Ironton avenges playoff loss in Week One win over Wheelersburg
By: Ayden Crowley
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WHEELERSBURG, Ohio (WOUB) — Parking was an issue for blocks at Ed Miller Stadium for the highly anticipated installment into one of the most historic rivalries in Southeast Ohio.
Just a season ago, the two teams met twice. Once, in the opening week of the season and again, in the regional semifinal game of the state playoffs.
Ironton set the tone in Week One, dominating for a 40-6 victory.
But the Pirates raised the Jolly Roger in Week 13 with a dramatic 17-14 win.
Fans filled the parking lots for tailgating as the stage was set for the kickoff of the 2022 season.
It was the first time in four years that the Wheelersburg Pirates played host to the Ironton Fighting Tigers.
But once you were finally able to make your way into Ed Miller, the play on the field was well worth the price of admission.
Both teams are known for their physicality and it showed early.
After a string of defensive stops Wheelersburg was the first to throw the first punch.
They marched behind their offensive line to get themselves in the red zone and into field goal range to take an early 3-0 lead.
It looked like the Fighting Tigers were going to respond as they made their way into the red zone, until a huge interception from Eric Lattimore over Ty Perkins in the end zone.
But Perkins responded in a big way on the very next possession.
Ironton drove down the field and Tayden Carpenter found Perkins for a 11 yard touchdown grab.
The extra point was no good and the Fighting Tigers went into the locker room at halftime up 6-3.
That score held for all of the third and a majority of the fourth. Both teams struggled to find big plays with both defenses flying to the football.
That was until Ironton put the nail in the coffin with an Amari Fielder 10 yard touchdown run with 2:20 left in the 4th quarter.
The Fighting Tigers improved to 14 and 11 in the last 25 years with the 12-3 defensive win.