Ironton routs Wildcats to open up 2026 campaign

WILLIAMSBURG — First, Kayden Edwards provided the wake-up call. Then, he provided the knockout punch.

With the offense sluggish to start the game, Edwards used a punt return to set up Ironton’s first touchdown. He then had a long touchdown catch that opened the game up as the Fighting Tigers routed the Williamsburg Wildcats 42-0 in the season opener on Thursday.

Ironton went 3-and-out on its first series of the game, but the defense stuffed the Wildcats two straight series to set up a long punt return by Edwards to the 26-yard line.

“I got to say, most of that isn’t me, it’s really my team. I’ve got to give them all the praise because without them I’m nothing,” said Edwards.

“So, great blocks, having faith in them and them having faith in me to go back there and return punts is a really big thing to me, so I’m going to give it all I got every time I get the ball and they give it all they’ve got.”

Four plays later, Tyson Harvey bolted 20 yards for the first touchdown of the season and Beckham Waginger’s conversion kick made it 7-0 with 4:17 left in the quarter.

Ironton surprised Williamsburg with an onside kickoff and Waginger made the recovering at the Wildcats 49.

Easton Caudill got free on the ensuing play and raced into the end zone with 4:06 on the clock and it was 13-0.

The conversion kick was blocked.

The defense forced another punt and this time Ironton got the ball at its own 35.

On the first play, quarterback Wyatt Wolfe threw deep to Edwards who got behind the defense for the catch and run as he scored for a 19-0 lead.

“It’s still an amazing ball. No matter where he throws it I’m going to go and get it just because he has faith in me,” said Edwards.

“I want him to have his faith get strong in me just by me doing my job. I’m proud of that catch, but I can’t do it without my teammates.”

Wyatt Wolfe threw to brother Nolan Wolfe for the conversion and a 21-0 lead with just 1:23 left in the first quarter.

The play gave Ironton a touchdown on three consecutive plays.

Todd Knipp was filling in as the head coach while Trevon Pendleton served the first game of a two-game suspension for intentionally playing ineligible players in last season’s final game against Portsmouth.

Knipp said the offense started slow but finished strong.

“Offensively, it took us a little while to get going, and once we got going and started to establish things, we were able to make some plays,” said Knipp.

“We want to see more consistency in our run game, sustaining blocks and finishing things off. Overall, good effort for the first time out.”

Ironton had a drive stall at the start of the second quarter in Williamsburg territory, but the second possession of the quarter resulted in a 9-yard scoring run by Harvey with 4:16 left in the half and it was 28-0.

While the offense got going, the defense was in lockdown mode from start to finish.

Williamsburg had just two first downs — one in each half — and finished with a mere 5 total yards including minus 12 rushing.

Knipp praised the defensive effort as Ironton completely shut down the Williamsburg offense.

“Our defense did a great job getting off blocks especially playing against a wing-T scheme. Our kids did a really good job playing assignment football and rallying to the football. We were swarming,” said Knipp.

The Fighting Tigers triggered the running clock in the third quarter when Caudill had his second long touchdown run by ripping through the defense on a 40-yard burst to take a 35-0 lead.

Waginger added the conversion kick.

Ironton capped the scoring in the fourth quarter on an 11-yard scoring pass from Wyatt Wolfe to Nolan Wolfe. Jackson Thomas booted the conversion.

Ironton racked up 330 total yards as Wyatt Wolfe went 9 of 15 passing for 160 yards and two touchdowns.

Caudill ran just 9 times for 121 yards and two scores while Harvey added 46 yards on 9 attempts and a pair of touchdowns.

Nolan Wolfe had 3 receptions for 51 yards and a score while Edwards had the one catch for 65 yards and a touchdown.

Ironton is scheduled to play Salem, NJ next Saturday.

Ironton 21 7 7 7 = 42

Williamsburg 0 0 0 0 = 0

First Quarter

Irn — Tyson Harvey 20 run (Beckham Waginger kick) 4:17

Irn — Easton Caudill 49 run (kick blocked) 4:06

Irn — Kayden Edwards 65 pass from Wyatt Wolfe (Nolan Wolfe pass from Wyatt Wolfe) 1:23

Second Quarter

Irn — Tyson Harvey 9 run (Beckham Waginger kick) 4:16

Third Quarter

Irn — Easton Caudill 40 run (Beckham Waginger kick) 7:15

Fourth Quarter

Irn — Nolan Wolfe 11 pass from Wyatt Wolfe (Jackson Thomas kick) 5:40

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Irn W

First downs 14 2

Rushes yards 31-170 27-(-12)

Passing yards 160 17

Total yards 330 5

Cmp-Att-In 9-15-0 4-6-0

Fumbles-lost 4-0 1-1

Penalties 5-54 4-30

Punts-average 2-36.0 8-32.6

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Ironton: Easton Caudill 9-121 2-TD, Tyson Harvey 9-46 2-TD, Kayden Edwards 4-19, Brycen Mullins 2-3, Wyatt Wolfe 6-minus 11, Team 1-minus 8; Williamsburg: Gray Robinson 10-minus 5, Manning Dilley 6-minus 22, Zayne Walker 4-minus 1, Austin Neinaber 2-minus 2, Nolan Dick 4-21, Team1-minus 3.

PASSING—Wyatt Wolfe 9-15-0 160 2-TD; Williamsburg: Gray Robinson 4-6-0 17.

RECEIVING—Ironton: Kayden Edwards 1-65 TD, Nolan Wolfe 3-51 TD, Brycen Mullins 1-21, Brycen Kerns 1-9, Xavier Henderson 1-12; Williamsburg: Landen Brandenburg 2-15, Manning Dilley 2-2.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.