Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

Ironton coach Mark Vass knows his team is playing the Bloom-Carroll Bulldogs in the playoffs on Friday. After that, things are kind of fuzzy.

Ironton has scouted the Bulldogs and has some film from late season games, but the Bulldogs also used different players at various positions earlier in the season, mainly running back and quarterback.

Ironton (6-3) will attempt to get familiar quickly when the Fighting Tigers host B-C at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Division IV Region 15 quarterfinals.

The Bulldogs (5-5) began the season with Sam Fraturo (5-9, 170) the top running threat. A transfer from Fairfield Christian where he ran for 1,044 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, Fraturo had 69 carries for 426 yards in four games.

But Zack Jude (6-0, 190) has been the top runner the past three weeks. He has 71 carries for 427 yards and three TDs during that stretch including 28 carries for 157 yards and three scores in last week’s 30-25 win over Hamilton Township.

“Jude runs really hard and he has good speed,” said Vass. “We haven’t seen (Fraturro) in any of the films we have, so we’re not sure what he can do. We’ll just have to be ready. But they have more than just a running game.”

Kelly Milliser (6-2, 160) started the season at quarterback before being replaced by slotback Levi Fetherolf.

Milliser was 12 of 22 for 130 yards and a touchdown in the Bulldogs’ first game, but he threw four interceptions.

Fetherolf was 35 of 62 for 547 yards and three TDs over the next four games.

“Regardless of who plays quarterback, they are both good athletes. We saw (Fetholf) at slotback and he’s pretty good and Milliser impressed us at quarterback,” said Vass.

The top receiver for B-C is 6-foot-2, 160-pound Tyler Song who had six catches for 121 yards and a touchdown against Amanda-Clearcreek.

Taylor Ball (6-2, 175) is the tight end and the split end is Justin Meadows (6-4, 175) who had six receptions for 50 yards against Fairfield Union.

The offensive line consists of Jesse Charles (5-8, 260) at center, T.J. Howard (5-11, 210) and Trevor Hennosy (5-8, 210) at the guards, and Jake Packwood (6-1, 240) and Josh Ball (6-2, 300) at the tackles.

The defense is led by inside linebacker Dalton Vanatta (6-1, 210) and Jude at outside linebacker. The line play is led by tackle Cole Bryant (6-0, 210).

The ends are Cody Howard (6-0, 220) and Mitchell Stout (6-1, 210), Cody Johnson (5-7, 145) is the other tackle, and Caleb Slyh (5-6, 160) plays inside linebacker with Josh Roach (5-10, 200) on the outside.

The secondary has Zach Patsch (6-1, 165) and Jakes Evans (6-0, 165) the corners with Fraturo at safety.

“Their defense is very aggressive and they mix it up well. They give you a lot of different looks,” said Vass.

Bloom-Carroll began the season 2-5 but closed with wins over Circleville, Amanda-Clearcreek and Hamilton Township to qualify for their first playoff appearance since 2000 when they posted their last winning season at 8-2.