Round 2 Ironton vs. New Lexington at JACKSON

[Brutusfan]

I hope that the Ironton football team thinks this Panther team is overated also. If they do it will be a long night for Ironton. If it rains I give the advantage to Ironton. NL had a hard time passing in the rain at Sheridan. Although there was mud and wind involved too! NL needs to play with the same intensity they did against Sheridan. Ironton fans NL should have won that game. Had the ball inside the 10 on 2 occasions and inside the 15 on another one. NL defense is for real. Very quick! This game should be fun to watch.
Ironton's scouts probably didn't get much out of last weeks game. NL ran the ball more than they have ran it all year. Thing is they like to pass too! Cannon likes the deep ball. They have 3 capable receivers. Wycinsky, Etherly and Bush all have great hands and some speed. Cannon can also run. Not the fastest but not slow either. He's a strong kid. I think this game will be a low scoring game. Something like 20-12

[Ironman69]

New Lexington takes this one by 14.
Too fast for Ironton's big line.

[boilermaker]

Lutz wont take any playoff team lightly

[tigers2013]

New Lexington takes this one by 14.
Too fast for Ironton's big line.

even though im from itown. ironton does not have a big line!

[keyboard_hero]

Compared to New Lex, you guys are monsters.

[sideliner17]

New Lex is going to take this one home. These guys play hard. they play with heart! Thay can throw the ball and run it. their defense is stout, i wouldnt underestimate their size. They have the speed and endurance to take it to Ironton the entire game. They know what lies ahead for them. As for New Lex being overrated i dont know about that. How can you be overrated and be as successful as they are? Cannon is one tough kid, he throws the ball excellent and he also can run with it. His recievers havev the speed to take it all the way. Im going with New Lex with a 28-14 win! LETS GO LEX!!

[jkumpiretriesagain]

Ironton fans,

"You are right, NL is a big underdog in this game. Don't listen to all these people coming on here and saying NL will beat Ironton. You guys are the favorites, and should beat them. It is a familiar field to you, you have enjoyed much success here, you play a tough schedule, and you beat a great team in Westfall last week. And NL is just a bunch of SE Ohio farm boys from the hills.

Frankly, if it is raining Friday night, stay home and listen to the radio, or follow the game on this great site. You won't miss much, and you can save your money for the trip to Zanesville for the Regional finals against Ferry."

xelwenog

[caglewis]

A State Route 93 game [one of the best and most easily traveled roads in the state - yeah, right] all the way! GO IRONTON FIGHTING TIGERS - JUST DRIVE
I knew, roughly, where New Lexington was; but I didn't realize until yesterday that Ironton and New Lexington share space on the same Route - and now we're going to meet in Jackson, also located on St Rt 93.
Never mind the teams [just kidding] - let's just wish good luck to all the drivers negotiating that wonderful road from both the south and the north. Safe travel to all! I'll be sitting here at home - with my ears on the radio and my fingers on the keyboard - rooting for the IRONTON FIGHTING TIGERS!

[THROW-YA-O'S-UP!O-H]

I can't wait to watch this one! New Lexington is a great team, their QB is the best ball handler I've ever seen, he flat out makes defenses look silly... However, Ironton is no pushover and have play makers of their own. I can't pick a winner...

After hearing the MVL vs SEOAL debates it would be nice to see Sheridan and Logan play but this will be good enough I guess

[Keyser_sozeThrice]

Here is a community-relations type story that I did about the games here that runs in our paper (Jackson County Times-Journal) today (Tuesday), but there is some things of note in there about parking costing $2 and passes not accepted because it's an OHSAA sanctioned event. Enjoy.

Playoff football returns to Jackson

By PAUL BOGGS
Sports Editor

It’s back.

After a two-year absence, high school football playoff action returns to Jackson High School’s sparkling Alumni Stadium this weekend.

And, it’s a double dose of regional semifinal action.

That’s because Alumni Stadium is the site for two playoff tilts, with one game set for Friday night and the other set for Saturday night.

On Friday night, in a Division IV, Region 15 semifinal, Ironton encounters New Lexington at Holzer Field.

On Saturday night, in a Division V, Region 19 semifinal, Liberty Union takes on Wheelersburg.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. for Friday night’s affair while Saturday night’s showdown is set for 7 p.m.

The two games this weekend mark the third and fourth playoff games in the five-year history of Alumni Stadium.

The facility opened in 2004, with Wheelersburg and Amanda-Clearcreek clashing for the Division V, Region 19 regional championship.

A year later, in a Region 15 semifinal, Ironton made its second trip to Alumni Stadium that season, and fared much better in defeating Westfall 21-7.

In week four of that fall, Ironton was upset by first-year head coach Shane Wolford and the host Jackson Ironmen, 17-7.

However, Holzer Field did not host any playoff games last season or the year before last.

