FLATWOODS — Russell hung with Ironton for a half Friday night, but the rest of the contest belonged to the Fighting Tigers.

Ironton used second-half touchdown runs from Brian Warner and Tyler Hager, along with a rejuvenated defensive effort, to pull away from the Red Devils 29-13 at Henry R. Evans Stadium.

Russell, trying to snap Ironton’s 12-game winning streak in the series, pulled to within 15-13 late in the first half on Logan Dehoff’s 9-yard run and Tanner Locey’s extra point.

But the Red Devils failed to muster a serious scoring threat after the intermission, and Ironton put away another victory for Hall of Fame coach Bob Lutz.

“I think we just played with a little more intensity,” Lutz said of his team’s second-half performance. “We tried to get their attention at halftime. We were too passive. Our guys thought we had a cakewalk.”

Russell picked up two first downs on the opening possession of the third quarter before Ironton defensive back Tres Wilks made a tackle for a three-yard loss and defensive end Nick Culbertson knocked down Patrick Cooper’s third-down pass to force a punt.

Ironton quickly put some distance on the Red Devils with a 75-yard scoring drive in only six plays.

Tigers’ quarterback Tommy Waginger connected with Michael Lawless for 26 yards to Russell’s 33. Two plays later, Warner barreled up the middle and broke a tackle on his way to a 32-yard TD.

“Warner is a good player,” Lutz said of the senior fullback/linebacker. “He’s a guy we talked about somebody should take a look at. He’s strong, weighs 205 of 210 and runs the 400 (meters) in 60-flat.”

Russell (1-2) responded with a drive to Ironton’s 38, but Ironton defensive back Dion Brown picked off a fourth-down pass at the 26 and returned it 32 yards.

Hager burst through a hole on the first play of the fourth quarter and ran 38 yards to the end zone. Sophomore Trevor White’s third extra point of the night made it 29-13.

“We moved the ball, but made some mistakes,” Russell coach Ivan McGlone said. “Ironton is big and physical. They can wear you down.Our kids hung in there, but we’re young.”

The Red Devils posted a 17-13 advantage in first downs, but again had trouble finishing drives with touchdowns. They marched inside Ironton’s 10 on their first two series and both times had to settle for field goals. Locey connected from 25 and 23 yards, giving him four field goals in the last two games.

“That’s kind of been our history,” McGlone said.

Ironton, meanwhile, converted two first-half opportunities into TDs. Wilks, an elusive senior halfback, led the first drive which culminated with Hager’s 5-yard scoring run. Wilks carried for the two-point conversion.

Waginger connected with Lawless for a 20-yard touchdown in the second quarter as the Tigers took as 15-6 lead.

Lawless, Warner and Hager helped lead Ironton’s bend-but-not-break defense.

“We’re still a work in progress,” Lutz said. “I told somebody it will be six or seven games before we find out whether we’re going to be any good.”

Wilks rushed for 86 yards to lead the Tigers. Small and quick Zach Thompson of Russell also carried for 86 yards.

ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.