 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 14-0.
Liberty Center took a page from Ironton’s opening possession and slowly put a drive together. Set up by a 34-yard run from Garrison Kruse, Waylon Rentz took a handoff from one yard out and into the end zone, cutting the deficit to 14-6.
LC got the ball back after an Ironton punt and, although Ironton got a third down stop, LC still managed to score points as Max Walker drilled a 39-yard field goal for a 14-9 halftime score.
After a scoreless third, Liberty Center attempted to seize momentum in the fourth. But penalties stalled the team’s opening drive and forced a punt.
That led to Ironton landing what seemed to be the dagger.
Schreck found Terry deep on a 50-yard bomb and, two plays later, the quarterback scored from three yards out to make it 21-9.
However, LC wasn’t done yet. After converting a huge fourth down late in the game, Kaden Krienbrink hit Kruse for a 10-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to 21-17.
Then, disaster struck.
Ironton fumbled and Liberty Center recovered. But just two plays later, Ironton’s Josh Johnson forced a fumble and teammate Brycen Mullins pounced on it.
On the Fighting Tigers’ next possession, with less than a minute to play, Terry put the icing on the cake with a third touchdown — this time from 66 yards out on a jet sweep — sealing the deal on the program’s third state championship win.
Statistically, Terry had a field day. The senior rushed twice for 75 yards and a score, and hauled in 10 catches for 148 yards and two more touchdowns. Overall, he was responsible for 300 all-purpose yards.
Schreck finished 14-of-20 through the air for 179 yards and a pair of touchdowns, alongside 16 carries for 43 yards and a score.
Defensively, Mullins made 11 tackles and recovered a fumble while Nick Sites also tallied double-digit takedowns with 10.
The win polishes off Ironton’s 40th trip to the state football playoffs — tied for the most in Ohio history with Archbishop Moeller.
“Things could’ve went the other way,” Pendleton said. “But our kids persevered. They just battled. They’re battled-tested and they never wanted to give up.”
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
