Brock Netter, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CINCINNATI — For the third time in four years, Ironton will play for a state championship.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
After trailing by 14 points in the second quarter, the Tigers showed their character by scoring 28 unanswered and punching their tickets with a 35-21 victory over Valley View in a Division V state semifinal on Friday.
“Our message is simple and it’s every week. We talk about adversity, not just in football but in life,” Ironton coach Trevon Pendleton said. “There are times in life where you have to weather the storm. But when you have the opportunity to be the storm, you have to be the storm. In the first half, we weathered the storm. In the second half, we were the storm.”
Ironton (15-0) didn’t waste any time making an impact.
On the first play from scrimmage, Trevor Carter forced a fumble and Cole Freeman quickly jumped on top of it.
A few plays later, quarterback Tayden Carpenter called his own number and scored from one yard out to put the Tigers ahead 7-0.
Valley View, however, shook off the early turnover and took to the air. After a pair of 35-yard passes set the offense up inside the three-yard line, Jake Clark scored on a one-yard plunge to tie the game at 7-7 after the first quarter.
After Ironton failed to convert a fourth down to open the second in Valley View territory, the Spartans (13-2) struck again.
Following a lengthy run, Caden Henson threw a dart to a slanting Austin Stidham and Stidham did the rest, sprinting 58 yards for the touchdown to put Valley View ahead 14-7.
Stidham wasn’t finished making plays, though.
Valley View forced a punt, and on the attempt, Ironton’s punter fumbled the snap. Stidham jumped on it in the end zone for a touchdown, pushing the score to 21-7.
“We always talk about how we’ll play anyone at anytime and anywhere,” Pendleton said. “That isn’t just about our opponents. It’s facing challenges. Anything that’s put in front of us, we’re going to battle and we’re going to chip away at. I think that’s the nature and mentality of our program. We showed that tonight.”
But with its back against the wall, Ironton immediately answered, courtesy of a 45-yard pass from Carpenter to C.J. Martin, setting the Tigers up at the three-yard line.
On the next play, Jaquez Keyes plowed into the end zone for a 21-14 halftime score.
Ironton opened the second half with the ball, and didn’t waste the opportunity.
On the first play of the third quarter, Keyes took a handoff, ran over a defender and galloped 72 yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 21-21.
Both teams punted on their next respective possessions. And then Landen Wilson intercepted a Spartan pass in the end zone to keep the game tied and create momentum on the Tigers’ sideline.
Ironton then pieced together a drive off the turnover before Shaun Terry showed off his speed.
He caught a screen pass, slipped past a pair of defenders and dashed 53 yards for a touchdown, allowing the Tigers to retake the lead, 28-21, at the beginning of the fourth.
“Special players make special plays and [Terry] was able to do that,” Pendleton said. “He’s a talented kid, he works really hard and he stays after every day, running routes and doing everything necessary. Couldn’t be more proud of him.”
With all momentum on its side, Ironton’s defense then made a huge play. The Tigers hit Valley View on a pass attempt and the ball was intercepted by Freeman.
On their next possession, the Tigers faced a fourth down and managed to move the chains via a seven-yard pass from Carpenter to Carter.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
“I can’t say enough about him, man,” Pendleton said of Carter. “His character shows and he fit right back into this team. He’s taken on a different role and he’s taken that in stride. It’s made our team so much better. Just so proud of him.”
Keyes then capped the drive with a one-yard score, his second of the game, for a 35-21 lead and the night’s capper.
The Spartans, on their next drive, attempted to stay in the game, but a pass was picked off by Brandon Schreck to slam the door shut.
“We locked in and realized what was at stake,” Pendleton said. “At halftime, we talked about how we kind of beat ourselves at times. But we were able to reel that back in and go to work.”
Ironton will now play for the Division V state championship against Canton South Range, who defeated Liberty Center by a 35-0 final to advance.
That game will happen at 10:30 a.m., Friday at Canton’s Tom Benson Stadium. A win would give Ironton its first state championship since 1989.
“We’re fighting Tigers, just like we were the last time we were [in a state championship],” Pendleton said. “Win, lose or draw, come Friday, we’re going to come out swinging and it’s going to be a dogfight from the first whistle to the last whistle. We’re looking forward to it.”
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