Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

Hey Dorothy, can we borrow the Tin Man’s oil can.

After a two-week layoff for the team and even more for several injured players who returned, the Ironton Fighting Tigers shook off the rust in time for their Division IV Region 15 quarterfinal playoff game Friday at Tanks Memorial Stadium.

Patrick Lewis scored four touchdowns and ran 26 times for 310 yards including 249 in the second half as the Ironton Fighting Tigers beat the Bloom-Carroll Bulldogs 41-16 Friday in the Division IV Region 15 quarterfinals.

“We played pretty well, but we didn’t execute at times as well as we should have. That may have been because of the layoff,” said Ironton coach Mark Vass.

“I like the fact we were able line up and run the football. We were able to keep pounding on their defense and then we were able to break some big plays in the second half.”

Ironton (7-3) racked up 414 yards on the ground and 482 total yards despite losing starting two-way tackle Adam Webb to an injury in the second quarter.

“We had to make some adjustments. I thought Devin Guy stepped up for us. He hasn’t had to play both ways all season and he filled in well,” said Vass.

Ironton took the opening kickoff and went 64 yards in nine plays to take a 7-0 lead on a Lewis 8-yard run.

The Fighting Tigers started moving the ball on their next possession, but B-C recovered a fumble at the Ironton 46 and scored seven plays later on a 14-yard Kelly Milliser to Tyler Sorg pass.

A bad snap sailed over the punter’s head and gave Ironton the ball at the Bulldogs’ 5-yard line. Tanner Dutey scored two plays later on a 1-yard quarterback sneak for a 14-7 lead.

B-C got within 14-13 when Milliser hit Sorg on a 44-yard Hail Mary pass as time expired in the first half. After Ironton dropped a potential interception on third down, Milliser threw what appeared to be another interception but the ball went through the hands of an Ironton defensive back into Sorg’s hands.

The conversion kick was wide right and Ironton held a 14-13 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs put together their only real drive of the game when they went from their own 38 to the Ironton 6. The defense forced a 23-yard field goal by Dominic Garris to give B-C a 16-14 lead to begin the second half.

But three plays later Lewis took over with a 53-yard scoring run to make it 20-16 with 6:07 left in the third quarter.

“We stepped up our game. Our conditioning helped. It’s hard, but it helps us in the long run,” said Lewis.

After forcing a punt, Ironton drove to the Bulldogs’ 13-yard line only to be stopped on downs.

“I think the defense did a pretty good job,” said Ironton linebacker Mo Phillips. “We were more worried about the run. We didn’t think they would throw that much, but we took away the run and they started to throw more.”

The Bulldogs had to punt again early in the fourth quarter and Lewis broke the game open with a 64-yard touchdown run on the ensuing play for a 34-16 lead with 7:04 on the clock.

The Bulldogs’ fifth punt gave the ball to Ironton at the 40-yard line. Lewis carried four of the next five plays including a 23-yard scamper with 41 seconds left to set the final score.

“We tightened things up in the second half. We were able to take the running game away and force them to throw the ball. Our defense did a good job,” said Vass.

Bloom-Carroll (5-6) had 277 total yards with 98 coming on the ground. Leading rusher Zach Jude had 74 yards on 23 carries. Milliser was 12 of 35 for 179 yards and two touchdowns.

Ironton will play Johnstown-Monroe in the regional semifinals next Friday, possibly at Jackson or Logan. The Johnnies beat Ironton 34-7 last season in the regional semifinals.

Bloom-Carroll 7 6 3 0 = 16

Ironton 7 7 6 21 = 41

First Quarter

Irn — Patrick Lewis 8 run (Jalen Schweickart kick) 7:56

BC — Tyler Sorg 14 pass from Kelly Milliser (Dominic Garris kick) 3:09

Second Quarter

Irn — Tanner Dutey 1 run (Jalen Schweickart kick) 4:26

BC — Tyler Sorg 44 pass from Kelly Milliser (kick failed) 0:00

Third Quarter

BC — Dominic Garris 23 field goal 7:21

Irn — Patrick Lewis 53 run (pass failed) 6:07

Fourth Quarter

Irn — Patrick Lewis 64 run (Jalen Schweickart kick) 9:29

Irn — Patrick Lewis 23 run (Jalen Schweickart kick) 7:04

Irn — Trevor White 1 run (Jalen Schweickart kick) 0:41

Team Statistics

BC Irn

First downs 15 17

Rushes-yards 34-98 53-414

Passing yards 179 68

Total yards 277 482

Cmp-Att-Int 12-35-0 2-6-0

Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1

Penalties-yards 4-40 4-42

Punts-average 5-32.8 2-42.0

Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Bloom-Carroll: Zach Jude 23-74, Kelly Milliser 7-33, Dalton Vanatta 2-17, Levi Fetherold 1-minus 7, team 1-minus 24; Ironton: Patrick Lewis 26-310, Dion Brown 10-53, Trevor White 14-41, Tanner Dutey 3-10.

PASSING—Bloom-Carroll: Kelly Milliser 12-35-0 179; Ironton: Tanner Dutey 2-6-0 68.

RECEIVING—Bloom-Carroll: Michael Parsell 3-36, Justin Meadows 3-44, Tyler Sorg 3-70, Taylor Ball 2-24, Levi Fetherolf 1-5; Ironton: Aaron Stephens 1-46, Patrick Lewis 1-22.

MISSED FIELD GOALS: None.