By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

COLUMBUS — Ironton had no problem moving the football, but neither did Johnstown-Monroe.

Ironton had 238 total yards and plenty of chances to score, but the Johnnies had 341 yards — all on the ground — as they picked up a 34-7 win over the Fighting Tigers in the Division IV Region 15 semifinals on Saturday at Hamilton Township High School.

Ross Franklin ran 23 times for 251 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead the Johnnies offense.

“We should have scored three or four more times, but we didn’t do a good job stopping them,” said Ironton coach Bob Lutz.

“(Franklin) is a 200-pound back who runs pretty well north and south. We were worried about their quarterback but we pretty much stopped him. (Franklin) ran hard. He’s pretty good.”

Ironton was passive early and Johnstown took advantage to jump out to a 14-0 first quarter lead.

The Johnnies needed just three plays to score as Adam Carter ran 56 yards for the score 42 seconds into the game and it was 7-0.

Ironton 0 7 0 0 = 7

Johnstown 14 7 6 7 = 34

First Quarter

JM – Adam Carter 56 run (Charles Benton kick) 11:28

JM – Tyler Thompson 80 punt return (Charles Benton kick) 8:05

Second Quarter

Irn – Trevor White 1 run (Steve Sisler kick) 11:15

JM – Ross Franklin 49 run (Charles Benton kick) 7:04

Third Quarter

JM – Ross Franklin 13 run (kick blocked) 0:34

Fourth Quarter

JM – Ross Franklin 10 run (Charles Benton kick) 8:09

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Irn JM

First downs 15 14

Rushes-yards 51-157 38-341

Passing yards 81 0

Total yards 238 341

Cmp-Att-Int 6-13-1 0-4-0

Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-0

Penalties-yards 8-91 8-67

Punts-average 3-26.0 1-27.0

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Ironton: Tyler Hager 10-55, Dion Brown 6-37, Trevor White 18-40, Tanner Schweickart 4-23, Tyler Kratzenberg 13-2; Johnstown: Ross Franklin 23-251, Adam Carter 2-58, Matt Smith 9-16, Alex Workman 2-5, Harrison Johnson 2-11

PASSING—Ironton: Tyler Kratzenberg 6-12-1 81, Trevor White 0-1-0; Johnstown: Matt Smith 0-4-0.

RECEIVING—Ironton: Aaron Stephens 1-35, Tyler Hager 1-19, Patrick Lewis 4-27; Johnstown: None.