By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

Mirror, mirror on the field.

It’ll be two programs with a lot of similarities clashing Saturday night in the Division IV Region 15 semifinals when the Ironton Fighting Tigers travel to play the Amanda-Clearcreek Aces.

The Aces (8-2) are making their 18th playoff appearance. They won back-to-back Division V state titles in 1999-2000 and the program has had three state runners-up.

Ironton (6-4) qualified for the 29th time and the Fighting Tigers have two state titles (1979 Class AA, 1989 Division III), six state runners-up and nine state semifinal appearances.

Ironically, both schools have the same orange and black team colors.

“There are a lot of similarities our programs,” said Ironton coach Bob Lutz. “We both like play a physical style and try to run the ball. They’ve had a lot of success over the years and a lot of good teams. We’ll have our hands full.”

The Aces like to run behind a big offensive line with leading rusher Chet Saum and dual-threat quarterback Austin Smith.

Wide receiver Allen Andrix stands 6-foot-8 and weighs 201 pounds to give Smith a big target. Smith also looks for Saum, Spencer Chenetski (5-11, 185) and Dustin Cornell (5-11, 200).

The fullback is Nick Brumfield (5-8, 172).

Up front the Aces have Taylor Mets (5-10,180) at center, Austin Reid (6-1, 215) and Alex Norris (6-3, 230) the guards, and Nathan Seitz (6-1, 280) and David Maynard (6-0, 315) the tackles.

“The quarterback is a good athlete. He can make some plays running or throwing. (Saum) is tough kid who runs hard. But they’ve got other guys who can make plays, too,” said Lutz.

Clearcreek won the Mid-State League Buckeye championship with a thrilling 17-14 win over previously unbeaten Logan Elm last week. Saum ran for 83 yards on 20 carries and Smith was 5 of 9 for 69 yards including an 18-yard pass to Dusty Riffle forteh winning score.

Saum threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Matt Shannon for the Aces’ first score and Grant Brown kicked a 20-yard field goal.

On the defensive side, Clearcreek mixes their alignment between a 50 look to a 4-4.

“They’re aggressive and they run to the ball well,” said Lutz. “Their size will make it tough for us to move the ball. They’ve got a nice group of linebackers.”

Maynard and Mets share the nose guard spot in the 50 front. The ends are Jamison Bennett (5-10, 165) and Reid while Norris and Saum are the tackles.

Andrix is the inside linebacker with Brumfield and Cornell are his running mates. The secondary has Chenetski and J.J. Tipton (5-10, 175) at the corners with Smith the free safety.

Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Division IV Region 15
Ironton at Amanda-Clearcreek
Ironton      42    Wheelersburg    13
Ironton      20    Russell, Ky.    14
Ironton       42    Chillicothe    0
Ironton       6    Ashland, Ky.    28
Ironton       0    Jonathan Alder    17
Ironton      6    Gallipolis    0
Ironton       22    Jackson    28
Ironton      16    Col. Hartley    34
Ironton      28    Simon Kenton    22
Ironton      30    Portsmouth      14
Record: 6-4

Clearcreek    22    Col. Hartley    30
Clearcreek    49    Zane Trace    7
Clearcreek    52    Liberty Union    19
Clearcreek    42    Circleville    13
Clearcreek    28    Canal Winchester    13
Clearcreek    6    Hamilton Township    2
Clearcreek    8    Teays Valley    27
Clearcreek    34    Fairfield Union    7
Clearcreek    52    Bloom-Carroll    9
Clearcreek    17    Logan Elm    14
Record: 8-2