Jackson (7-2) at Zanesville (8-1)

[Zanes-Vegas]

Heck, I loved playing the Stubbers, even when we were getting ripped. Got to see some hellacious players -- Collaros, Magnone, etc. Reno is not one to run up a score on a defenseless team, either, so I've never felt "bad" after losing to them. That, and we've beaten them from time to time over the years. So, yeah Paladin, we'd strap it on and play them. Our kids would love the task.

Locos -- If that would have happened, I probably wouldn't be posting.

[ironman02]

Good luck to the Ironmen tomorrow night, especially the seniors. Make sure this ISN'T your last game.

Win and there's a chance for Week 11!

BEAT ZANESVILLE!!!

[ironman02]

First of all, congrats to Zanesville. The Blue Devils are an outstanding football team. It's a shame they won't see Week 11 because they are certainly a playoff-caliber team. Kyle Gladden has to be the best RB I have seen all year. Just a great all-around effort by Zanesville tonight.

Jackson's kids played hard. They had a few opportunities to keep themselves in the game, but couldn't quite take advantage. Zanesville's offense was nearly unstoppable all night though, so in the end, it wouldn't have mattered. I'm extremely proud of this Jackson football team though. Expectations were not very high for this team and they ended up at 7-3, losing to three GREAT high school football teams. Logan and Ironton will make deep runs into the playoffs, in my opinion, and there may not be a better 9-1 team in the entire state in D2 than Zanesville. There is NO shame in losing to those three football teams.

I'd like to thank the Jackson seniors for a great season and for all the hard work they have put in during their careers. Eric Landrum, Tyler Williams, Ryan Mullins, Kruize Wandling, Garrett Ewing, Patrick Harrison, Nathaniel Haller, Ryan Klingaman, Frankie Mapes, Jimmy Brushart, Brian Jarvis, Tyler Gillum, and Codie Glenn should all be commended for what they have contributed to the Jackson High School football program. These seniors, along with the underclassmen, had a season to remember!

Coach Hall and his staff did a great job with this group and I'm already excited to see what happens with next year's Ironmen. Work hard this off-season and bring home an SEOAL title and a playoff berth next year!!!

[ironman02]

Looks like my projections for Region 12 were pretty accurate. Jackson and Washington Court House didn't get their wins, which changed things up a little, but things ended up pretty close to what I had expected. At 8-2, Jackson would have been the #8 seed.

Here were my projections of the Top 10 assuming WCH and Jackson wins:

#1. Goshen - 21.5772
#2. Wyoming - 21.2500
#3. Dayton CJ - 20.8000
#4. Logan Elm - 20.7500
#5. Court House - 18.4005
#6. New Richmond - 17.8755
#7. Jackson - 17.4500
#8. Lemon-Monroe - 17.2858
#9. Eaton - 17.0500
#10. Shawnee - 16.5000

And here's how it actually worked out as of right now:

#1. Goshen - 21.5773
#2. Wyoming - 21.1000
#3. Dayton CJ - 20.4000
#4. Logan Elm - 20.2500
#5. New Richmond - 17.8755
#6. Lemon-Monroe - 17.6394
#7. Eaton - 17.5500
#8. Springfield Shawnee - 16.9500

[zbd]

I think Jackson has a real good chance to win this game

I guees you were WRONG!!!!!!! as normal

[ironman02]

I think Jackson has a real good chance to win this game

I guees you were WRONG!!!!!!! as normal

Seems a little uncalled for if you ask me. I also thought Jackson had a chance to win this game. Zanesville proved itself to be the better team, by far, but people are allowed to have opinions prior to the game.

[noreply66]

I think Jackson has a real good chance to win this game

I guees you were WRONG!!!!!!! as normal

only the 2nd time this year out of about 100 games

[Keyser_sozeThrice]

Here's the story in this weekend's Times-Journal. I did enjoy the trip to Zanesville (looks great on my monthly mileage sheet lol) and the press box full of food and barbecue wings....LOL. Very nice football facility and press box and I'm sure once the hs construction is complete will be even nicer.

