Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

This one went as expected.
The Ironton Fighting Tigers were heavy favorites against the young South Point Pointers on Friday and there was a reason.
Ironton rolled to a 41-6 halftime lead and went on to an easy 62-13 win in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
Gage Salyers ignited the Ironton offense as he ran eight times for 108 yards and was 10-of-16 passing for 154 yards and three touchdowns in just a little more than two quarters.
“We just focused and got our timing down. We were able to clear up a lot of things. Obviously, he’s a great athlete and throws the ball well,” said Ironton coach Trevon Pendleton.
“We haven’t been able to close games. We had opportunities. We played hard. Overall, I’m pleased with the effort. The effort and attitude has been great.”
Ironton (3-2, 2-0) racked up 526 total yards with 372 on the ground. Seth Fosson had 87 yards on 13 carries and Reid Carrico ran eight times for 65 yards.
South Point’s offense was totally stymied in the first half by the Ironton defense. The Pointers had minus-10 total yards including minus-9 rushing. For the game, South Point finished with minus-5 yards off offense.
“Our defense has been lights out all season. Our defense just flies around and loves to hit,” said Pendleton.
After a quick three-and-out, Ironton went 48 yards in just four plays as Salyers hit Brycen Thomas for 19 yards and Trent Hacker for 31 yards and his first career touchdown.
Izack Unger’s conversion kick made it 7-0 at 8:35
Ironton had a drive on their next possession but the Pointers’ Joel Morrison picked off a pass and returned it 76 yards for a pick six and it was 7-6.
The Fighting Tigers came right back with another four-play drive capped by a 24-yard pass from Salyers to Fosson and it was 14-6.
A 40-yard punt return by Thomas got the ball to the Pointers’ 48. Three plays later, Salyers hit Carrico on a 28-yard pass play for a touchdown and it was 21-6 with just 38 seconds left in the quarter.
A short punt gave Ironton the ball at the Pointers’ 33 and Carrico went one-yard for the touchdown six plays later and it was 28-6.
It took just two plays for Ironton to score its next touchdown as Salyers scrambled and bolted 66 yards for a touchdown and a 34-6 lead.
The Fighting Tigers went 44 yards in eight plays with Carrico rambling 10 yards for the score and it was 41-6 with 1:36 left in the half.
With a running clock, Ironton scored with 10:44 left in the third quarter as Ethan Duncan ran one-yard for the touchdown and Michael Mahlmeister booted the extra point to make it 48-6.
Fosson bolted 53 yards for a touchdown with 7:29 to play and it was 55-6.
Morrison got his second touchdown of the game as he returned the kickoff 95 yards and it was 55-13 after Justin Collins’ conversion kick.
Ironton capped the scoring when Chanston Bryant ran one-yard for the touchdown and Mahlmeister kicked the conversion.
Next Friday, Ironton hosts Chesapeake while South Point entertains Rock Hill.
South Point 6 0 0 7 = 13
Ironton 21 20 7 14 = 62
First Quarter
Irn — Trent Hacker 31 pass from Gage Salyers (Izack Unger kick) 8:35
SP — Joel Morrison 76 interception return (kick failed) 6:35
Irn — Seth Fosson 34 pass from Gage Salyers (Izack Unger kick) 4:46
Irn — Reid Carrico 28 pass from Gage Salyers (Izack Unger kick) 0:38
Second Quarter
Irn — Reid Carrico 1 run (Izack Unger kick) 8:47
Irn — Gage Salyers 66 run (kick failed) 6:07
Irn — Reid Carrico 10 run (Izack Unger kick) 1:36
Third Quarter
Irn — Ethan Duncan 1 run (Michael Mahlmeister kick) 10:44
Fourth Quarter
Irn — Seth Fosson 53 run (Michael Mahlmeister kick) 7:29
SP — Joel Morrison 95 kickoff return (Justin Collins) 7:15
Irn — Chanston Bryant 1 run (Michael Mahlmeister kick) 0:25
—————
SP Irn
First downs 2 20
Rushes-yards 16-(-4) 44-372
Passing yards -1 154
Total yards -9 526
Cmp-Att-Int 3-12-0 10-16-1
Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-0
Penalties-yards 1-6 6-55
Punts-average 7-31.0 0-00.0
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Individual Leaders
RUSHING — South Point: JoJo burris 7-10, Walker Clay 1-0, Brandon Pierson 1-0, Joel Morrison 5-minus 4, Alex Lambert 2-minus 11; Ironton: Gage Salyers 8-101, Seth Fosson 13-87, Reid Carrico 8-65, Cameron Deere 3-39, Kameron Browning 5-44, Ethan Duncan 2-15, Chanston Bryant 3-10, Brycen Thomas 1-1, Aiden Barnes 1-3.
PASSING — South Point: Alex Lambert 3-17-0 minus-1, Joel Morrison 0-5-0; Ironton: Gage Salyers 10-16-1 154.
RECEIVING — South Point: Joel Morrison 2-2, Walker Clay 1-minus 3; Ironton: Reid Carrico 3-51, Trent Hacker 1-31, Seth Fosson 1-24, Brycen Thomas 1-19, Jordan Grizzle 1-13, Aiden Barnes 1-6, Cameron Deere 1-3.