SEOAL Championship: Jackson @ Gallia Academy

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE JACKSON IRONMEN. 2010 SEOAL CHAMPIONS.

[Old*rocket]

great game to watch, drew and clay job well done.

[GAHS7462]

great game to watch, drew and clay job well done.

It was a TEAM effort!!!!!!!

[grndma1]

What a game. It really was a championship game. Hard fought game. Great fan support on both sides. Nice visiting with gahs4-ever before the game. Great greeting for the Jackson players when they returned home. Police and fire trucks escorting them through town and up to Alumni Stadium. Congratulations Blue Devils. Hope you get some help and make the play offs. Great job Jackson. See you at the next game.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

cogratulations to both squads on fine years.

[footballfanatic1]

klay poy no doubt

[FutureDevil]

Congrats to Jackson on winning the SEOAL, good luck in the playoffs. Your offensive line did the job tonight. Arthur and Ervin are the real deal.

Congrats to our boys in blue as well, your community is proud of you kids.

[footballfanatic1]

no problem galh4ever...both great players....interesting...co.poy...got my vote...no losers here...

[ironman02]

Can't really put too many coherent thoughts together right now, but I do want to say congratulations to the 2010 Outright SEOAL Champion Jackson Ironmen! Great job, guys!

I'll post more about the game tomorrow, but here's a little update on playoff status.

It appears that Jackson isn't going to host a game in the 1st round. If I'm seeing things correctly, Eaton (who is currently behind the Ironmen) will pass them up. That could set up an Eaton/Jackson matchup, or it's still possible that the Ironmen could play Cincinnati Roger Bacon. Either way, it seems as though the Ironmen will be on the road next week. We'll see how things play out tomorrow.

[footballfanatic1]

ironman02 go to bed...lol....joe eitel has the ironmen at #4.....????????

[ironman02]

Yeah, they're sitting at #4 right now, but some of the results of beaten opponents for everyone in the region haven't been added in yet. Jackson will still get points from Marietta's win over Warren, but that'll be it. They'll finish at 22.15, I believe. Eaton is going to get credit for wins by three other beaten opponents, so that will be enough to push them past Jackson. The question is, will Eaton pass Roger Bacon? Still some Saturday games and out-of-state (KY) results left to determine that.

Dayton CJ's HUGE upset win over Kettering Alter really helped out Roger Bacon, as far as possibly gaining a higher seed. That was a game that basically no one expected CJ to win, so that really threw a curveball at the Region 12 playoff projections.

[ironman02]

JoeEitel just updated. Here's the deal.

No home game for Jackson for sure.

There is still one game in play for Roger Bacon. That is Cin. Western Hills vs. Amelia at 1:30PM tomorrow. If Western Hills wins, Roger Bacon will jump Eaton and get the #3 seed, leaving Eaton at #4 and Jackson at #5. If Western Hills loses, Eaton will keep the #3 seed, and Roger Bacon will be the #4 seed. So, Jackson fans need to pay attention to the Western Hills/Amelia game tomorrow.

Here's how it will play out:

If Western Hills Wins:

1. Springfield Shawnee
2. Cincinnati McNicholas
3. Cincinnati Roger Bacon
4. Eaton
5. Jackson
6. Cincinnati Wyoming
7. Dayton Dunbar
8. Washington Court House

*Jackson travels to Eaton*

If Western Hills Loses:

1. Springfield Shawnee
2. Cincinnati McNicholas
3. Eaton
4. Cincinnati Roger Bacon
5. Jackson
6. Cincinnati Wyoming
7. Dayton Dunbar
8. Washington Court House

*Jackson travels to Roger Bacon*

My prediction is that Western Hills beats Amelia and Jackson goes to Eaton next Saturday.

