D4 - R15: (3) Heath vs. (2) Ironton @ Nelsonville York

[kantuckyII]

I'd love to see Jackson or Portsmouth host the game. Not Logan though. Nothing personal against them but the drive is a kinda dangerous one, this time of the year. Then again, 45 miles out 93 ain't a lot of fun but at least when you get there, you have a great stadium.

Portsmouth though? how sweet that would be to break in that new stadium for either school

[biggdowgg]

For what it's worth, apparently Logan's Coach Amyx was told they would be playing at Gahanna.

guess he should know more then us.....

[ironman02]

I don't know. I doubt if anything is official right now, but you would have to think Amyx might have some inside info.

It seems like the playoff locations for most of the SE Ohio games are a mess. Logan would be a great place for the Burg-Fredericktown game, but Logan's team plays on Friday also. I doubt if the OHSAA would make them host a game on the night that their team plays. Jackson and Logan would be open for a game on Saturday, but the travel is lopsided for one team (Ironton or Heath) at each location. Oak Hill-Ridgewood is kind of difficult to find a neutral location as well. It'll be interesting to see how things play out.

[TIGERS90]

I believe....that Ironton should get the small advantage...of traveling one hour...and heath traveling an hour and twenty minutes...playing at jackson...rather than to send them all the way to athens...that would be a waste of time for both teams...although it would be just a couple more miles for heath...should be put in Jackson..it is right in the center as close as it could get...

Looks to me like Heath is the perfect team for the tigers to prepare for the long run...We love playing a good rushing team...the pass is where Ironton is most vulnerable...Looks like we get to face another team from what I have heard would be much like the Ashland Tomcats...With our team being healthy now and without the six turnovers...I think we should win this one by a couple scores...

[tk421]

The 3 sites they are trying to choose from right now is Logan; Zane Trace; Jackson........

Not O.U. b/c the bobcats have a home game on saturday...

And im taking Ironton in a blow out... Watching them tonight i believe they wont have any problem until the get to Clearcreek... I could be wrong though!

OU doesn't have another home game until November 21.

[HeathDogsFan]

What are Ironton's strengths? From what I hear they are a smash mouth running football team. Leading rushers? Players go both ways? Size of the running backs, QB?

The playoffs are still a new thing to Heath, as this is only their second appearance ever. Heath is filled with speed, but their runners show a lot of toughness, as was proven against ZT. QB has a nice arm, and is very mobile, although he hasn't been counted upon too much this season because of the two headed rushing combo of Gresham and Scott (over 3000 yards rushing to date). Heath's defense is pretty solid against the run, and is improving in the secondary. Heath's defense is led by 6'4" 220 linebacker Travis Drumm.

[BigDintigertown775]

Anywhere but Logan. I hate that drive.

[kantuckyII]

Yeah? is it Lancaster or Zanesville, OHSAA made Ironton got to so many times? with all the new nice fields, that would be a crying shame there. Portsmouth might be a wee bit longer drive for Heath but when you get there, you have an awesome stadium to play at. And..no one is going to be driving out windy two lane roads either...especially with deer in rut.

Now, I can't recall which of those two it is but the facilities just aren't up to pare.

[tigerfan83]

Well you know how OHSAA like to put the screws to Ironton when it come to traveling to playoff games. Maybe the talbe will turn and we will get to go to Portsmouth or Jackson since we are a higher seed.


Thoughts !

[boilermaker]

The Higher seed should get the shorter drive .IMO. I hope it is in Jackson ,if so I will be there to watch the Tigers like every year at least once.

[noreply66]

Logan is the higher seed in their game and they have to travel to Gahanna where Haven just has to go across town.They could have put us at Lancaster to even it out.

[trojanofthepast]

No playoff games will be held in Portsmouth this year. I'm pretty sure they did not apply for any playoff games this year. So it won't be at the Coliseum that's for sure. Good Luck Tigers the rest of the way.

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

I have watched both teams play and I will separate my feelings for both teams and post it the way I see it.

Heath is a fast team with three nice weapons, two backs and a very underrated quarterback.

Heath I. M.O. can throw the ball a lot better than most want to admit. I think the key to beating them is to play Valley ball against them. This means being vert, very physical.


On defense I think if you run the ball straight down their throat you will have a lot of success against them especially of your line is a physical . I also think a team can throw against them if you have the short misdirection passing game in your play book.

Ironton is big fast and very disciplined on defense form what I have seen.
They can get a boat load of pressure from their entire line.
Their lb’s seem to hit very hard and play very well as a unit.

On offense they remind me somewhat of the good Licking Valley teams that can run the ball right down your throat and when you stack the line they can hit you with a nice little passing game.


Overall I can see the Tigers winnings by two or three scores with the game being close until the third quarter when the physical defense has worn down the Bulldogs.

[philthyphil]

I think they should do Ohio playoffs like Kentucky where the higher seeded team plays at home throughout the playoffs, not just the first round.

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

I think they should do Ohio playoffs like Kentucky where the higher seeded team plays at home throughout the playoffs, not just the first round.

I agree. Home game until the finals for the higher seed.

[Philos_Finest]

Heath is just a road block to Coshocton where the real test will be.

[biggdowgg]

No playoff games will be held in Portsmouth this year. I'm pretty sure they did not apply for any playoff games this year. So it won't be at the Coliseum that's for sure. Good Luck Tigers the rest of the way.

Joe told me at the Trojan treasure dinner, he did put in for games friday and saturday.

[Pol pot]

The 3 sites they are trying to choose from right now is Logan; Zane Trace; Jackson........

Not O.U. b/c the bobcats have a home game on saturday...

And im taking Ironton in a blow out... Watching them tonight i believe they wont have any problem until the get to Clearcreek... I could be wrong though!

Please get a clue before you jump on here spouting things. A 10 second search would tell you that Ohio University plays at Buffalo on Tuesday night, and does not play next weekend. Now that being said, Ohio University will not host any games this weekend due to not applying for any games.

[kantuckyII]

No playoff games will be held in Portsmouth this year. I'm pretty sure they did not apply for any playoff games this year. So it won't be at the Coliseum that's for sure. Good Luck Tigers the rest of the way.

I was told last night that they actually did request one recently. Are you sure your info is correct? Shame to see that pretty stadium sitting idle if that is indeed, accurate

[90buckeye]

The official word from the OHSAA -- Nelsonville-York will be hosting this game.