Ironton beats Liberty Christian in season opener, 42-3, in Ohio
“We got out of the gate pretty well and looked like we were going to be able to play with them.” –LCA Coach Frank Rocco
Bob Lutz Field at Tank Memorial Stadium, Ironton, OH – In a stadium built in 1926 as home field to the Ironton Tanks, a professional football team that would eventually be the Detroit Lions, the modern day Ironton Fighting Tigers high school team looked like pros rolling over the LCA Bulldogs 42-3 on Saturday night. Both teams were coming off state championships in their respective states – Ironton in Division 5 in Ohio, and LCA winning back to back Virginia titles in Class 3A. Both also had graduated some key players, so you’re never quite sure what your new team is going to look like. On this night the Fighting Tigers looked like they could repeat as state champions. The Bulldogs have some work to do. LCA got the scoring started with a 31-yard field goal by K 21 Jett Johnson. “We got out of the gate pretty well and looked like we were going to be able to play with them, said Liberty Christian Academy Coach Frank Rocco.
Ironton’s defense bent but didn’t break, forcing the field goal. The home team Tigers wasted little time taking the lead. It took two plays for QB 7 Kayden Edwards (12/134,2TD rush; 9/13,157, 2TD) to find pay dirt on the ground from 37 yards out to make it 7-3 still in the first quarter.
The Tigers added two more scores in the second, a 54 yarder from Edwards and the a 29-yard TD pass from Edwards to WR 18 Brayden Baker pushing their lead to 22-3. The home team slipped in a two pointer after Edwards second TD to get it to twenty-two.
Ironton used speed and pace to their advantage all night and it gassed the Bulldogs. The Tigers added two more third quarter scores on one yard runs by RBs 25 Kylan Grace and 20 Tyson Harvey. The final score came on an Edwards to WR 15 Markel Maddix 29-yard toss making the final 42-3.
| LCA | Ironton | |
| First Downs | 6 | 9 |
| Rushing | 24/38 | 32/244, 4TDs |
| Passing | 7/17, 43 | 9/13,157, 2TS, INT |
| TTL YDS | 81 | 401 |
| Punt | – | 4/44 |
| Penalties | 8/53 | 11/110 |
| TOs | 2 | 3 |
| Score | 3 | 42 |
Scoring:
Qtr 1-
LCA: Jett Johnson 31-yard FG 3:51
Ironton: Kayden Edwards 37-yard TD run. Beckham Waginger PAT 2:48
Qtr 2-
Ironton: Kayden Edwards 54-yard TD run; Beckham Waginger PAT 5:48
Ironton: Braydon Baker 29-yard TD pass from Kayden Edwards; Maddix Markel 3-yard TD pass from Brycen Mullins for 2 ptr 0:45
Qtr 3-
Ironton: Kylan Grace 1-yard TD run; Beckham Waginger PAT 9:44
Ironton: Tyson Harvey 1-yard TD run; Beckham Waginger PAT 3:07
Qtr 4-
Ironton: Maddix Markel 29-yard TD pass from Kayden Edwards; PAT blocked 6:55
Ironton Coach Trevor Pendleton liked what he saw, “The kids responded well. I can’t say enough about them. They work hard and they appreciate the opportunities like this. I’m very pleased with the way they responded.” Coach Rocco knew coming in that he had a young bunch. “We’re very inexperienced. It reared its ugly head (tonight).” – Cap’n Crunch
Game Stats:
Passing:
LCA – Luke Gaither 7/17, 43
Ironton – Kaylen Edwards 9/13,157, 2TD, INT; Brycen Mullins 1/1, 3, 2ptr
Rushing:
LCA – Jaden Cowart 7/33, Austin Trembley 4/14, Silas Nesselrotte 5/12, Henry Maier 1/10, Luke Gaither 7/(-31)
Ironton – Kaylen Edwards 12/134,2TD, Zayne Williams 9/49, Kylan Grace 5/31, Tyler Carmon 1/6, Tyson Harvey 1/1, ___ 1/(-1), ___ 3/24, TM (1/(-4)
Receiving:
LCA – Jordan Burns 3/12, Nate Davis 2/6, Jaden Cowart 1/16, Roman Aronson 1/9
Ironton – Maddix Markel 3/89,TD, Brayden Baker 3/40,TD, Zayne Williams 1/24, Brycen Mullins 2/4
Punting:
LCA – Jett Johnson 7/33 yd avg
Ironton – Brycen Mullins 2/23 yd avg
Returns:
LCA – Jordan Burns 3/56, Henry Maier 4/41
Ironton – Maddix Markel 1/35
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Ironton | 7 | 15 | 13 | 7 | 42 |
| LCA | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
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