2026 Football Preview: Ironton Fighting Tigers

IRONTON — Are the Ironton Fighting Tigers trying to gaslight the opposition?

Ironton head coach Trevon Pendleton is making several moves that may confuse opponents and have them thinking it’s a practical joke.

All the questions arose when senior Kayden Edwards (5-11, 175) was moved from quarterback to wide receiver.

Last season playing strictly as the quarterback, Edwards was 74 of 113 for 1,167 yards and 15 touchdowns with just 5 interceptions. He also ran 86 times for 762 yards and 10 more TDs as he earned All-Ohio honors.

However, as a sophomore Edwards caught 20 passes for 319 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was the backup quarterback and was 18 of 23 for 362 yards and 4 TD. He also ran 25 times for 357 yards and 5 scores.

But due his versatility, Edwards has been recruited as an athlete and recently committed to Boston College of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Moving Edwards to wide receiver and installing sophomore Wyatt Wolfe as the quarterback has improved the overall passing game.

Pendleton said Edwards has accepted the switch and is doing an outstanding job.

“It’s been smooth. He’s a great athlete. He’s a great teammate. He’s a great kid. He understands that his skill set is great with the ball in his hands,” said Pendleton.

“By moving him and making him kind of our Swiss army knife like we’ve done with players in the past, he’s that role this year and I think he’s going to do great things.”

Several other returning players have switched positions or are being asked to play both offense and defense.

“Obviously, a lot of familiar faces, a lot of guys returning, but some guys aren’t returning in the same position. We’ve made some changes personnel-wise but the excitement has been there,” said Pendleton.

“The strength of our team honestly is our flexibility, our ability to do both, run and pass. We’re very consistent in what we’re doing.”

Sliding Wolfe (6-3, 175) into the quarterback spot has worked well, but Pendleton knows a sophomore has plenty to learn.

“He’s had a few growing pains here and there. The game is just speeding up for him. Now, it’ll start slowing down for him the more reps he gets. He’s just a sophomore. The good thing is as he gets a little more experience there it’ll rapidly slow down,” said Pendleton.

A key area for Ironton will be the offensive line which returns seniors Carter Bridges (5-9, 240), Carson Akers (6-0, 225) and Jase Williams (6-1, 205) while adding senior Ethan Sutton (5-11, 205) and junior Luca Silva (6-6, 270).

Also in the mix should be senior Landon Deere (6-3, 250) and junior Luke Ellis (6-2, 215).

“I think they’re getting better each and every day,” said Pendleton. “They’re communicating. They’re starting to learn, they’re starting to pick things up. You pop in the film and you can see them taking things we’ve implemented in practice and applying it to game film. We’re rotating six or seven guys in there and the gap between them ain’t very large.”

The skill positions should be solid with the move of Edwards to wide receiver. Edwards can also line up in the backfield as the tailback.

The main running back figures to be sophomore Easton Caudill (5-9, 185) who has strength and speed.

Joining Edwards in the receiving corps will be senior Brycen Mullins (5-10, 175), senior Byson Kerns (6-0, 150), senior Ashton Layne (6-3, 175), juniors Brock Biggs (6-2, 190) and Brian “Bubby” Kidd (5-11, 175).

Mullins led the team in receiving last season with 24 receptions for 367 yards and 5 touchdowns, all team highs.

“Our skill guys have done an extremely good job. They’re guys that compete and the majority of them have played a lot of football for us. They guys who haven’t, the Bryson Kerns who haven’t played a lot for us, stepped up for us this offseason,” said Pendleton.

“Caudill has stepped up for us. Those guys are just getting better and better. Ayden Justice is another one. Bubby Kidd. Those guys are just stepping up in their role and finding their niche.”

The linebackers should be key to the defense with returning all-district selection Sutton and sophomore Ayden Justice (6-0, 205) inside while Biggs and Hughes return on the outside. Kidd and Ellis should get some playing time.

“They’ve all played a lot of football for us. You got other guys rotating in there like Bubby Kidd played some outside linebacker. Inside you have Ayden Justice who is a really good athlete. He’s getting his feet wet there,” said Pendleton.

“You’ve got several other people stepping in. Luke Ellis is another one who has stepped in at the inside linebacker role this year. Luke is a kid who is learning the defense on the fly and he’s getting better each and every practice, so we’re really excited about that.”

Senior Braiden Linn (5-11, 215) anchors the defensive line as a returning starter who played extended minutes as a sophomore, too. Bridges, Akers, Williams and Deere.

“Our D-line, there have been some years where we’ve been really fast. This team, we’re playing some bigger skill kids. They’re 215-, 220-pound kids but they can run,” said Pendleton.

The secondary is led by Mullins who is a three-year starter, Layne a two-year starter and senior Tyson Harvey (5-8, 180) who has played extended minutes. Also in the mix will be Edwards and Caudill.

“They’ve done a good job starting back in the summer with the 7 on 7. They take pride in what they do. They do a great job of covering people. In run support situations, we’ve just got to get more reps,” said Pendleton.

The kicking game should be strong again and competitive. Brothers Beckham and Barrett Waginger — outstanding soccer players for Ironton St. Joseph — and Jackson Thomas are all placekickers.

“Beckham has been a force since his freshman year. He took over about halfway through his freshman year and he’s been solid. He’s getting better, getting a stronger leg. He’s going to be a weapon. He’s made several from 45 (yards), some from 50,” said Pendleton.

“We’ve got Barrett Waginger out this year, and we’ve got Jackson Thomas. We’ve got three kickers and they’re all pushing each other and making each other better.”

Speed has been part of every position area and Pendleton said the team speed is a factor.

“We’re undersized from where we have been, but our team speed and ability to play multiple positions and do some different things defensively will make up for it. So, yeah, I think we have great team speed, if not the fastest, one of the fastest,” said Pendleton.

The biggest concern for Pendleton isn’t so much the players but how they respond to adversity.

“You can’t replace a class like (last year’s seniors). The thing is their leadership and our kids have done a good job of stepping in and filling that void. They just have to take it to that next level,” said Pendleton.

“They’ve been in that comfort zone their entire high school career looking to others to lead. Now, it’s their turn to step up and lead. I’m not just talking about the seniors, but juniors, sophomores, everyone, to step up and do their part.”

The schedule features some new faces this season with Wiliamsburg, Somerset, Ky., and Division 2 power Columbus Big Walnut, Salem, N.J., Harvest Prep and Bloomington (IN) South to go with other tough opponents such as Cincinnati McNicholas, Jackson, Gallia Academy and Portsmouth.

“Obviously, we start out on Thursday which is neat. It’s going to be something different. We kickoff the Ohio football season here at Williamsburg in Cincinnati.

Williamsburg was 10-0 last season and was first in Region 20 of Division 5. The game is scheduled for a Thursday night. Big Walnut was 12-2 last season and state runner-up.

“They bring back a lot of guys. They’re going to be well-coached so we’re looking forward to that. Week two is our home opener with Salem, New Jersey on a Saturday. Salem, a good program. It’s the home of Johnathan Taylor. Hopefully, they don’t have too many of him.”

Pendleton will not coach the first two games due to a penalty imposed by the OHSAA for intentionally playing ineligible players in the season finale which effected the postseason playoff qualifiers.

 Photos from 2025: