Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Amanda-Clearcreek is looking to deal Aces, but the Ironton Fighting Tigers are planning to play their trump card.
The Aces will be pitting their offense up against the Ironton defense when the two teams meet at 7 p.m. on Saturday in the Division 5 Region 19 semifinals at Jackson High School.
Averaging nearly 33 points a game, the Aces 360 points are the most scored by any team Ironton has faced this season.
However, Ironton’s defense has allowed a microscopic 62 points in 11 games that includes three shutouts.
The Fighting Tigers (10-1) have not given up more than one touchdown in any game with the exception of a 16-10 overtime loss at Ashland, Ky., and in a 49-12 win over Coal Grove.
Amanda-Clearcreek (9-2) is led offensively by senior quarterback Peyton Madison (5-11, 175) and senior running back Alex Fairchild (5-8, 153).
Madison has rushed 143 times for 1,061 yards — a 7.4 yards per carry average — and 17 touchdowns. He is 67-of-113 passing for 864 yards and seven TDs.
In the 41-10 rout of Columbus Academy last week, Madison had 13 carries for 200 yards and a touchdown while completing 4-of-6 passing for 88 yards. Fairchild rushed 14 times for 173 yards and three TDs.
Senior Jayse Miller (6-1, 178) is the top receiver with 20 catches for 310 yards and four touchdowns.
Senior Brock Banker (5-11, 188) has 21 receptions for 300 yards and two scores.
A key for A-C will be if the offensive line can block Ironton’s defensive front of players like Seth Fosson, Junior Jones, Nate Cochran, Gunnar Crawford and Dalton Crabtree.
The A-C offensive line is led by senior right tackle Cory McCall (6-4, 260), junior left tackle Anthony Buckley (6-4, 240) and junior right guard Cole Bryan (6-2, 223). The left guard is junior Dalton Stump (5-11, 175) and the center senior Seth Hoffman (5-9, 229).
Placekicker Jonathan Weaver is 27-of-30 on extra points with one field goal.
While A-C has a high-scoring offense, Ironton’s offense is extremely potent in its own right.
Junior Reid Carrico (6-3, 225) has 141 carries for 1,083 yards — his second straight 1,000-yard season — for a 7.7 average and he has scored 20 touchdowns.
Madison won’t be the only duel threat quarterback on the field. Ironton senior Gage Salyers (6-1, 205) has ran 70 times for 527 yards — a 7.5 yards per carry — and scored 10 touchdowns.
His passing game has been on fire in recent weeks and he is now 63-of-120 for 1,299 yards and 11 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
There are plenty of targets on the other end of Salyers’ throws.
Carrico leads the team with 13 receptions for 312 yards and four TDs. Junior Trent Hacker (6-2, 175) had nine catches for 219 yards and three scores, junior Kyle Howell (5-10, 170) 12 grabs for 169 yards and a score, senior Jordan Grizzle (5-10, 190) nine catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns, senior Collin Freeman (6-0, 170) six receptions for 139 yards and a TD, and sophomore tight end Ashton Duncan eight catches for 121 yards.
Ironton’s offensive line has senior Caden McFann (5-11, 250) at center, junior Matthew Davis (6-0, 210) the right guards and sophomore Riley Boggs (6-2, 260) the left guard. The tackles are senior Nathaniel Davidson (6-5, 315) and sophomore Ryan Cecil (6-1, 270).
Junior Rocky White (5-11, 235) was the starting center before being injured for the second straight season. McFann — who was starting at guard — shifted to the center position just as he did last year.
The Aces’ defense is led by senior middle linebacker Jesse Connell (6-4, 199) with 115 tackles including 10 for a loss.
Junior strong safety Tim Smith (5-10, 163) is second on the team with 67 tackles.
The A-C front four are McCall, Hoffman, Buckley and Stevens. Connell is flanked by Young and sophomore Quintin Lott (6-0, 202) as the Sam and Will linebackers.
The secondary has Banker and Madison the cornerbacks with Miller the free safety.
Saturday’s winner advances to the regional finals to play the West Lafayette Ridgewood vs. Wheelersburg winner. Ironton last played for the regional title in 2009 and 2010.
Ironton and Amanda-Clearcreek have played three times previously including the 2011 players when the Fighting Tigers won 12-9 on the Aces’ home field.
The other two games were in the regular season in 2013 and 2014. Ironton won those games 14-7 and 34-23.

