Ironton sneaks past Wheelersburg in season opener
By: Donovan Varney
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IRONTON, Ohio (WOUB) — The Wheelersburg Pirates hit the road to face the Ironton Fighting Tigers at a packed house in their season opener. In this Friday night matchup, the Fighting Tigers came out victorious, walking away with a 17-14 win.
These two teams are by no means strangers, as this is their 35th matchup against each other. The Fighting Tigers stole a win at Wheelersburg last season in a low-scoring game dominated by defense. This time around, both teams would be continuing the rivalry but with new faces under center.
The first quarter had Ironton written all over it. The Fighting Tigers stopped a long Pirate drive with a Braden Schreck interception at their one-yard line. It didn’t take Ironton very long to get into the scoring column after that. RB/DB Shaun Terry wasted no time and took a handoff 80-yards to the house, putting Ironton up 7-0 early on.
After forcing a Wheelersburg punt, the Fighting Tigers drove down the field and capped off their drive with a 25-yard rushing touchdown by RB Zayne Williams. The Fighting Tigers went up 14–0 at the end of the first 12 minutes.
The Pirates got momentum back after an Ironton fumble in the second quarter and started with the ball at the Fighting Tigers 32-yard line. After a conversion on third and long, QB Braylon Rucker found WR Devon Lattimore in the end zone with an 11-yard touchdown pass. The Fighting Tigers lead was now cut to seven.
The Pirates defense maintained that momentum and forced Ironton into a four and out on their next drive. Wheelersburg drove down the field once again, only to be picked off by Terry in the end zone on a failed attempt at a trick play. The Fighting Tigers tallied their second interception in the red zone that half.
Wheelersburg found the end zone one more time before the half came to a close. RB/DB Landon Hutchinson muscled in for a one-yard touchdown, tying the game up at 14.
Entering the next half of play, the Fighting Tigers landed back in the scoring column with a field goal. Ironton would take the lead 17-14, entering the fourth quarter.
The remainder of the game would be scoreless, and Ironton would move into the win column in this close rivalry game.
Wheelersburg is looking to bounce back against Archbishop McNicholas next week at home.
Ironton hopes to hold its momentum into next week against Jackson at home.