That’s because it was ineligible to host, due to the fact that the Jackson High School athletic department — under the direction of former athletic director Jason Snider — did not re-apply the site with the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

Potential neutral playoff sites, if they wish to host, must apply with the OHSAA on an annual basis.

But Bob Kight has since taken over as athletic director, and one of his first tasks was to apply Alumni Stadium as a host playoff site.

Kight’s efforts paid off on Sunday, as the OHSAA announced that not one but two playoff games will be held at Jackson this weekend.

Kight referred questions about the playoff games from The Jackson County Times-Journal to Jackson City Schools Superintendent Phil Howard.

Howard expressed excitement about Jackson’s ability to host — not just one but two games.

“It is the goal of the Jackson City School District to promote our state-of-the-art facilities and have our guests enjoy our beautiful city while patronizing our local businesses,” he said. “We view this as a potential financial windfall for the businesses of the city of Jackson.”

Those businesses lost out on financial gain last season and the year before last.

In fact, last year, when Waverly and Westfall advanced from the regional quarterfinals to face each other in the Region 15 semifinals, Jackson was believed to be an overwhelming favorite to host that game.

When it was announced that the Waverly-Westfall matchup would be played at the smaller Teays Valley Viking Stadium, the initially surprising decision was soon understood when it was discovered — according to the OHSAA — that Jackson did not apply to host.

In an e-mail to The Jackson County Times-Journal, Snider — when asked about Alumni Stadium being bypassed — replied that playing that game at Alumni Stadium “would be seen as a perceived advantage for Waverly since Waverly has played here already this season.”

Waverly played at Jackson in week two, but Westfall was at Teays Valley for the season opener.

This year, though, Kight came in and almost immediately applied Alumni Stadium for as many games as it could get.

“We are truly in this for the community,” said Howard. “Bob Kight has worked tirelessly trying to get state tournament events here in Jackson. He has hounded state officials and lobbied hard to bring in these events for the city of Jackson.”

Howard said he was hoping for at least one game, and the New Lexington-Ironton matchup worked out almost perfectly.

Both cities are roughly an hour from Jackson along State Route 93, with Ironton traveling north and New Lexington traveling south.

“Realistically, we were hoping to get one game,” he said. “It just so worked out that we were able to get two, which we’re very excited about. We got information last week that told us that we were, more than likely, going to have the Ironton game if they won.”

Ironton, the third seed in Region 15, rallied past visiting Westfall 41-31.

Landing the Liberty Union-Wheelersburg matchup, Howard said, “was possible, and it worked out.”

Liberty Union pushed past Nelsonville-York 15-14 on Saturday, while Wheelersburg managed to get by Minford 14-6.

Had Nelsonville-York won, and regardless of the winner of the Wheelersburg-Minford matchup, that semifinal would almost assured to have been played at Alumni.

“Those two games (Ironton-New Lexington game and Saturday night game) were the only two games that we had the possibility of getting this weekend,” said Howard.

A weekend in which plenty of football fans will pour into Jackson.

“There is a great possibility that we could have anywhere from 5,000 to 7,000 additional people here each day, or potentially 13,000 to 15,000 people for the entire weekend,” said Howard. “Weather permitting of course.”

The stadium’s seating capacity is 7,200, although standing-room-only crowds and even overflow crowds are anticipated.

Howard emphasized the economic boon to the community from the games.

“We truly believe that hosting such events is the least we can do to give back to the community and help our local economy,” he said. “The local businesses have been such a friend to the school, we’re constantly asking these individuals and businesses for donations. Our guests this weekend will be eating in our restaurants, they’re going to be buying gasoline, they’re going to be shopping at Wal-Mart and other places. That generates revenue for our business partners. It is a great way for us to be able to give to them for all they do for us. We may not make money directly from hosting, but indirectly we do because if our businesses prosper, they are more able to help the school in a financial capacity. It could potentially be a good weekend for the businesses.”

Howard and Kight both cautioned that the only revenue generated which is kept by the Jackson athletic department is money collected from parking.

It costs $2 to park in the Jackson High School or Jackson Middle School lots.

The school support groups also profit from the sale of concessions.

Otherwise, any and all other money made goes to the OHSAA.

“I don’t want to make it sound like we go in the hole on this, but what people don’t realize is that when we host these events, the school doesn’t receive any revenue from the gate receipts. And it’s a lot of work for our staff to put on these events,” said Howard. “The OHSAA does pay us a rental fee for use of the facility and they pay the actual cost for ticket takers, security, custodial work, etc., but trust me, the rental fee basically covers the cost of electricity for the lights and the additional water use.”

Howard also said that hosting on back-to-back nights requires plenty of man hours, and manpower, as far as actual site preparation.

“We’re going to have a game here on Friday night, then we have to have the stadium cleaned up and ready to go again on Saturday night,” he said. “It’s a lot of work for a lot of people.”

Two of the teams, Ironton and Wheelersburg, are familiar with Holzer Field.

