Sports
Jackson Looks To Bounce Back Against Defending State Champion Wheelersburg
By: Brandon Monty
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The Jackson Ironmen and Wheelersburg Pirates are set to battle this Friday night in a talent-filled matchup
As each squad sits at 3-1, both teams will be looking to enter the second half of the season on the right foot and get some momentum going as the focus shifts toward the playoffs. In their head-to-head showdown last year, the Pirates came away victorious in a 38-14 contest, in route to a perfect season and the Division V state championship.
Dating back to the start of the 2016 season, the Pirates have won 30 of their last 32 games, with one of those losses coming in week two of this campaign against a tough opponent in Division III Bishop Hartley, who made it to the final eight of last year’s state playoffs. That 51-20 loss was the only blemish on both their record and their defense so far in this 2018 season, as the Pirates have pitched two shutouts and gave up just seven points in their other victory.
Things don’t get much easier from here for the Pirates though, as their next four opponents, including Jackson, have a combined record of 14-2 on the year. But if there is one thing we have learned in the past, or just last year for that matter, it’s that Rob Woodard’s Pirates are battle tested and never back down from the big games.
As for Jackson, the Ironmen will be looking for a get-well game, in more ways than one. On top of being hungry for revenge from last year’s matchup, they are coming off a hard-fought loss at the hands of Division II Western Brown, 42-36. Coach Andy Hall knows as well as anybody that you must have a short memory in sports, regardless of the previous outcome.
This matchup has big playoff implications for both squads, as they are each in the top eight of their respective regions. A win here could provide a significant boost in the standings for each squad, as Wheelersburg will look to continue their push for home field advantage once again and Jackson will look to establish themselves in what is currently a dogfight for playoff spots in Region 11.
You can catch all the highlights from this showdown on Gridiron Glory, which airs Friday night at 11:30 p.m. and Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m.