Enjoy


Blue Devils deny Ironmen playoff berth

By PAUL BOGGS

Sports Editor

ZANESVILLE — A $3,000 payday, and a two-and-a-half hour road trip, wasn’t supposed to turn out like this.

After a long ride to Sulsberger Memorial Stadium in Zanesville, the Jackson High School football team turned out to face a long bus ride back home after falling just short in its bid for a playoff spot.

Playing for a position in the Division III, Region 12 postseason, the Ironmen were overpowered by the Zanesville Blue Devils 42-14 on Friday night and were denied that coveted playoff berth.

The loss ends the Ironmen’s season at 7-3, as Jackson lost three of its final four games to slip out of the top eight, which all land playoff berths in each region.

Those final three opponents compiled a combined record of 27-3, with Logan going undefeated, Zanesville finishing at 9-1 with its only loss at Logan, and Ironton going 8-2.

On an unseasonably warm night for the regular-season finale, it was a red-hot performance by the athletic and speedy Blue Devils.

Zanesville erupted for 540 total yards, and demonstrated great balance in rushing for 261 and passing for 279.

Jackson, meanwhile, was stymied to only 65 rushing yards on 32 carries, and half as many first downs as the Blue Devils (26-13).

Three of the Ironmen’s first four possessions resulted in punts, and the other was a fake punt which resulted in a dropped pass.

Zanesville, conversely, scored on its first three possessions, with the longest lasting eight plays and covering 81 yards.

“Tonight, we faced a great team in Zanesville. That may be the best team we’ve played all year,” said Jackson head coach Andy Hall. “Sometimes, the better team does win. We didn’t have a great first half, but Zanesville is a great football team.”

The Devils stormed out to a 21-0 first-half advantage, as Jackson finally cracked the scoreboard on a 54-yard scoring strike from Kruize Wandling to Ty McNelly with just 40 seconds to play.

But the Ironmen, despite a pair of second-half chances on a pair of fourth downs in Blue Devil territory, couldn’t convert and couldn’t build on the momentum from the late first-half touchdown.

Instead, Zanesville scored — once again — 21 consecutive points, firmly putting the game out of reach with just over seven minutes remaining.

With exactly five minutes to play, the Ironmen scored their second touchdown of the game — and final touchdown of the season — on an 11-yard run by Wandling.

But that final score come against the Blue Devils’ second stringers.

The contest marked the final game for 13 Ironmen seniors, which were the first group under the first-year head coach Hall.

The 13 included Wandling, Eric Landrum, Tyler Williams, Ryan Mullins, Garrett Ewing, Patrick Harrison, Nathaniel Haller, Ryan Klingaman, Frankie Mapes, Jimmy Brushart, Brian Jarvis, Tyler Gillum and Codie Glenn.

The senior class never experienced a season below .500 in Red and White.

“It’s a hard time in that lockerroom right now. I told those seniors in there that we love them and it’s because of them that we are 7-3,” said Hall. “They gave us everything they have. Going into the season, there wasn’t a lot of high expectations. Those guys took that upon themselves and made that happen. Every one of those kids did something to help this football team win this year. A lot of times, that doesn’t happen. We’re very proud of their effort.”

Trailing 21-7, the Ironmen appeared to be turning the corner, after forcing the Blue Devils into their second three-and-out situation of the game.

Jackson took over in Zanesville territory at the 48-yard-line, but O.J. Barr was stopped for no gain on 4th-and-2 and the Ironmen turned the ball over on downs.

Six plays later, the Blue and White were in the end zone for the fourth time in six possessions, when Richard Gibson ran in from six yards out to make it 27-7.

The Ironmen then crafted their deepest drive, all the way to Zanesville 6-yard-line after opening at the 35.

But on another 4th-and-2 situation, the Blue Devils denied Derrick Meredith the first down on a toss sweep to the right.

