Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Big plays on offense and a shutdown defense were the right formula for the Ironton Fighting Tigers.
The Fighting Tigers used long scoring plays and a strong defensive effort as they blanked the Rock Hill Redmen 46-0 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Friday.
With two scoring plays covering more than 30 yards and another touchdown for more than 60 yards, Ironton racked up 394 total yards including 296 on the ground.
The Fighting Tigers’ defense limited Rock Hill to just 105 total yards — all on the ground.
“The defense, they’ve stepped up and they played great all year no matter who the opponent is and the type of scheme they’re running. Our defense just loves to play football, they love to get 11 to get 11 hats to the ball. They just love to get after people,” said Ironton coach Trevon Pendleton.
“It’s just their mentality on that side of the ball. It’s good to see them just cut loose and have fun.”
Reid Carrico ran just 11 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Ironton ground game. Seth Fosson added 58 yards on five carries and a score.
Quarterback Gage Salyers was 7-of-10 passing for 98 yards and a TD while also running for a touchdown.
Ironton (6-1, 4-0) took the opening kickoff and wasted little time in finding the end zone.
Salyers hit Jordan Grizzle for 13 and Trent Hacker for 7 yards to the Redmen 47.
Salyers ran 7 yards on a fourth down to keep the drive going and then he connected with Hacker on a 39-yard touchdown pass to make it 6-0 less than three minutes into the game.
Rock Hill (1-6, 1-3) fumbled on its first play and Collin Freeman recovered at the 33. Three plays later, Salyers faked a handoff and kept the ball for a 34-yard scoring run.
Avery Book’s conversion kick made it 13-0 at the 8:26 mark.
Following a three-and-out, Ironton had the ball at its own 47. Fosson broke loose on a 42-yard run to the 1-yard line and he scored two plays later and it was 20-0.
Rock Hill’s Owen Hankins recovered an Ironton fumble at the Fighting Tigers’ 42 but failed to convert a fourth down.
Ironton got the ball back at its own 36 and Carrico made it a quick scoring drive as he took the handoff on the ensuing play and raced 64 yards for the touchdown and a 26-0 lead.
The Fighting Tigers sent holder Kyle Howell in motion and Book took the direct snap but his drop kick attempt failed with 8:15 left in the half.
Ironton recovered the second half kickoff thanks to a weird bounce of the ball at the Rock Hill 18 and Carrico scored four plays later from 2 yards out.
The Fighting Tigers sent holder Howell in motion and Book took the direct snap and attempted a pass that fell incomplete and it was 32-0 with 10:19 on the third quarter clock.
A 33-yard punt return by Kyle Howell gave Ironton the ball at the Rock Hill 47 and four plays later Cameron Deere darted 22 yards for the touchdown and it was 39-0 with 42 seconds left in the quarter.
Ironton capped the scoring on a 52-yard run by Trevor Carter with 3:08 left in the game.
Next Friday, Ironton goes to Coal Grove and Rock Hill entertains Gallipolis.
Rock Hill    0    0    0    0    =    0
Ironton     20    6    13    7    =    46
First Quarter
Irn — Trent Hacker 39 pass from Gage Salyers (run failed) 9:25
Irn — Gage Salyers 34 run (Avery Book kick) 8:26
Irn — Seth Fosson 1 run (Avery Book kick) 4:43
Second Quarter
Irn — Reid Carrico 64 run (kick failed) 8:15
Third Quarter
Irn — Reid Carrico 2 run (pass failed) 10:19
Irn — Cameron Deere 22 run (Avery Book kick) 0:42
Fourth Quarter
Irn — Trevor Carter 52 run (Avery Book kick) 3:08
———
RH    Irn
First downs    6    14
Rushes-yards    35-105    26-296
Passing yards    0    98
Total yards    105    394
Cmp-Att-Int    1-3-0    7-10-0
Fumbles-lost    1-1    5-3
Penalties-yards    1-3    4-32
Punts-average    4-31.3    0-00.0
——
Individual Leaders
RUSHING —Rock Hill: Logan Hankins 14-31, T.J. McGinnis 9-33, Brayden Malone 6-14, Owen Hankins 2-3, Skyler Kidd 2-7, Hunter Massie 1-minus 1Hunter Blagg 3-4, Chase Delong 2-13, Brock Friend 2-5, Deven Long 2-2, Bradyen Friend 2-minus 6; Ironton: Reid Carrico 11-121, Seth Fosson 5-58, Cameron Deere 2-22, Gage Salyers 3-30, Kameron Browning 1-12, Trevor Carter 2-54, Kyle Howell 1-minus 1.
PASSING — Rock Hill: Brayden Friend 1-3-0 0; Ironton: Gage Salyers 7-10-0 98.
RECEIVING — Rock Hill: Owen Hankins 1-0; Ironton: Trent Hacker 2-45, Ashton Duncan 2-19, Reid Carrico 2-15, Jordan Grizzle 1-13.