Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

As Humphrey Bogart said in Casablanca, “Play it again, Sam.”

For the second year in a row, the Ironton Fighting Tigers (7-3) will face the Johnstown-Monroe Johnnies (9-2) in the Division IV Region 15 semifinal game.

The game will be at Athens High School Friday with kickoff at 7:30 p.m.

“They lost some guys from last year, but they’re still a very good team. They have five or six guys back on both sides of the ball to give them a solid base, and they new starters are all pretty good. It’ll be a tough game for us,” said Ironton coach Mark Vass.

Last season the Johnnies used the running of record-setting tailback Ross Franklin to beat the Fighting Tigers 34-7. Franklin ran 23 times for 251 yards and three touchdowns.

The Johnnies had 341 total yards — all on the ground — while Ironton had 238 total yards but was guilty of two turnovers.

Johnnies’ quarterback Tyler Thompson (6-0, 160) was a wide receiver last season and scored on an 80-yard punt return in the first quarter that help J-M to a 21-7 halftime lead. He has rushed for nearly 1,000 this season.

“The quarterback is a good athlete. He can run and he can throw well when they decide to throw,” said Vass. “They don’t have Franklin, but the tailback is still pretty good and they have the good fullback who played last year.”

With Franklin now at Findlay College, sophomore Cody Farley (5-10, 167) has stepped in at tailback and rushed for more than 1,000 yards. He is joined in the backfield by returning starter Adam Carter (5-9, 205) at fullback.

The top receiver is veteran Nick Sadinsky (6-0, 190) but J-M has other capable receivers. Aaron Davis (5-7, 200) is the tight end, Bailey Duncan and Sadinsky split the slot position, and Preston Hiles (5-11,180) and Scott Sammons (6-2, 180) share the splint end spot.

“They have a lot of good athletes,” said Vass.

Up front the Johnnies have Brandon Dickess (5-9, 225) at center, veterans Dakota Crawford (6-3, 310) and Tim Sayer (6-4, 200) at the guards and Justin Mooney (6-4, 260) at one tackle with Cobin Grassman (6-2, 205) at tackle-eligible in the unusual offensive formation.

In last week’s 24-21 win over Indian Valley, Sadinsky caught three passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. He had just six catches for 76 yards and a score during the regular season.

Sadinsky also had the key play with an interception at the Johnnies’ 3-yard line with 1:08 to play. He returned the pick 42 yards and J-M was able to run out the clock.

Farley ran 29 times for 146 yards and a TD while Thompson had 39 yards on 15 carries. Carter ran nine times for 36 yards as the Johnnies racked up 395 total yards — 220 on the ground.

On the defensive side, the Johnnies have Crawford to anchor the line in the 4-3 alignment.

Clayton Bullard (6-4, 190) is one end with Sayer and Daniel-Mark Almendinger (5-8, 140) on the other side. The other interior lineman is Jake Taylor (5-10, 160). Alex Catalogna (6-2, 270) also figures to get plenty of playing time.

The linebacking corps is led by Grassman on the strong side. Loren Wueen (5-7, 165) is on the weak side with either Alex Workman (5-8, 160) or Almendinger in the middle.

“They have a very good group of linebackers, an active and athletic secondary and an aggressive line. It’s a very athletic group with good speed and quickness,” said Vass.

The corners are Brendan Barasch (5-6, 145) and Thompson with Sadinsky the free safety and Zach Fleming (6-0, 165) the strong safety. Also in the mix are Workman and Scott Sammons (6-2, 180).

Charles Benton — who had a 42-yard field goal last week that proved to be the deciding score — handles the placekicking and punting.

