Special teams spark Tigers romp of Fairland

Photo by Jeremy Holtzapfel

Photo by Jeremy Holtzapfel

Photo by Jeremy Holtzapfel

IRONTON — There's something special about the Ironton Fighting Tigers.

Oh yeah. It's their special teams.

Special teams have played a big role for Ironton this season and it was never more evident than Friday night as the Fighting Tigers rolled past the Fairland Dragons 70-13 in a non-league game.

Ironton caused a fumble on a punt that was returned for a touchdown, blocked a punt that went for a score,  and caused a fumble on a kickoff that was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.

Ironton (7-1) also got a punt return by Maddix Markel for a touchdown that was erased by a penalty.

"You gotta run down with reckless abandon," said Ironton coach Trevon Pendleton.

"We call them bullets. Eleven bullets flying at him (the kick returner). You better be ready to run and you better be fearless to run down on that team."

Even with the special teams scoring and short field starting points, Ironton still racked up 355 total yards with 186 on the ground and 169 through the air.

Quarterback Kayden Edwards was 11 of 13 passing for 169 yards and 3 touchdowns. 

Maddix Markel had 3 catches for 71 yards and a score, Braydon Baker 4 receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown, and Brian Kidd had 2 grabs for 25 yards and a touchdown.

Zayne "The Diesel" Williams ran 7 times for 64 yards and scored twice while Easton Caudill came off the bench to get 84 yards on 3 carries with 2 scores.

Fairland (3-5) was stymied on offense with the running game held to a net 3 yards. Quarterback Owen Burcham was 11 of 20 passing with an interception for 175 yards and 2 touchdowns. Conner Black had 4 receptions for 62 yards and a score.

"Our defense is very aggressive.. They get after it. That's their style," said Pendleton. "Once in a while they give up something, but nine times out of ten they get it done."

Fairland tried an onside kickoff to start the game and Ironton covered the ball at midfield. A 39-yard pass to Baker got the ball to the 11 and Williams scored from a yard out 4 plays later.

Beckham Waginger kicked the first of his 9 extra points.

Ironton forced a 3-and-out and Edwards returned the punt  42 yards for the touchdown and a 14-0 lead with 7:18 left in the quarter.

After the kickoff, the Dragons fumbled and defensive lineman Mason Wheeler scooped up the ball and ran it 11 yards for the score and a. 21-0 lead.

The Fighting Tigers got to the Fairland 11-yard line only to stall on their next possession, but they began a drive at the end of the quarter and it ended with 10:30 left in the second quarter on a 9-yard scoring run by Caudill and it was 28-0.

Fairland got on the scoreboard on its next possession as Burcham hit Kinyon Smith on a 54-yard pass play. Yardley Gorby kicked the conversion and it was 28-7 with 6:17 on the clock.

Ironton answered with a 39-yard scoring pass from Edwards to Markel and the lead was 35-7.

The Fighting Tigers blocked a punt and defensive lineman Caleb Jacobs recovered the ball for a touchdown and it was now 42-7.

A 33-yard scramble by Edwards got the ball to the Fairland 6 and after a 10-yard holding penalty, Edwards hit Kidd with a 16-yard touchdown pass and it was 49-7 with 34 seconds left in the half.

Ironton scored on an 8-yard run by Williams to make it 56-7.

On the kickoff, Fairland fumbled the ball and Ashton Layne recovered in the end zone for a touchdown and Ironton was up 63-7 just before the end of the third quarter.

Fairland scored with 4:04 to play when black got behind the secondary for a 41-yard scoring play.

The Fighting Tigers ended the scoring when Caudill broke into the clear and ran 73 yards for the touchdown with just 1:08 on the clock.

Next Friday, Ironton visits Gallia Academy and Fairland goes to Coal Grove.

Fairland 7 0 0 6 = 13

Ironton 21  28  14  7 = 70

First Quarter

Irn — Zayne Williams 1 run (Beckham Waginger kick) 10:15

Irn — Kayden Edwards 42 punt return (Beckham Waginger kick) 7:18

Irn — Mason Wheeler 11 blocked punt return (Beckham Waginger kick) 3:16

Second Quarter

Irn — Easton Caudill 9 run (Beckham Waginger kick) 10:41

Fa — Kinyon Smith 54 pass from Owen Burcham (Yardley Gorby kick) 6:17

Irn — Maddix Markel 39 pass from Kayden Edwards (Beckham Waginger kick) 5:27

Irn — Caleb Jacobs blocked punt return for touchdown (Beckham Waginger kick) 3:20

Irn — Brian Kidd 16 pass from Kayden Edwards (Beckham Waginger kick) 0:34

Third Quarter

Irn — Zayne Wiliams 8 run (Beckham Waginger kick) 3:20

Irn — Ashton Layne recovered fumbled kickoff in end zone (Beckham Waginger kick) 0:19

Fourth Quarter

Fa — Conner Black 41 pass from Owen Burcham (kick blocked) 4:04

Irn — Easton Caudill 73 run ((Jackson Thomas kick)  1:08

———————

        Fa    Irn

First downs        6  12

Rushes-yards    18-3  11-186

Passing yards      172  169

Total yards        175  355

Cmp-Att-Int.    11-20-1 11-13-0

Fumbles-lost      2-2  0-0

Penalties      5-25  6-65

Punts-ave.    4-23.3 0-00.0

———————

Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Fairland: Davin Murray 8-minus 4, Christian Bombus 6-16, Owen Burcham 1-minus 6, Ford Rickard 1-minus 3; Ironton: Zayne Williams 7-64 2-TD, Kayden Edwards 1-33, Tyson Harvey 1-5, Easton Caudill 3-84 TD.

Fairland (3-5) was stymied on offense with the running game held to a net 3 yards. Quarterback Owen Burcham was 11 of 20 passing with an interception for 175 yards and 2 touchdowns. Conner Black had 4 receptions for 62 yards and a score.

PASSING—Fairland: Owen Burcham 11-20-1 173 2-TD; Ironton: Kayden Edwards 11-13-0 160 3-TD.

RECEIVING—Fairland: Conner Black 4-62 TD, Maddox VonVille 1-8, Kylan Blake 3-29, Kinyon Smith 1-54 TD, Braden Thompson 1-16, Davin Murray 1-minus 4z; Ironton: Braydon Baker 4-66 TD, Maddix Markel 3-71 TD, Brian Kidd 2-25 TD,Brycen Mullins 1-6, Tyson Harvey 1-1.

MISSED FIELD GOAL—None.