Ironton, like Jackson, is a member of the Southeastern Ohio Athletic League, and plays the Ironmen every other year at Alumni Stadium.

Jackson’s game against Ironton three years ago was a non-league game, but Ironton returned as an SEOAL opponent last season.

Wheelersburg, which scrimmages the Ironmen every August, has done so in Jackson in three of the past four years, including this season.

Both Ironton and Wheelersburg are traditional powers in Southeastern Ohio as well, and have a strong allegiance of fan support.

“It helps to have teams like Ironton and Wheelersburg, which have such good programs, which are always in the playoffs and have such a huge following,” said Howard. “But I think all four teams will have a lot of crowd support.”

New Lexington, like Liberty Union on Saturday, is making its first-ever appearance in Alumni Stadium.

“We sincerely look forward to making this a prosperous and enjoyable weekend for everyone involved,” said Howard.

Howard also explained that, as per OHSAA rules, regular-season passes such as the “Ironmen” pass will not be accepted at the gate and reserve seating at Alumni Stadium will not apply.

In addition, parking passes which were issued for regular-season games at Jackson will not be honored.

“These are OHSAA-sponsored events,” said Howard. “Passes are no good.”

Tickets are $9 at the gate on Friday and Saturday, but Howard said some advance tickets will be on sale for the people of Jackson for $7.

Those advance tickets are available at the high school during normal school hours.

Football playoff games are not the only events being hosted by Jackson High School this year.

Like last season, JHS will also play host to the 14-team Division III boys basketball sectional tournament and the Division IV girls basketball district tournament.

Both tournaments span the course of a week in late February.

[email protected]

[Auburntgrfan]

I have had the opportunity to see both teams. New Lex. early and Ironton late. These are two well matched teams. And this should prove to be a slugfest. Both teams can and will pin their ears back and challange you to stop them. I believe it will come down to who makes the big play or the big mistake. This could be a 10 point game either way maybe less. But I will give a slight (very slight) edge to New Lex. Hope Ironton proves me wrong.

[Runner]

Is any of the radio stations going to be webcasting this game?

[kantuckyII]

1230 WIRO should be http://www.800wvhu.com/pages/hsbroadcasts.html

You'll be having Jason and Kevin in your home as they make you feel like you are at the game. Best I have ever heard, at any level these are!

[93mustang]

After seeing ironton last week. I think NL takes this one easy. ironton's D has no speed at all. Why westfall changed their offense by cain not running like he did all year was a mistake. After watching new lex last year, i was impressed with their toughness. I think ironton will be taking them lightly. Plus ironton fumbles way too much. If you hit them hard and try to strip it comes out easy. Ironton's D line is very slow and doesn't get much pressure,but they are strong and big. If NL has the same qb i think he can take advantage of them.

[bluetraveler]

Stop Cannon and you stop NL.I think Tigers have enough dogs to tree this panther.Ironton 21-12

[85inside]

The opening line is

Ironton -6

49 is the total

[Ironman69]

tigers2013,
From what I have seen, we have a big line.
And NL is a scrappy bunch.

[Tigfan]

After seeing ironton last week. I think NL takes this one easy. ironton's D has no speed at all. Why westfall changed their offense by cain not running like he did all year was a mistake. After watching new lex last year, i was impressed with their toughness. I think ironton will be taking them lightly. Plus ironton fumbles way too much. If you hit them hard and try to strip it comes out easy. Ironton's D line is very slow and doesn't get much pressure,but they are strong and big. If NL has the same qb i think he can take advantage of them.

Why didn't Westfall just hit us hard and strip it out easy in the 2nd half? Also, why would we take anybody lightly in the 2nd round of the playoffs? Where do you get your info? SEOPS? I'm sorry but I think New Lex and Sheridan are both good teams but not great teams. Make a note of this: Ironton will beat New Lex in a good game and Chilli will beat Sheridan on a dry field next week. That wet and sloppy game early in the year took away Chilli's speed. It will be different if there's a next time. Tri-Valley and John Glenn gave Sheridan a run for their $ and they are both down. Logan would wax everyone in the MVL and we moved the ball pretty well on them.

Scouting tip for New Lex: We are going to run it right at you. Hope that helps.

[kmweasel67]

If Ironton plays as well this week as they did last week it will be lights out for New Lexington. The team has alot of heart and a great coach. This New Lexington team is small up front should be able to open holes for Wetzel, Brice,and Freemen. I will be there cheering you guy's on. I hope both teams is injury free good luck Ironton- 42. New Lexington-38

[nlpantherfan1997]

New Lex is so OVER RATED YOU GUYS WILL CRUSH US LITTLE GUYS WE HAVE
NO SPEED AND LACK OF TALENT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL WE ARE A REAL LUCKY TEAM TO MAKE IT IN MEIGS SHOULD HAVE BEAT US BUT THE REFS HELP POOR OLD US LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!