Ironton head coach Bob Lutz must be thinking that Houdini is on the Columbus DeSales coaching staff.

For the second straight season, the Fighting Tigers had the DeSales Stallions on the ropes only to let them perform a great escape act in a 24-16 loss Friday night at Tanks Memorial Stadium.

Ironton led 16-10 with 2:49 to play when A.J. Kaltenbach broke loose on a 50-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 16-16.

The conversion kick missed, but the Fighting Tigers were called for roughing the kicker and A.J. Principe's second attempt was good to put the Stallions up 17-16 with 1:16 left to play.

&#8220They hadn't had a run over 10 yards the whole game and then we miss a tackle at the line of scrimmage and the guy goes the distance,” Lutz said. &#8220The way we were playing in the second half, I didn't think there was any way they would score.”

With time running out and Ironton near midfield, quarterback Drew Kuehne threw a pass while under pressure. David Knapke intercepted for DeSales and ran it back 54 yards for the clinching touchdown.

Another break helped DeSales to its first touchdown.

The Stallions (6-4) drove 73 yards in 10 plays to start the second half. Kaltenbach ran 1 yard for the touchdown that put DeSales up 10-7.

However, fullback Justin Moore appeared to have fumbled the ball five plays earlier and Ironton recovered at the 23-yard line. Moore was ruled down and the drive continued.

Ironton answered with its own drive from the 29-yard line to the DeSales' 11. The drive stalled but Craig Stamper kicked a 27-yard field goal to tie the score at 10-10.

After forcing a punt, the Fighting Tigers put together a 13-play, 79-yard march keyed by the running of fullback Jared Murphy who had a big 28-yard gain. Murphy culminated the drive with a 1-yard run. The conversion kick failed and it was 16-10.

&#8220We only had the ball three times in the second half, but we moved it every time. That was as well as we've played all season,” Lutz said.

The game began in fireworks fashion. On the first play from scrimmage, Chad Miller found Brandon Walker behind the DeSales' secondary for a 74-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead.

The Stallions got within 7-3 on a 19-yard field goal by Principe late in the first quarter. The score was set up by an 18-yard punt out of the end zone that gave DeSales the ball at the Ironton 22.

&#8220The defense played well. Other than the only breakdown at the end, we matched them up front,” Lutz said.

Murphy finished with 96 yards on 14 carries. Darius Lewis was limited to 37 yards on 13 attempts, but Ironton outgained the Stallions 278 to 231.

&#8220They were geared to take Darius away, but we were able to pop Jared in there and he ran well,” Lutz said.

Ironton, 8-2, will remain second in Region 15 of Division IV. The Fighting Tigers are expected to host Rock Hill at 7 p.m. Saturday in the first round of the playoffs.

DeSales30714=24

Ironton7036=16

First Quarter

Irn – Brandon Walker 74 pass from Chad Miller (Craig Stamper kick) 11:45

DeS – A.J. Principe 19 field goal 2:19

Third Quarter

DeS – A.J. Kaltenbach 1 run (A.J. Principe kick) 6:44

Irn – Craig Stamper 27 field goal 0:00

Fourth Quarter

Irn – Jared Murphy 1 run (kick failed) 2:49

DeS – A.J. Kaltenbach 50 run (A.J. Principe kick) 1:16

DeS – David Knapke 54 interception return (A.J. Principe kick) 0:05

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DeSIrn

First downs1016

Rushes-yards33-19340-161

Passing yards38117

Total yards231278

Cmp-Att-Int4-8-17-15-1

Fumbles-lost1-02-1

Penalties-yards8-737-53

Punts-average5-37.65-25.6

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING – DeSales: A.J. Kaltenbach 12-113, Justin Moore 11-68, Matt Mangini 8-14, Joey Rodenfels 2-minus 2; Ironton: Jared Murphy 14-96, Darius Lewis 13-37, Eric Layne 3-23, Dominic Murphy 2-14, Chad Miller 7-minus 14, Drew Kuehne 1-5.

PASSING – DeSales: Matt Mangini 4-7-0 38, Joey Rodenfels 0-1-1; Ironton: Chad Miller 4-6-0 100, Drew Kuehne 3-9-1 17.

RECEIVING – DeSales: A.J. Kaltenbach 1-16, Kenneth Stafford 1-5, Drew McNally 1-8, Joey Rodenfels 1-9; Ironton: Brandon Walker 3-94, Chad Miller 2-14, Darius Lewis 1-6, Jared Murphy 1-3.