Unioto Sherman Tanks take down the Jackson Ironmen in a big week one matchup
By: Ella Hughes
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CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (WOUB) — The Unioto Sherman Tanks hosted the Jackson Ironmen in a Thursday night thriller to open the season. The Tanks would dominate early in the first half scoring big points late, which would help carry them to a 35-21 win to start the year.
The Ironmen would receive the ball to start the game on their own 37-yard line. Unioto started off hot with a big tackle for loss, forcing Jackson to burn a timeout early on their first possession.
Yousef Wilson would get the first, first-down of the game to kick-off the Tanks drive and quarterback Isaac Coy would find Levi Beam deep, putting Unioto into scoring position. Sophomore receiver Brayden Harsha would make a leaping grab in the end-zone to put the Shermans up 7-0 with four minutes left in the first quarter.
The defensive battle would continue into the second quarter with a Beam fumble to give the Ironmen the ball at the Unioto 16-yard line. Jackson capitalized on the turnover when Israel Schindler would punch one in, 7-7 ten minutes left.
The Tanks would have another long possession that lasted almost seven minutes and ended with a Wilson rushing touchdown putting Unioto up 14-7 with three minutes left in the half. Wilson was a stand out on both sides of the ball all night. With just 16 seconds left in the second quarter, Wilson delivered a massive hit on CJ Crabtree, forcing a fumble for a scoop-and-score, 21-7 Unioto.
The Tanks would receive the ball to start the second half and this drive would be all Beam. A fake punt to convert on a 4th and 10 would extend the possession. Coy then found Beam in stride for a 56-yard touchdown, putting Unioto up three scores before the half-way point of the third quarter.
Jackson would go scoreless on their following drive, but a miscommunication from the Unioto offense and an Eli Taylor interception would put them right back in scoring position. Tate Rosler scored the second Ironmen touchdown of the night to cut into the Unioto lead, 28-14 after three.
Coy found his way into the end-zone on a QB keeper to extend the Sherman lead, 35-14 with seven minutes left in the fourth. Crabtree would be the second quarterback to cross the goal line, scoring late for the Ironmen.
Unioto walked away with the 35-21 win against a tough Jackson team to open up the season. Jackson takes on Gallia Academy in Gallipolis for the second game of the year next Friday night, and Unioto remains at home to play a strong Athens team.