By Rocky Stanley
IRONTON — Sparta Highland proved to be a made-to-order opponent for Ironton in the opening round of the Division IV playoffs.
The Scots, who made a 3 1/2-hour bus trip, like to play power football. One problem: Ironton does it much better.
The Fighting Tigers rambled for touchdowns on their first two possessions and went on to a 36-0 victory Saturday night at Tanks Memorial Stadium.
“We knew that they were going to cause us problems right away,’’ said Sparta Highland coach Chad Carpenter. “Ironton is by far the best team we have played.’’
Ironton (9-2) is off to a fast start in its 27th postseason appearance, third-most in Ohio history.
A big, strong and experienced offensive line paved the way as the Fighting Tigers rushed for 146 yards in the first quarter. Fullback Keith Wetzel capped an 80-yard march by scoring from 8 yards out and quarterback Ethan Preston went 4 yards on an option keeper as Ironton grabbed a 15-0 lead.
“We had a big size advantage on up front, and we were stubborn enough to keep pounding on them,’’ said Ironton coach Bob Lutz.
Sparta Highland (8-3), from north of Columbus, came in with four shutouts in its last five games but ended up on the other end of a goose egg this time.
“I think we played a tremendous game,’’ said Ironton senior tackle Sam Cramblit, a three-year starter on the offensive line. “We blocked and the running backs filled the holes all night.’’
Meanwhile, the Fighting Tigers’ stingy defense held the Scots to three first downs until the final series. Ironton’s backup defenders preserved the shutout with a goal-line stand in the final minute.
Sparta Highland’s Justin Staton, who rushed for 1,566 yards and scored 20 touchdowns during the regular season, tried to get his team on the scoreboard first with a 61-yard carry to Ironton’s 23 on the second play from scrimmage.
But Preston dropped Staton for a 5-yard loss on a fourth-and-two play from the Fighting Tigers’ 15.
Ironton covered 80 yards in 10 running plays, then drove for another score after Tommy Waginger intercepted Sparta Highland quarterback Jacob Ulrey at the Scots’ 38.
Preston passed to running back J. P. Taylor in the flat for a 20-yard TD to make it 22-0 with 1:02 remaining in the half.
The Fighting Tigers put the game away by scoring on their first two possessions of the second half. Elusive halfback Tres Wilks caught a pass behind the line of scrimmage and reversed field for a 26-yard gain to set up Taylor’s 3-yard TD run up the middle. Sparta Highland helped out by jumping offside on fourth down for the second time in consecutive Fighting Tiger scoring drives.
Tyler Hager provided Ironton’s final touchdown on a 47-yard run with 6:12 remaining in the third quarter.
“It was a good effort,’’ Lutz said after Ironton’s 39th playoff victory. “I don’t think we got anybody hurt. They were physical enough up front to give us work.’’
ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.
