Stumpf sparks rally, defense makes late stops to help Golden Eagles edge past Tigers

IRONTON — A late fourth quarter rally from quarterback Eli Stumpf and a Big Walnut defense came up with the stops when the game was on the line to help the Golden Eagles escape with a 47-40 overtime win over the Ironton Fighting Tigers at Tanks Memorial Stadium on Friday night.

The loss makes Ironton 5-1 on the season and — not counting their forfeit loss at home last season — it marked their first loss at home since their week four game against Cincinnati Moeller during the 2021 season. The Golden Eagles stay unblemished with a record of 6-0.

“At the end of the day there’s only one winner and one loser, I’m super proud of our kids and their effort. I could have done more myself to help them out. I’ll shoulder that one,” said Ironton head coach Trevon Pendleton.

For most of the night, Ironton controlled the momentum and score. Something that Big Walnut coach Curtis Crager felt was extremely difficult to get ahold of in a tough environment.

"Man, this is such a tough place to play. We were very fortunate to come out with a win. But I listened to our players on the sideline in that third quarter, they kept saying 'keep fighting, keep fighting' and they didn't quit."

The exciting finish began with less than 9 minutes to go in the fourth quarter when quarterback Wyatt Wolfe found Bryson Kerns in the back of the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown toss to put Ironton back ahead by two scores.

However, the extra point was blocked by Cole Hysell, but the Tigers still led 40-25 with 8:41 left to play.

Trailing by 15 and needing a spark, the Golden Eagles found it in Stumpf as the senior signal caller marched the offense down the field in seven plays to answer.

Stumpf either threw or ran the ball on every play, with his final pass of the drive being a 44-yard strike to Jackson Bowers down the seam on a 3rd-and-long play to cut back into the deficit.

Owen Pyles added the extra point to make it 40-32 with 7:21 to go.

Still in control, the Tigers began moving the ball back down the field and crossing over into Big Walnut territory.

But then the drive began to break down when Ironton was flagged for holding and a run play went nowhere, setting up a 3rd-and-14.

Ironton's third down pass attempt flew just far enough out of the reach of the intended receiver and Eli Borland made a diving interception at the 19-yard line with 3:35 remaining.

Big Walnut's heroic final drive nearly didn't get off the ground, as Ironton's defense forced the Eagles into a 4th-and-9 situation.

But Stumpf would again show poise and wait for Nolan Buirley to come free down the seam and hit Buirley for a gain of 31 to midfield.

"The growth that (Eli) has made from his sophomore year to his senior year is special. I told him my comfort with him back there because he can extend plays with his feet and feel the pressure," said Crager.

Completions to Fen Stumpf and Gavin Harrington moved the Eagles down to the Ironton 22.

Then on the ensuing play, Stumpf rolled out of pressure to his right and found Buirley in the flats and the senior back run up the home sideline to the front pylon for a 22-yard score with 2:04 remaining.

On the critical two-point play, Stumpf found Harrington all alone in the back of the end zone to tie the game at 40-all.

With two timeouts, the Tigers tried to mount their own heroic drive.

A personal foul penalty on Big Walnut, a pair of completions by Wolfe to Edwards and another to Kerns helped set Ironton up just past midfield with 54 seconds remaining.

But a false start and the pressure from Big Walnut's pass rush began to bog down the drive and ultimately force overtime.

In the extra frame, Big Walnut scored on its possession as Buirley crossed over from one yard out and Pyles added the extra point to make it 47-40.

On their possession, Ironton converted a first down to reach the 9. But two-straight runs gained no yards and a sack on 3rd-and-goal by Buirley pushed Ironton back to the 20.

“We actually got a little different look than what we thought we’d get and what we got all night, so credit them guys. Anytime you get negative plays against a really good football team it hurts you,” said Pendleton.

On 4th-and-goal, Wolfe couldn't avoid the pressure and Bowers got ahold of Wolfe first and pulled him down and knocked the ball loose. Wolfe fell on the ball, but the game was over and the Eagles escaped with a thrilling win.