A measurement resulted in Jackson coming up just four inches short of the Zanesville 4.

“We had a lot more fire in the second half and had a couple of good chances to score,” said Hall. “But we didn’t convert a couple of fourth downs.”

Six plays later, and just 50 seconds into the final period, Kyle Gladden galloped 61 yards for his hat trick of touchdowns, giving him over 1,000 rushing yards on the season.

But the Blue Devils were not done, scoring a safety just 57 seconds after that when a punt snap to Mullins sailed over his head and out of the end zone.

Exactly three minutes later, Zanesville zipped the Ironmen again when Cole Hudson hit for his second touchdown toss — a 38-yarder to Michael Lynn.

Noah Baldwin’s fourth and final extra point of the night made it 42-7 as both teams began substituting for reserves.

For the Blue Devils, it was a memorable Senior Night for seniors Gladden, Hudson, Baldwin and Lynn.

Gladden amassed 220 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries, while Hudson hit for an incredible 16-of-18 passes for two touchdowns and 279 yards.

Baldwin booted four extra points, and Lynn caught eight passes for 111 yards.

Hudson — in each half — completed his first eight passes, and his incompletions came on the Blue Devils’ first three-and-out of the night.

By then, though, Zanesville was already ahead 21-0.

The Blue Devils scored with 4:43 to play in both the first and second quarters.

After forcing an Ironmen punt from midfield on their opening possession, Zanesville moved six plays to the Jackson 5 before Gladden gained his first trip to paydirt.

A screen pass from Hudson to Gary Ransom registered 34 yards to the Jackson 15.

The Red and White went three-and-out, and the Blue Devils delivered again with the aid of another big pass play of over 33 yards.

Hudson hit Baldwin between defenders down the middle of the field, as the fullback dragged defenders all the way to the 2.

With just 1:48 gone by in the second stanza, Gladden went in from four yards out to make it 13-0.

The final first-half touchdown involved Baldwin, who was playing for the first time since suffering a knee injury in week two.

Jackson was forced to punt again from midfield and, four plays later, Hudson found Baldwin for a 23-yard pitch-and-catch.

His third extra point of the first half made it 21-0 in favor of the Blue Devils.

The Ironmen then got on the board behind Wandling’s deep ball to McNelly, who beat his defender with a down-and-out-and-down pattern.

Wandling, who went over 1,000 yards passing for the season on the play, was 7-of-15 for 153 yards.

McNelly nearly had 100 receiving yards (99) on only three receptions.

McNelly is one of several underclassmen on the squad, which were part of a surprising 7-3 season by the Ironmen.

It is Jackson’s best regular-season record since Shane Wolford’s first season as head coach in 2005.

That Ironmen unit also went 7-3 and — like this year’s version — were in contention for a Region 12 playoff spot entering the final week.

Hall said he will definitely savor his first season as the Jackson football boss.

“We’re very thankful for our seniors and just our whole team,” he said. “This is the best coaching staff I’ve ever worked with in my life. Everybody did just a great job this year. I’m very proud of this group, and we accomplished a lot. I’m very proud to be the head football coach at Jackson High School, this is an honor and I’m just so happy with where we’re at and we’re looking forward to the future.”

[email protected]

[tropical breeze]

Jackson Head Coach sounds like a class act. Good article!

[ironman02]

Nice job, keyser_soze_78.

The Jackson football program is in good hands with Coach Hall and his staff. Looking forward to seeing how the program progresses over the next few years.

Wish things would have turned out differently last night, but Zanesville was just a well-oiled machine, determined to win its "playoff" game.

[blacksheep]

With GREAT people GREAT things happen!!!!As a team our boys feel one game short, but only on the field.They came together as a team and became very fine young MEN!!!!! As for me im very proud of this team!!!!

[camnott]

Heck of a team! I would also like to say that you were probably the nicest fans I met all year. Good job!