 

Ironton Fighting Tigers

Ironton 32 Wheelersburg 27

Ironton 47 Russell, Ky. 21

Ironton 14 Gallipolis 13

Ironton 27 Ashland, Ky. 17

Ironton 61 Portsmouth 34

Ironton 31 Johnston Central 44

Ironton 8 Col. Watterson 42

Ironton 6 Col. Hartley 62

Ironton 28 Oak Hill 0

Ironton Open

Playoffs

Ironton 41 Bloom-Carroll 16

Record: 7-3

 

Johnstown-Monroe Johnnies

Johnstown 20 Granville 39

Johnstown 18 Heath 14

Johnstown 62 Lakewood 7

Johnstown 42 Centerburg 21

Johnstown 23 Loudonville 15

Johnstown 14 Fredericktown 0

Johnstown 49 Utica 8

Johnstown 35 Danville 42

Johnstown 31 East Knox 21

Johnstown 55 Northridge 6

Playoffs

Johnstown 24 Indian Valley 21

Record: 9-2

 

Ironton Fighting Tigers

OFFENSE

Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Gr.

TE 29 Brandon Wilson 5-11 170 Sr.

LT 75 Isaac Sherman 6-04 300 So.

LG 77 Tyler Taylor 5-08 240 Jr.

C 52 Jacob Friend 5-11 190 Sr.

RG 65 Hunter Carmon 5-11 300 Sr.

RT 71 Adam Webb 6-06 315 Jr.

TE 88 Aaron Stephens 6-03 210 Sr.

QB 6 Tanner Dutey 5-11 170 Sr.

RB 37 Matt Thomas 5-08 171 Sr.

FB 45 Trevor White 6-03 210 Sr.

49 Tanner Schweickart 5-11 210 Sr.

RB 22 Patrick Lewis 5-10 175 Sr.

PK 9 Jalen Schweickart 5-09 182 Sr.

 

 

DEFENSE

Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Gr.

DE 88 Aaron Stephens 6-03 210 Sr.

DT 71 Adam Webb 6-06 315 Jr.

NG 62 Austin Rowe 5-07 180 Sr.

DT 72 Devin Guy 5-10 260 Sr.

DE 45 Trevor White 6-03 210 Sr.

LB 51 Maurice Phillips 5-10 225 Sr.

LB 67 Nick Heaberlin 6-00 220 Sr.

CB 37 Matt Thomas 5-08 171 Sr.

CB 22 Patrick Lewis 5-10 175 Sr.

S 29 Brandon Wilson 5-11 170 Sr.

S 28 Derik Berry 5-10 170 Jr.

8 Tristan Cox 6-01 176 So.

P 68 Hunter Klaiber 5-10 200 Fr.

 

 

Johnstown-Monroe Johnnies

DEFENSE

Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Gr.

DE 82 Clayton Bullard 6-04 190 Jr.

DT 73 Jake Taylor 5-10 160 So.

DT 70 Dakota Crawford 6-03 310 Sr.

76 Alex Catalogna 6-02 270 Fr.

DE 62 Tim Sayer 6-04 200 Sr.

OLB 10 Corbin Grassman 6-02 205 Sr.

MLB 42 Daniel Almedinger 5-08 140 Sr.

28 Alex Workman 5-08 160 Jr.

OLB 21 Loren Queen 5-07 165 Jr.

CB 18 Tyler Thompson 6-00 160 Sr.

CB 5 Brendan Barasch 5-06 145 So.

SS 3 Zack Fleming 6-00 165 So.

FS 34 Nick Sadinsky 6-00 190 Sr.

P 1 Charles Benton 6-04 190 Jr.

 

OFFENSE

Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Gr.

TE 10 Corbin Grassman 6-02 205 Sr.

20 Marcus Nogaj 6-00 180 So.

LT 70 Dakota Crawford 6-03 310 Sr.

LG 62 Tim Sayer 6-04 200 Sr.

C 55 Brandon Dingess 5-09 255 Sr.

RG 60 Justin Mooney 6-04 260 Sr.

RT 77 Aaron Davis 5-07 200 Jr.

QB 19 Tyler Thompson 6-00 160 Sr.

Slot 34 Nick Sadinsky 6-00 190 Sr.

4 Bailey Duncan 5-10 180 Sr.

SE 9 Preston Hiles 5-11 180 Sr.

13 Scott Sammons 6-02 180 Sr.

FB 44 Adam Carter 5-09 205 Sr.

TB 2 Cody Farley 5-10 167 So.

PK 1 Charles Benton 6-04 190 Jr.