The utilization of Buirley in Big Walnut's pass rush paid off late, as the added pressure forced 3 quarterback hurries and three sacks on Ironton's final 11 plays of the game.

Ironton controlled the game's momentum from the beginning, using the "Music City Miracle" trick play on the opening kickoff to get out to midfield on their first drive. Then a circus catch by Kerns after the ball was deflected on a hit kept the drive alive. On the next play, Wolfe scored on a 19-yard run to make it 7-0.

Both teams answered with scores on touchdown runs from Stumpf and Easton Caudill. Then a 32-yard field goal from Pyles made the score 14-11 with 32 seconds left in the opening frame.

Then came arguably the most electrifying play of the game on the ensuing kickoff.

Edwards fielded the kick from his own three, shook off an arm tackle, avoided the kicker and went the 97-yards to pay dirt and tilt the momentum on the field squarely in Ironton's favor.

The Eagles cut into the deficit in the second when Stumpf hit Harrington on a play-action pass for 31 yards to make it 21-18 with 3:54 remaining before halftime.

But another kick return set up Ironton at midfield and the Tigers moved down the field in 7 plays to add to their lead. Caudill's 3-yard run with 1 second left made it 27-18 at the break.

Ironton will be back at home next Friday night against Bloomington South, Indiana.

Big Walnut 11   7   7   15  7 =  47

Ironton 21   6   7   6  0 =  40

First Quarter

Irn — Wyatt Wolfe 19 run (Beckham Waginger kick), 9:46.

BW — Eli Stumpf 4 run (Owen Pyles kick), 6:19.

Irn — Easton Caudill 30 run (Beckham Waginger kick), 5:26.

BW — Owen Pyles 29 field goal, 0:32.

Irn — Kayden Edwards 97 kickoff return (Beckham Waginger kick), 0:18.

Second Quarter

BW — Gavin Harrington 31 pass from Eli Stumpf (Owen Pyles kick), 3:54.

Irn — Easton Caudill 3 run (kicked blocked) 0:01.

Third Quarter

BW — Eli Stumpf 15 run (Owen Pyles kick), 6:43.

Irn — Bryson Kerns 5 pass from Wyatt Wolfe (Beckham Waginger kick) 2:16.

Fourth Quarter

Irn — Bryson Kerns 8 pass from Wyatt Wolfe (kick blocked), 8:41.

BW — Jackson Bowers 44 pass from Eli Stumpf (Owen Pyles kick), 7:21.

BW — Nolan Buirley 22 pass from Eli Stumpf (Stumpf pass to Harrington), 2:04.

———————

            BW    Irn

First downs     19       22

Rushes-yards  28-177 39-153

Passing yards  301     211

Total yards      478 364

Cmp-Att-Int    25-30-0 20-25-1

Fumbles-lost   0-0 2-1

Penalties-yards           10-95 7-48

Punts-average  1-40.0  1-43.0

———————

Individual Leaders

RUSHING — Big Walnut: Nolan Buirley 17-96 TD, Eli Stumpf 11-81 2-TD; Ironton: Easton Caudill 18-95 2-TD, Wyatt Wolfe 16-43 TD, Tyson Harvey 6-24, Kayden Edwards 3-1.

PASSING — Big Walnut: Eli Stump 25-30-0 301 3-TD; Ironton: Wyatt Wolfe 20-25-1 211 2-TD.

RECEIVING — Big Walnut: Fen Stumpf 5-38, Brady Simon 4-37, Jackson Bowers 3-58 TD, Nolan Buirley 7-96 TD, Mason Moore 1-6, Gavin Harrington 5-66; Ironton: Brycen Mullins 3-41, Bryson Kerns 6-56 2-TD, Brock Biggs 3-45, Nolan Wolfe 2-30, Tyson Harvey 1-1, Kayden Edwards 4-38.

MISSED FIELD GOALS — None.