Brock Netter, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
SOUTH POINT — Three years ago, Wheelersburg ended Ironton’s state title hopes with a 17-14 upset in the playoffs.
The Tigers weren’t letting history repeat itself on Friday.
Led by a prolific passing attack from Braden Schreck, the Tigers (13-1) scored early and often to secure their fourth regional title in six years — the program’s 15th overall — with a 55-0 drubbing of Wheelersburg.
“I’m very happy,” Ironton coach Trevon Pendleton said. “Obviously, execution was there, but just effort. Their focus and attention to detail, things that we’re preaching day in and day out, they’re coming out and executing. [Wheelersburg] is a good football team. You’re focused on them but the biggest focus is on ourselves. We’re working to get better each and every day. Our kids have taken that and ran with it.”
CREDIT: Sam Walsh/SOSA
One thing that has unquestionably aided the Tigers to the season they’ve had is getting the football to do-it-all Mr. Football candidate Shaun Terry.
With elusiveness to create space and speed to run past anyone, it’s no secret that he’s Schreck’s favorite weapon. The duo wasted no time getting active on Friday.
After an early Pirate punt, Schreck connected with the University of Missouri commit on a 28-yard touchdown to go ahead 7-0 with 6:04 left in the first quarter.
On the next Tiger play, Schreck hit Terry on a screen pass and Terry did the rest. The offensive line opened a hole and he sprinted 53 yards to the house for a 14-0 lead at the 4:05 mark in the first.
It was then time for the defense to join the action. Wheelersburg (9-5) attempted to air it out but a pass was picked off by District Defensive Player of the Year Josh Johnson. The Penn State commit took the ball and dashed 56 yards for a pick-six, making it 21-0 before the Pirates had a chance to blink.
Ironton smelled blood in the water and continued to feast when Schreck tallied a five-yard rushing touchdown with 2:12 left in the second quarter. He then found Terry for a third time — this one being a 41-yard touchdown toss — to produce a 34-0 count at halftime.
In the second half, Zayne Williams and Kayden Edwards found the end zone for the Tigers on runs of 23 and 19 yards, respectively, before Tyler Carmon intercepted a pass and made a house call, putting the finishing touches on a resounding, shutout victory.
“Our defense just flies around. They’re very aggressive and they play with great discipline,” Pendleton said. “They’re coached up constantly. This team is just hungry. They have been a part of state runner-up teams and they understand what it feels like to lose. Last year, getting beat early in the playoffs … these guys are just hungry. They’re here to work every day and get better.”
Ironton advances to a Division V state semifinal at 7 p.m. on Friday against West Liberty-Salem, who defeated Indian Lake to advance. The game will be played at Chillicothe’s Herrnstein Field.
“We’ve got a 24-hour rule,” Pendleton said. “We’re going to celebrate this one for 24 hours and then it’s back to work. We go one day at a time and one game at a time. Our goal is to go 1-0 from Sunday through Thursday and then go 1-0 on Friday.”
SPONSORED BY IRONTON PURETAP
