Ironmen continue hot streak, move into second round in Division III playoffs
< < Back toJACKSON, Ohio (WOUB) — The Ironmen had won six consecutive games coming into this matchup, and they were looking to keep that momentum going into the postseason.
The Jackson Ironmen faced the South Bulldogs of Columbus in the first round of this year’s Division III playoffs.
Thanks to another blazing hot start and incredible defense, Jackson was able to win their seventh straight game 37-0.
The game started out with Jackson forcing a quick three-and-out on the Bulldogs’ first possession, and then taking a 46-yard drive for a score that was capped off by a 14-yard touchdown catch from running back Cade Wolford.
Quarterback Jacob Winters kept the arm loose with two more first half touchdowns. One was a 24-yard touchdown catch from wideout Drew Bragg, and the other was from 8 yards out, this time to wideout Holden Blankenship. This mirage of early touchdown passes put the Ironmen up 20 late in the second quarter.
Kicker Ethan Crabtree added a field goal from 42-yards as time expired in the first half, and Jackson went into the locker room with a 23-0 lead.
Winters would continue to spread the wealth in the second half, finding his fourth different receiver for a touchdown. This time it was wideout Brodie Butcher from 42-yards out.
The final score of the game was on a 9-yard run from Cade Wolford that put Jackson up 37-0.
Jackson did an incredible job showing their versatility in back-to-back weeks. Last week against Chillicothe, they put up 49 points, all with rushing touchdowns. The Ironmen had 303 yards on the ground against the Cavaliers, and only had to throw for 63 yards. This week, they showed a different style, rushing for more than 100 less yards, and passing for just over 130 more. Jacob Winters also threw for four of Jackson’s five total touchdowns. This versatility should bode well for the Ironmen moving forward. Mixed with a lockdown defense that pitched a shutout for the second straight week, Jackson will be a tough out for any opponent.
The Ironmen hope to keep their winning streak alive next week as they face the Eastmoor Warriors in the second round of the playoffs.