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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Ironton beats Wheelersburg
IrontonÕs Zack Kriebel and Jon Monning burst through a banner ushering the start of the 2009 season as they hosted Wheelersburg on Friday, August 28, 2009.
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IRONT0N -- Ironton used its methodical running game mixed in with a couple of big plays and a stellar effort on defense to register a 24-8 win over Wheelersburg in the battle of U.S. 52 rivals Friday night at a packed Tanks Memorial Stadium.
"I'm impressed with everybody's effort," said quarterback Ethan Preston, who made his first start at that position for the Fighting Tigers. "We all showed up to play. The offensive line was solid. They put in a lot of hard work and it paid off."
For opening night, Ironton had three interior lineman and fullback Keith Wetzel back from the offense a year ago. Wheelersburg returned 14 starters overall.
Ironton's first big play came on its first possession when halfback Brian Warner raced 64 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown. In the second period, Wetzel went over from four yards out to cap an eight-play, 57-yard drive and 12-0 Ironton lead.
"He used all the speed he's got," Fighting Tigers coach Bob Lutz said of Warner.
Right before the half, Ironton nose guard Zack Kriebel drifted out into the left flat and picked off a pass by Pirates quarterback Tyler Lang at the visitor's 20. Three plays later, Preston, on a nice play-action pass, found Jon Monning all alone in the end zone for a 13-yard TD strike and 18-0 lead at halftime.
"The difference in the ball game is we dominated the line. Our big strong guys were better than their little guys," Lutz said.
On defense, Ironton limited Wheelersburg to 15 yards in the first period and 44 in the second. The Pirates had one sustained drive, covering 94 yards in 10 plays in the fourth period for their only score. Lang scored on a 5-yard run and also ran in for the two-point coversion.
"We kept our space," Lutz said in describing how the Fighting Tigers bottled up the Wheelersburg attack. "We didn't allow any big plays. Who thought a nose guard would intercept a pass and Warner would go the distance?"
Kriebel, a senior, called the win special. As a senior, this was his last chance to beat the Pirates, who had won the last two meetings. Ironton does lead the overall series 14-6.
"Our defense played really tough," he said. "The front line got after the them and the defensive backs covered well. It feels good to go out with a win. This was my last chance."
About the interception, Kriebel said, "I dropped off, read his (quarterback's) eyes perfectly and was in the right place to make the play."
Wheelerburg returns to action next Friday at home against South Point. Ironton is home against Russell.
"Ironton got off to a really good start and we obviously didn't," Wheelersburg coach Rob Woodward said. "We weren't able to establish any kind of rhythm offensively at all, they were able to. We had a lot of missed tackles and that was the ball game. There's a lot we can take from this game. We have to come together better as a team and work to improve next week."
WHEELERSBURG 0 0 0 8 -- 8
IRONTON 6 12 6 0 -- 24
I -- Warner 64 run (kick failed)
I -- Wetzel 4 run (run failed)
I -- Monnig 13 pass from Preston (run failed)
I -- Taylor 5 run (kick failed)
W -- Lang 5 run (Lang run)
WH IR
First downs 8 15
Total Net Yards 167 327
Rushes-yards 29-117 54-285
Passing 50 42
Comp-Att-Int 4-9-0 4-5-0
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-0
Penalties-Yards 3-23 6-35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Wheelersburg: B. Schankweiler 10-42, Craigmiles 3-32, Walker 5-15, Lang 10-28, Adkins 1-0. Ironton: Warner 8-83, Taylor 14-90, Wetzel 25-74, Preston 7-38.
PASSING--Wheelersburg: Lang 2-7-0, 18; B. Schankweiler 2-2-0, 32. Ironton: Preston 4-5-0, 42.
RECEIVING--Wheelersburg: Stegman 1-28, Craigmiles 3-22. Ironton: Monnig 2-28, Warner 2-14.