[zbd]

I think Jackson has a real good chance to win this game

I guees you were WRONG!!!!!!! as normal

Seems a little uncalled for if you ask me. I also thought Jackson had a chance to win this game. Zanesville proved itself to be the better team, by far, but people are allowed to have opinions prior to the game.

Ironman02

The qote was not against Jackson or you and I see your point about opinions. I just feel some Logan fans give zville no credit they have a good team and the have beat us good and I wish them the best in playoffs but it gets old to see Logan fans downing Zville. Jackson you guys have a good team and I think you have found the right coach for the future. Good Luck to you guys in the future. Opinion are good but if you were any type of football fan you would have noticed if you seen both teams the difference in speed Zville had more than Jackson.

[Philos_Finest]

I also don't know why it is so hard for Logan fans to understand that Zanesville played their worst game of the year against Logan. Logan is a great football team don't get me wrong but, they aren't 26 points better.

In the play-offs I would love to see Logan knock of Louisville or Brookhaven & win this region(if Tri-Valley can't, of course).

[ironman02]

zbd,

I understand that you were responding to noreply and I'm also aware of all the "back and forth" that has been going on between Logan and Zanesville fans. However, I can see how it's possible for someone from Logan to think that Jackson could give Zanesville a good game. Logan defeated both teams by nearly the same margin, so I'm sure that's what they were basing their opinion upon. That's all I was saying.

I wasn't fortunate enough to see Zanesville on film or in person all season until they played Jackson. I based my opinion on what I had heard about the Blue Devils, common opponents, and schedule results, which was the only evidence that I had. Sometimes that can be somewhat accurate, and other times, like in this case, it can be way off.

Once again, congrats to Zanesville though. I really wish you guys had made the playoffs because you certainly have a playoff caliber football team. By the way, is Gladden gonna be playing college ball anywhere? I was impressed with your entire team, but he was the best RB I had seen all season and it wasn't even close.

[Zanes-Vegas]

I hope Kyle goes on to play. He's got the ability. Last year was a tough year for him after suffering a dislocated knee cap in the preseason. Never really was very effective all season. But this year he really showed some toughness, really taking on tacklers rather than always trying to dance around them. He did miss one game this year with a bum ankle, so that 1,000+ yards came in nine games. I'd like to see him parlay is ability into an opportunity to further his education, too.

[loganlocos]

ZV -

I think Kyle is the best back we saw all season.

If Gladden had played behind the Pickerington North line he would have rushed for over 2000 yards this year. They had a pair of really good backs, but Kyle was better overall.

And Lancaster had a couple good ones, and they maybe better "athletes," but Gladden is a better runner.

Good Luck to him in finding somewhere to continue his career (if he wants to).

[zbd]

I hope Kyle goes on to play. He's got the ability. Last year was a tough year for him after suffering a dislocated knee cap in the preseason. Never really was very effective all season. But this year he really showed some toughness, really taking on tacklers rather than always trying to dance around them. He did miss one game this year with a bum ankle, so that 1,000+ yards came in nine games. I'd like to see him parlay is ability into an opportunity to further his education, too.

ZV
You are right but Gladden has just had bad luck with injuries. Also he only played a half against Newark and Marietta. The game he was hurt he would have alot chances to run the ball Zville seemed to run the ball alot that game. He has just been a kid of bad deals I am very happy he got 1000 yards. I felt as the year went on Zville line got stronger and half is back next year.

[Zanes-Vegas]

The "left" half! I think there are kids ready to step up, and Levi Krouskoupf got a lot of playing time, too. We should be OK up front. Now we just have to find our next TB, our next QB, our next WR, another next WR, our next TE (though Joe Barker played a lot this year in Noah's absence). And we have some great key defensive players coming back in Anthony Smith (DE), Gary Ransom (LB), Talen Hutchison (LB/S) and Braily Blair (LB/S) as four major examples (probably will see more of them on offense, too). We're going to be fine, IMO -- but they still need to put in the work!