Tigers overwhelm, blank Generals to advance to regional semis

IRONTON — As officer Jimmy Malone said to the mobster who broke into his home in “The Untouchables” movie, “You brought a knife to a gunfight.”

The West Lafayette Ridgewood Generals were heavy underdogs heading into Friday’s Division 5 Region 19 quarterfinal game with the Ironton Fighting Tigers.

And when the Generals took the field minus their starting quarterback, top running back and wide receiver and went up against the swarming Ironton defense, they knew just how that mobster felt.

The Generals (7-5) had only 68 total yards — all on the ground — and 13 of their 32 rushing plays went for negative yards and 3 plays went for zero yards as Ironton cruised to a 42-0 win.

H-Back Maverick Lockhard filled in at quarterback and failed to complete any of his 7 passes.The Generals were 0-8 passing as a team.

“We’ve got 11 tiger sharks on the field. Those kids are flying to the ball.They do a great job. They know how to fit off one another,” said interim head coach Todd Knipp.

“They’re prepared every week to give their best effort.”

Knipp is serving as the interim head coach during the playoffs due to the suspension of head coach Trevon Pendleton and assistant coach Jerrod Pendleton as a result of OHSAA penalties over last year’s recruiting sanctions.

Coming off a bye week as the top seed in the region, Ironton (10-1) was somewhat sluggish early on offense. The Fighting Tigers first drive went from the Generals’ 47 to the 29 only to stall.

But on the second series, Ironton went 64 yards in 7 plays with Easton Caudill running 6 yards for the score. Beckham Waginger kicked the first of 6 extra points and the Fighting Tigers led 7-0 at the 2:23 mark.

After forcing a punt to start the second quarter, Ironton drove 56 yards in just 5 plays with Wyatt Wolfe finding Tyson Harvey standing all alone behind the Generals’ secondary for a 36-yard touchdown pass play and it was 14-0 at the 9:54 mark.

Ridgewood got the ball at the Ironton 38 after recovering an onside kickoff, but the drive died at the 33-yard line and the Fighting Tigers struck again.

It took 4 plays to get to the Ridgewood 36 and then Caudill closed out the drive with a 36-yard touchdown run to make it 21-0 with 3:34 left in the half.

“Once the kids got settled down, got back working game speed, we got in a rhythm offensively, being able to run, throw the ball,” said Knipp.

“As the game went on it got looking better and better. So, hopefully this carries on into next week.”

While Ironton wants it to carry into next week, it did carry into the second half.

The Fighting Tigers came out to begin the half with a 50-yard, 7-play drive that ended on a 12-yard scoring run by Kayden Edwards and it was 28-0.

Ridgewood went 3-and-out and Ironton used a 17-yard pass to Brycen Mullins to reach the 23-yard line. A Ridgewood penalty moved the ball half the distance to the goal and 2 plays later Harvey ran 4 yards for the touchdown and it was 35-0 with 3:29 left in the quarter.

With a running clock, Ironton got one more quick score with a 40-yard, 5-play drive as Caudill scored again from 15 yards out and it was 42-0.

The Fighting Tigers racked up 391 total yards with 216 on the ground and 175 via the air.

Caudill ran 12 times for 125 yards and 3 touchdowns with Edwards running just 5 times for 46 yards and a score.

Wolfe was 13 of 16 passing with a touchdown. Mullins caught 4 passes for 62 yards, Harvey had one catch for 36 yards and a TD, Nolan Wolfe 4 receptions for 39 yards and Bryson Kerns 2 catches for 28 yards.

Next week, Ironton will host Wheelersburg in the regional semifinals with the winner advancing to face the winner of Fort Frye and Columbus Academy at a neutral site.

Wheelersburg advanced with a 44-0 win over South Point.

Ridgewood 0 0 0 0 = 0

Ironton  7 14 14 7 = 42

First Quarter

Irn — Easton Caudill 6 run (Beckham Waginger kick) 2:23

Second Quarter

Irn — Tyson Harvey 36 pass from Wyatt Wolfe) 9:54

Irn — Easton Caudill 36 run (Beckham Waginger kick) 3:34

Third Quarter

Irn — Kayden Edwards 12 run (Beckham Waginger kick) 8:13

Irn — Tyson Harvey 4 run (Beckham Waginger kick) 329

Fourth Quarter

Irn — Easton Caudill 15 run (Beckham Waginger kick) 8:21

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WLR Irn

First downs 7 17

Rushes-yards 32-68 27-216

Passing yards 0 175

Totals yards 68 391

Cmp-Att-Int 0-8-0 13-16-0

Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1

Penalties-yards 5-42 9-85

Punts-average 4-28.3 0-00.0

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING — Ridgewood: Maverick Lockard 16-52, Logan Wince 3-16, Bryce Tolliver 7-9, Logan Israel 9-minus 9; Ironton: Easton Caudill 12-125 3-TD, Kayden Edwards 5-46 TD, Wyatt Wolfe 5-27, Tyson Harvey 5-18 TD.

PASSING — Ridgewood: Maverick Lockard 0-7-0, Andrew Kinsey 0-1-0; Ironton: Wyatt Wolfe 13-16-0 175 TD.

RECEIVING — Ridgewood: None; Ironton: Brycen Mullins 4-62, Tyson Harvey 1-36 TD, Nolan Wolfe 4-39, Bryson Kerns 2-28, Kayden Edwards 2-10.

MISSED FIELD GOAL — None.