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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
Jeff Gorby: 2008 Lawrence County football has arrived
Ironton players go through drills during the first day of practice July 31 at Ironton High School's practice field. Last year, Ironton finished with five wins and barely missed the state playoff.
Purchase this photoThe best season of the year opens in one week. During this time, several teams throughout Lawrence County will try to round up Tigers, Redmen, Pointers, Hornets, Panthers, Dragons and Vikings. These young men will take great pride when they tame their prey.
Lawrence County, it is football season once again, and Ohio has released the 2008 football schedule.
Ironton
Ironton, which finished with five wins last season and barely missed the state playoff, will look to make a lot of noise this season.
The Tigers will open up their season with rival Wheelersburg. They will then return home in week two to welcome Our Lady of Mount Carmel from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. In week three, Ironton will open up SEOAL play as they welcome Gallia Academy to the Tank.
Next, the Tigers will take on Ashland at home before they travel to Logan and Chillicothe in the next two weeks. In week seven, the Tigers will return home to play Jackson. In week eight, the Tigers will travel to Portsmouth to battle the Trojans in one of the most storied rivals in the state. Ironton will wrap up their road games with a trip to Nelsonville-York before returning home to round out the regular season with a battle against Warren.
Rock Hill
Rock Hill is looking to build from the success they had in 2007. Coach Knipp led his Redmen to a seven-win season along with a trip to the state playoffs, but the Redmen will have to face a couple of new opponents this season.
Their first three games will be at Redmen Stadium with Zane Trace first and Lucasville Valley and Oak Hill to follow. Rock Hill will then travel to Scioto County the next two weeks to face Portsmouth West and Wheelersburg to round out their non-conference schedule. During week six, the Redmen will welcome Fairland to Pedro followed by Chesapeake.
The Redmen will finish up their schedule on the road with trips to Coal Grove, South Point and River Valley.
South Point
The South Point Pointers hope to continue the success from Coach Shilot's first season since he was able to lead the Pointers to five wins and a conference championship. The Pointers will face one of the toughest non-conference schedules out of all the teams in the OVC.
The Pointers will travel to Portsmouth in week one. In week two, they will welcome Wheelersburg to Pointer Stadium followed by Portsmouth West in week three. The Pointers will then travel to uncharted waters as they cross the river to take on Point Pleasant, W.Va. South Point rounds out their non-conference schedule as they take on Lucasville Valley at home.
The Pointers will then take to the road as they face River Valley, Coal Grove and Fairland in weeks six through eight. The Pointers return home to face Rock Hill and then Chesapeake for senior night.
Coal Grove
Coal Grove will face three new opponents this season. After posting seven wins last season and a conference championship, Coach Lucas decided to revamp the schedule.
In week one, the Hornets will travel to Meigs before returning home to host Paint Valley. Coal Grove will then venture into Scioto County for the next two weeks as they face Lucasville Valley and Minford. The Hornets will then return home to face Newport Kentucky to round out their non-conference schedule. The Hornets will then travel to Chesapeake and return home to face South Point, Rock Hill and River Valley.
In week 10, Coal Grove will play what could be the biggest game in recent OVC history at Fairland.
Chesapeake
The Chesapeake Panthers and Coach Davis are hoping to rebound from last season. Chesapeake has tweaked their schedule along with the coaching staff this year in hopes of returning the winning ways of old.
The Panthers will open the season with a new face as they travel to Oak Hill. In week two, the Panthers will travel across the river to Wayne, W.Va. Chesapeake will return home for the next four weeks as they face county rival Symmes Valley, Lucasville Valley, Portsmouth West and Coal Grove.
The Panthers will then travel to Rock Hill before returning home to face River Valley and conference rival Fairland.
Fairland
The Fairland Dragons have made some huge changes in the offseason by going back to their old ways. Coach Snyder returns to the helm along with his old staff after a short hiatus.
The Dragons will open up their season at home with Portsmouth West before traveling to Meigs for a week two showdown. In week three, Fairland will welcome Sheldon Clark to Proctorville. The Dragons will then travel to Tolsia before what looks to be an open week for the Dragons in week five, which was originally to be played against Green Township.
The Dragons will open up their conference schedule on the road with trips to Rock Hill and River Valley before returning home for a battle with South Point.
Fairland will then travel down river to take on conference rival Chesapeake and then return home for the battle of old school coaches as they take on Coal Grove.
Symmes Valley
Symmes Valley is hoping to rebound from a down season last year. Coach Webb has put in several long hours during the off season to reverse the Vikings misfortune.
Symmes Valley will open their season at home with contests against Racine Southern and Matewan, W.Va., on a Saturday night. In week three, the Vikings will travel to Chesapeake for a match up with their county rival. The Vikings will return home to face Manchester, who will be playing only their fourth football game in school history. The Vikings will then take the road to open up SOC play as they travel to Northwest, Green and Sciotoville Community.
In week eight, the Vikings will host Oak Hill before traveling to Portsmouth, Ohio, for a Saturday night showdown with Portsmouth Notre Dame.
The Vikings will round out their schedule with a game at home against rival South Gallia.
I predict this football season will be exciting and fun to watch. I would like to wish every coach, football player, cheerleader and band member good luck this season. Without the hard work from the players, coaches and directors, this would be a boring time of the year -- so let's get out and support these students this fall.
Jeff Gorby is a freelance writer who lives and writes in Lawrence County, Ohio. He can be reached at gorby6@marshall.edu.