Ironton Offense
SE 29 Jordan Grizzle 5-10 190 Sr.
25 Colin Freeman 6-00 170 Sr.
LT 78 Ryan Cecil 6-01 270 So.
LG 70 Riley Boggs 6-02 260 So.
C 57 Caden McFann 5-11 250 Sr.
63 Rocky White 5-11 235 Jr.
RG 52 Matthew Davis 6-00 210 Jr.
RT 79 Nathaniel Davidson 6-05 315 Sr.
TE 24 Ashton Duncan 6-02 205 So.
WR 20 Kyle Howell 5-10 170 Jr.
10 Trent Hacker 6-02 175 Jr.
QB 7 Gage Salyers 6-01 205 Sr.
FB 44 Seth Fosson 6-01 235 Sr.
30 Cameron Deere 5-11 185 Jr.
TB 28 Reid Carrico 6-03 225 Jr.
PK 12 Avery Book 5-11 180 Sr.

Ironton Defense
DE 36 Gunnar Crawford 5-10 225 Jr.
33 Dalton Crabtree 5-10 190 Jr.
DT 2 Junior Jones 6-00 240 Sr.
DT 76 Nate Cochran 6-02 250 So.
DE 44 Seth Fosson 6-01 235 Sr.
LB 28 Reid Carrico 6-03 225 Jr.
LB 30 Cameron Deere 5-11 185 Jr.
LB 29 Jordan Grizzle 5-10 190 Sr.
10 Trent Hacker 6-02 175 Jr.
CB 25 Colin Freeman 6-00 170 Sr.
CB 20 Kyle Howell 5-10 170 Jr.
S 7 Gage Salyers 6-01 205 Sr.
P 12 Avery Book 5-11 180 Sr.

Amanda-Clearcreek Defense
DE 72 Cory McCall 6-04 260 Sr.
DT 57 Seth Hoffman 5-09 229 Sr.
DT 68 Anthony Buckley 6-04 240 Jr.
DE 29 Lane Stevens 5-11 245 Jr.
SLB 24 Cade Young 6-02 175 So.
MLB 25 Jesse Connell 6-04 199 Sr.
WLB 28 Quintin Lott 6-00 202 So.
CB 13 Brock Banker 5-11 188 Sr.
CB 15 Peyton Madison 5-11 175 Sr.
SS 10 Tim Smith 5-10 163 Jr.
FS 5 Jayse Miller 6-01 178 Sr.
P 25 Jesse Connell 6-04 199 Sr.

Amanda-Clearcreek Offense
WR 13 Brock Banker 5-11 188 Sr.
16 Jeff Bolin 6-00 151 Sr.
LT 68 Anthony Buckley 6-04 240 Jr.
LG 67 Dalton Stump 5-11 175 Jr.
C 57 Seth Hoffman 5-09 229 Sr.
RG 70 Cole Bryan 6-02 223 Jr.
RT 72 Cory McCall 6-04 260 Sr.
TE 29 Lane Stevens 5-11 245 Jr.
28 Quintin Lott 6-00 202 So.
QB 15 Peyton Madison 5-11 175 Sr.
RB 3 Alex Fairchild 5-08 153 Sr.
FB 25 Jesse Connell 6-04 199 Sr.
5 Jayse Miller 6-01 178 Sr.
PK 11 Jonathan Weaver 5-11 145 So.

 

Ironton Fighting Tigers
Ironton 30 Wheelersburg (7-3) 6
Ironton 10 Russell, Ky. (8-2) 0
Ironton 49 Fairland (6-4) 7
Ironton 10 Ashland, Ky. (8-2) OT 16
Ironton 38 South Point (1-9) 2
Ironton 50 Chesapeake (4-6) 6
Ironton 46 Rock Hill (3-7) 0
Ironton 49 Coal Grove (2-8) 12
Ironton 52 Gallipolis (9-1) 0
Ironton 48 Portsmouth (8-2) 7
Division 5 Playoffs
Ironton 56 Wellston (7-4) 6
Record: 10-1

Amanda-Clearcreek Aces
Clearcreek 47 Col. Independence (5-5) 14
Clearcreek 32 Unioto (6-4) 14
Clearcreek 27 Liberty Union (0-10) 21
Clearcreek 41 Fairfield Union (1-9) 6
Clearcreek 13 Waverly (9-2) 48
Clearcreek 21 Bloom-Carroll (9-2) 14
Clearcreek 54 Circleville (1-9) 8
Clearcreek 35 Hamilton Township (5-5) 32
Clearcreek 21 Teays Valley (7-3) 28
Clearcreek 28 Logan Elm (2-8) 6
Division 5 Playoffs
Clearcreek 41 Columbus Academy (7-4) 10
Record: 9-2