Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Mirror, mirror on the field, which team is which?
That’s the way things will look this week when the Ironton Fighting Tigers host the Coal Grove Hornets in a key Ohio Valley Conference game.
The two teams are mirror images in many ways including having black as one of their school colors.
Ironton runs its T-formation offense with a few variation and prefers a 5-2 look on defense with some adjustments.
Coal Grove under coach Brian Kidd has adopted the T-formation as well to go with its traditional Wing-I and other variations including a spread or shotgun look.
“Their offense is almost identical to ours,” said Ironton coach Mark Vass. “They have a big line and some good backs and like to come right at you. Neither one of us is going to confuse the other one.”
First place is at stake yet again as Ironton (4-3, 4-0) leads the league race but the Hornets (5-1, 3-1) are just one game back.
Ironton is coming off a 33-14 win over Rock Hill while Coal Grove crushed Gallipolis 67-13.
The Hornets’ offense is led by the tandem of senior running backs Daniel “Rudy” Rutherford and Jacob Clark.
Rutherford (6-0, 190) will move from running back to wide receiver depending on the formation. Clark is only 5-foot-5, 160-pounds but Vass said “he’s strong, quick and runs very hard.
“Rutherford is a nice athlete. He played some quarterback last year. He’s very versatile. But you can’t overlook their other backs. Their fullback runs hard, the Henry kid is a good runner and I like their quarterback.”
The fullback is junior Kimo Baldwin (6-0, 220). Senior Tanner Henry (5-10, 185) can play halfback or fullback and senior quarterback Matty Cordle (6-2, 155) has thrown the ball well but can run if needed.
“It’s a balanced offense. They moved the ball and were leading Chesapeake but turned the ball over a couple of times and that hurt them,” said Vass.
Up front the Hornets have junior Trey Hicks (6-0, 260) at center, junior Darin Bloomfield (6-0, 220) and senior Chase Johnson are the guards (6-3, 225), and seniors Brad Roach (6-0, 240) and Brandon Davis (6-1, 220) are the tackles.
The ends are senior Nathan Harrison (5-11, 175) and junior Jeb Jones (6-2, 200).
“Their offensive line does a nice job. They’ve played well in all the games we’ve seen on film or in person,” said Vass.
Defensively the Hornets moved to a 5-2 more often than their former 5-3 look but will use both.
Junior Josh Waulk (5-11, 350) is the nose guard with Harrison (5-11,175) and Roach the tackles. Senior James Baker (6-0, 250) and Johnson are the ends.
The linebackers are Baldwin and Henry and the cornerbacks are Rutherford and Clark. The safeties are senior Dylan Malone (5-10, 160) and sophomore Kyle Sites (5-7, 140).
Malone also plays receiver on offense.
“They’ve got a big defensive line and they have a couple of good linebackers. Their secondary has some good athletes. They’re a solid unit,” said Vass.
Rutherford does the punting and Jones the placements.
Kickoff is 7 p.m.