FLATWOODS —
Ironton unleashed a combination of power, speed and an expanded playbook to overwhelm Russell 47-21 on Friday night.
Track sprinter Patrick Lewis exploded for one big play after another and the Fighting Tigers amassed 493 yards rushing at Henry R. Evans Stadium.
“They have been doing it forever,” Russell coach Ivan McGlone said. “They come in with big people up front, a power back and a speed back. The speed killed us tonight.”
A week after Lewis burned Wheelersburg for early kickoff and fumble returns for scores, he enjoyed a field day against Russell. The senior halfback broke loose for three scoring jaunts of at least 45 yards, and also took a punt 68 yards to the end zone.
“Patrick had another big game,” Ironton coach Mark Vass said. “He’s a talented kid. He has great speed and plays hard. He’s hard-nosed, not a finesse kid.”
Lewis rushed for 247 yards on only 13 carries. Ironton’s offensive line provided the seams and Lewis did the rest by running away from defenders.
“It was great, awesome,” Lewis said of the Tigers’ blocking. “I had some huge holes. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Ironton (2-0) threw a variety of offensive wrinkles at the Red Devils after sticking to its traditional T-formation in the opening win at Wheelersburg. The Tigers switched to the Wildcat at times and also used multiple wide receivers on occasion to help spread out Russell’s defense.
Not that the Red Devils were caught totally off guard.
“We scouted their scrimmage against Coal Grove and knew they had been working on some different things,” McGlone said. “We prepared for it, but had some trouble with their doubles (wideouts).”
Russell trailed only 20-14 at halftime after Troy Huffine punched in a 1-yard TD with 16 seconds left on the clock.
Ironton, however, seized control by outscoring the Red Devils 21-0 in the third quarter.
The Tigers took the second-half kickoff and put together a 65-yard scoring drive. Two penalties put them in a second-and-goal situation at the 25, but Lewis made a nice catch in the flat for nine yards. Then quarterback Tanner Dutey, in shotgun formation, hit running back Trevor White for a 16-yard TD.
After Ironton’s defense forced Russell into a three-and-out, Lewis fielded a punt on one bounce and darted through a wave of defenders on his way to the end zone for a 33-14 lead.
Russell responded with a hasty drive to the Tigers’ 10. But active defender Mo Phillips dropped Huffine for no gain on first down, and the Red Devils turned the ball over on downs after three incompletions.
Ironton’s machine-like offense needed only five plays to score again and put the game out of reach. Lewis covered the final 49 yards by zipping through a hole and cutting back to elude the Red Devils’ final defender.
Russell made it 40-21 on Huffine’s second 1-yard score of the contest, but Lewis broke two tackles and slipped another to go 45 yards and put a final exclamation mark on his huge night.
White added 107 yards rushing as Ironton beat Russell for the 15th consecutive time, dating back to 1980. Dutey ran for 60 yards and completed all three of his passes for 37 yards.
Fullback Tanner Schweickart scored the Tigers’ first touchdown on a 6-yard run.
Russell took its only lead at 7-6 on Byrant Cathey’s 11-yard run and Patrick Soucy’s extra point with 6:15 remaining in the first half.
Quarterback Lance Evans completed 9 of 14 passes for the Red Devils (1-1).
ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606 326-2671.
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