Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — The Price was right.

This game show’s winning numbers belonged to Tanner Price who ran six times for 70 yards and two touchdowns and returned the second half kickoff 89 yards for a score to help the Ironton Fighting Tigers roll past the Portsmouth Trojans 49-21 on Friday.

Ironton (4-1) got good balance from its backfield and they controlled the interior offensive and defensive lines en route to the win.

“Up front did the job again. They’re controlling the line of scrimmage,” said Ironton coach Mark Vass. “We have a five-man rotation in the backfield and we have a lot of balance. If you key on one or two guys, someone else can hurt you.”

Ironton racked up 324 yards on the ground led by D’Angelo Palladino with 142 yards on 13 attempts with a touchdown. Quarterback Tristan Cox ran for 29 yards and two scores.

The defense forced four turnovers including three fumbles and an interception by Richard Crockrel, his second of the season.

The Fighting Tigers’ defense asserted itself on the first play by forcing a fumble and recovering at the 20. Two plays later Price outraced the Trojans’ defense into the end zone and it was 6-0.

It was déjà vu on Portsmouth’s next possession as Ironton caused another fumble and recovered at the 30.

Palladino ran 29 before being pushed out of bounds at the 1-yard line. Cox — who had a big block on Palladino’s run — scored on the next play and Palladino added the conversion run for a 14-0 lead.

A 15-yard penalty helped Portsmouth get to the Ironton 27-yard line, but the Fighting Tigers’ defense forced an incomplete pass on fourth down.

Ironton then went 73 yards in eight plays culminating with a 34-yard scoring run by Price. Cox ran for the extra points and a 22-0 lead with 3:59 left in the first quarter.

Penalties stalled Ironton’s next two drives, but Crockrel’s interception at the 21-yard line with 43 seconds left in the half gave Ironton another scoring opportunity.

A 14-yard pass to Jeremy Bodmer got the ball to the 7 and Cox ran 2 yards on a fourth-and-goal with two seconds remaining. Cox threw to Lucas Campbell for the conversion and it was 30-0 at the break.

Ironton picked up where it left off to begin the second half as Price returned the kickoff for the score and a 36-0 lead.

“Nobody touched me. It just split wide open,” said Price.

Portsmouth answered on its first play following Ironton’s kickoff as Darrion Robinson got loose and ran 68 yards for a score. Zach Delotell kicked the extra point and it was 36-7.

“We just flowed to the ball and we did a pretty good job on Robinson. He had one long run, but they caught us in a blitz and we were out of position,” said Price.

But Ironton regained its grip two plays later as Palladino scooted 46 yards down the sidelines for a touchdown. Cox kicked the extra point for a 43-7 lead with 7:19 on the clock.

Ironton’s regular placekicker Luke Kelley missed the game due to an illness.

Portsmouth (1-4) got a 6-yard scoring run by Lowery with 6:18 left against Ironton’s second unit at it was 43-14.

The Trojans gained 129 of their 234 rushing yards in the fourth quarter. Vass noted some key hits by linemen Isaac Sherman and Caleb McKnight along with the linebacker tandem of Desmond Young and Bodmer.

“Our defense played pretty well. We were aggressive and we were throwing some licks,” said Vass.

After recovering an onside kickoff, the Trojans got a 6-yard run by Darray Richardson to trail 43-21 with 4:48 to play.

Portsmouth tried another onside kickoff but Ironton recovered and four plays later Isaiah Brickey-Scott bolted 49 yards for a touchdown to cap the scoring.

Ironton has an open date next Friday and returns home to play Columbus St. Charles on Oct. 10.

Ironton 22 8 13 6 = 49

Portsmouth 0 0 7 14 = 21

First Quarter

Irn — Tanner Price 21 run (kick failed) 10:57

Irn — Tristan Cox 1 run (D’Angelo Palladino run) 10:16

Irn — Tanner Price 34 run (Tristan Cox run) 3:59

Second Quarter

Irn — Tristan Cox 2 run (Lucas Campbell pass from Tristan Cox) 0:02

Third Quarter

Irn — Tanner Price 89 kickoff return (kick failed) 11:42

Prt — Darrion Robinson 68 run (Zach Delotell kick) 8:33

Irn — D’Angelo Palladino 46 run (Tristan Cox kick) 7:19

Fourth Quarter

Prt — Cole Lowery 6 run (Zach Delotell kick) 6:18

Prt — Darray Richardson 6 run (Zach Delotell kick) 4:48

Irn — Isaiah Brickey-Scott 49 run (run failed) 2:29

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Irn Prt

First downs 12 14

Rushes-yards 36-324 36-234

Passing yards 16 38

Total yards 340 272

Cmp-Att-Int 2-7-0 3-6-1

Fumbles-lost 2-0 6-3

Penalties-yards 8-74 3-17

Punts-average 2-39.0 2-40.5

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING —Ironton: D’Angelo Palladino 13-142, Tanner Price 6-70, Isaiah Brickey-Scott 4-65, Tristan Cox 7-29, Jeremy Bodmer 4-15, Garrett Carrico 1-2, Richard Crockrel 1-minus 1; Portsmouth: Darrion Robinson 12-111, Austin Hollins 7-56, Darray Richardson 5-53, Austin Mullins 3-8, Daniel Jordan 2-6, Cole Lowery 12-0.

PASSING — Ironton: Tristan Cox 2-6-0 16, Jake Isaac 0-1-0; Portsmouth: Cole Lowery 3-6-1 38.

RECEIVING — Ironton: Jeremy Bodmer 1-14, D’Angelo Palladino 1-6, Tanner Price 1-minus 4; Portsmouth: Luke Purdy 1-21m Austin Hollins 1-14, Tristin Visi 1-3.