[X-Factor5]

Great game that was played tonight. Score didn't really tell too much about the game. It was a pretty competetive contest until Arthur and that Jackson offensive line took control in the 4th. A few others i would like to point out: Drew Ervin did a great job running the offense tonight. The common misconception that people have is that Ervin only had one week to prepare for this game. That is entirely false. Coach Andy Hall has done an excellent job preparing Drew all season long, this was just Drew's first time doing it under the lights and what a QB debut he had.
The Jackson offensive line dominated once again. Coach Hall took a page from the Bob Lutz playbook and ran the ball all but one time tonight. Those who know football understand that this makes the offensive line's job A LOT more difficult because the defense knows run is coming every play. I for one believe that Coach Hall was putting this game on the shoulders of his Senior lineman and they responded very well in doing so.
The team as a whole came out as fired up as I had ever seen this bunch and it showed on the scoreboard. If that same team shows up again Saturday night, I dont care who the Ironmen are playing, they're going to be a force to be reckoned with. The defense just can't allow the big plays they allowed tonight, which is hard to do against such an explosive Gallia Academy offense.
Kip Winchester still led that team tonight, even from the sidelines. It would have been easy for him to put his head down and just say forget it, I'm done. But he didn't. I praise you for tonight as well.
Now, this is the part where the debate comes along. I understand the heartbreak of the Blue Devil seniors after this game. It was their last high school football game ever and a lot of them their last football game period. I understand what that feeling feels like, I went through it just last season. That being said, I did feel like it was uncalled for not to shake hands with the Ironmen after the game. Now, I'm not saying that these kids are bad people by any means because I know that's not the case. But I wondered to myself why the wouldn't want to shake hands with a team that respects them and would play Gallia Academy every Friday night if they got the oppurtunity to. I mean, these guys have played against each other since middle school. And this is a small reflection of the coaches. The coaches should have asked all the players to shake hands before they let the heart-break set it. Once again, i can't stress enough that I am not intentionally showing any disrespect towards Gallia Academy, it's players, it's coaches or anything of that affiliation. Maybe there is more to this story, i don't know. But that had me boggled all night.

Congratulations to the Gallia Academy football team and coaches on a successful 2010 football Campaign. You guys never disappointed anyone. I was in the same situation at Jackson just a year ago. You're helping to rebuild a well-respected program and unfortunatly you came up just short. I know this hurts now, but trust me, life goes on. Ethan Moore and Austin Wilson, you young men had a great season and very successful careers. Wilson was one of the most explosive football players I've ever seen on film and in person. I watched Moore grow up as a Quarterback within a year and he flourished into a good one. I'm sure the other seniors put in a lot of work and dedication as well, however these two are the ones who stand out to me and that I am most familiar with.

Now onto my Jackson boys. A year ago, we were asked to rebuild a football program from the ground up. I can remember looking at Coach Hall like he was insane. You're asking a team that shouldn't win 2 games, to rebuild a progam as prestigious as Jackson? But i never said a word, I just went to work. With the help of some seniors and some VERY talented underclassmen (moreso you than us), we helped to get the program going back towards the right direction where Jackson Ironmen football needs to be. We laid this foundation. Throughout the off-season I watched you guys grow. In the weightroom, the classroom, on the field, off the field, mentally, physically. All sorts of different ways. I watched this team bury a Meigs team and beat a Wheelersburg team in two scrimmages. Everything was going great. Theenn... A Saturday night at C.H. Jones Stadium... The Wellston Rockets upset the Jackson Ironmen for the first time in 20 years. 20 years. You weren't even alive then. You guys could have easily let the season crumble and let that foundation we build last season demolish. But you didn't. I told each and every one of you seniors that this was YOUR team. How do you want to be remembered? The team that lost and snapped the streak? Or the team that went 9-1, won the league and made it to the Playoffs? Now granted, I wasn't so sure it was going to happen. I had my doubt, believe men. And I'm NOT jumping on the Ironmen bandwagon, as honest as I stand (or sit for that matter) I gave you that challenge. EVERY SINGLE PLAYER on this team accepted that challenge. This team worked as hard as any team I've ever seen to avenge that Week 1 loss. I have NEVER been more proud of any team before in my life. This includes teams that I've been apart of. What you guys have accomplished this season is astonishing! What a season to remember. I've watched all of you become young men over the course of the past season. It's amazing what football can do to a bunch of kids. These are moments you'll remember for the rest of your lives.. and you made them all worth it. Congratulations to each and every one of you young men. You deserve this.

Go Ironmen.

[pappy1]

Congratulations Ironmen on a league championship and a great season. Keep it rolling. Arthur was the hardest back to get on the ground that I have seen this year. With that attribute and a dominate O line they are tough to stop. They attacked our D similarly to how Ironton attacked us. They also had some wide splits that put a 160lb LB against a 300+lb G. It looked to me as if they could have run the QB sneak all night and marched up and down the field.

[ironman02]

I really enjoyed reading that, X-Factor5. Great post about the character and determination of this football team.


As for the game, Jackson did exactly what I expected them to do, and that's run the football. With Drew taking over for Kip, I figured that Coach Hall would try to limit the passing attempts and rely on his offensive line to get the job done. Drew Ervin can throw the football, but being thrust into a situation like that is always difficult, so a more conservative gameplan was a very wise decision in my opinion. It turns out that the passing game wasn't even needed. What a performance by the Jackson O-Line, the receivers blocking on the edges, and Klay Arthur and Drew Ervin running the football up and down the field. 466 yards rushing for the Jackson offense...279 yards from Klay Arthur and 184 yards from Drew Ervin, with 3 TDs apiece. Just a simply amazing perfromance.

The Jackson defense also played very well, in my opinion. They did give up a couple big plays, one to Golden on the long TD run, and one to Wilson on the long TD catch, but the Ironmen really kept an explosive Blue Devils offense in check. This unit has steadily improved all season, and they, along with the offensive line, really set the tone in this game. They put great pressure on Moore all night, never lost track of Austin Wilson, and forced three HUGE turnovers. Great performance by the D, and special teams as well. The kick coverage was very solid for the Ironmen, and it had to be, because Gallia Academy is so dangerous in the open field.

As X-Factor5 also said, I couldn't be more proud of this football team. They've faced adversity and have responded at every turn. This is a great group of young men who will forever be remembered as the team that went 9-1 in the regular season, went to the playoffs for the eighth time in school history, and brought the SEOAL championship back to Jackson High School. It has been a fun ride, but it's certainly not over. We'll find out later today where we're headed, but next Saturday, there is a job to be done. The Ironmen are only getting started.

One other thing to mention. Unofficially, Klay Arthur finished the regular season with 201 carries for 1,641 yards and 19 TDs on the ground, also grabbing 8 receptions for 119 yards and 2 TDs. Drew Ervin ended with 121 carries for 915 yards and 14 TDs rushing, with 9 catches for 85 yards and 2 TDs. If there is a better backfield duo in this area, I'd love to watch them play. Klay and Drew are the real deal, but they would be the first to tell you that the offensive line they're running behind deserves a lot of the credit for their success. Jackson prides itself on lining up and running the football, and this offensive line has embraced that challenge this season. The big boys up front, and the backs that are running behind them, should be VERY proud of what they have accomplished this season. This entire TEAM is a special group.

[Ironmannut07]

Wow is all I can say the entire ironmen team and the entire gallia team was first class last night. I think when the Jackson fans took the field they showed class by waiting for the teams to shake hands before they actually went onto the field to celebrate with there team. Klay Arthur,drew Ervin the two headed monster what a great way to describe them but without the o-line it wouldn't be possible. What about the hit Alec Osborne got dang that was a hit. He gets ripped for blow coverage the play before then BAM he itrodused himself the the wide out that boys only a sophomore can't wait to see him progress over the next two years. But the parade when the ironmen rolled into Jackson had me in tears it was amazing to see the boys hanging out the windows of the bus and when I seen them at alumni stadium everybody was tearing up it made the hair stand up on my arms that was the most amazing sight I have ever seen. Go ironmen let's take the week 11 game

[Ironmannut07]

Wow is all I can say the entire ironmen team and the entire gallia team was first class last night. I think when the Jackson fans took the field they showed class by waiting for the teams to shake hands before they actually went onto the field to celebrate with there team. Klay Arthur,drew Ervin the two headed monster what a great way to describe them but without the o-line it wouldn't be possible. What about the hit Alec Osborne got dang that was a hit. He gets ripped for blow coverage the play before then BAM he itrodused himself the the wide out that boys only a sophomore can't wait to see him progress over the next two years. But the parade when the ironmen rolled into Jackson had me in tears it was amazing to see the boys hanging out the windows of the bus and when I seen them at alumni stadium everybody was tearing up it made the hair stand up on my arms that was the most amazing sight I have ever seen. Go ironmen let's take the week 11 game

[Crazy Legs]

It looks like Jackson is going 2hrs west to Roger Bacon... Good luck gentlemen what a night last night!!!

[Ironmannut07]

Let's go cook some bacon I'm starving.

[Ironmannut07]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjPVuoy4 ... ata_player