Week 5 Ironton @ Gallipolis

[A-Town Big Dog]

While I'll be pulling for Gallia to win this one, I don't think the have the fire power to take out an Ironton team with extra motivation following their loss to Ashland. Good luck Devils.

[Daniel Larusso]

Logan, Athens, Warren, Marietta, Jackson, Chillicothe, Portsmouth, Ironton, and Point Pleasant should all be on Gallia's schedule every year IMHO. That leaves one game that could be used for a home and home with a different team every two years. I've hated the fact that Gallia hasn't had Point Pleasant on the schedule for several years, and I would hate to see either the Marietta or Ironton series end as well.

[GalliaGrad78]

In a time when finances seem to be an important part of athletics, it seems silly to not have Ironton on the schedule. They always bring a big crowd.
Now, Marietta on the other hand, I understand. They had more band members in the stands than fans.
Gotta get Point back on the schedule, if possible. May have something to do with their membership in the conference in WV.
Licking Heights comes to Gallipolis next year, I believe.
I know it is easier to want new opponents than to actually schedule them, but it would be better, I would think, to play more opponents in D3 and D2 instead of D4. (Ironton not withstanding.)

[hardfowl]

Will Meigs and GAHS meet in game five in the future?

[BBallin fool]

78 !!!The Ironton gate is big!!! dumb!!! GA AD DON'T DROP IRONTON.

[Blue_Steel]

schedules aren't as simple as saying hey, we want to play you. Point Pleasant and Meigs for example want no part of Gallia Academy. They don't want another tough game on their schedule. Makes NO SENSE at all to me that teams aren't begging to play Gallia Academy. I can't think of a better traveling team. We always have fans no matter what. We travel very well. We filled Bleachers a few weeks ago in Columbus. Says a lot about our people and fans. Marietta friday night had more people in the band they they had in their stands. Marietta wants out, they don't want to play us anymore. I think if they cant bring more than 100 people to watch their kids play I don't want them either our kids and theirs deserve better win or lose. We want big crowds. I have many friends in Marietta and will miss seeing them each year.

But all of you making cracks about schedule need to realize how it really is. I would also rather play a d6 school with 8 wins than a d2 school with 2. come playoff time you will understand.

[Blue_Steel]

I can give you a # if you know of any that might!

[pbuck]

Ironton

[superblue]

Blue_steel,You are correct about the scheduling problem... If the SEOAL looses another team we are really in trouble as far as scheduling. That would give us only 4 league games, we might as well be independent if that happens. We need to get in a league with 8 or 9 teams, that way we only have a few non conference games to schedule... The SEOAL needs to expand in the coming years or the members need to look for other leagues to take us....IMO... It seems like every league in Southern Ohio is expanding, except the SEOAL....

[Westfan]

Have any SOC II teams shown any interest in playing GAHS? Has GAHS ever played an SOC II team in non conference play? I know you scrimmage West and those contests seem competitive.

West used to play GAHS back in the 80's.
I believe South Point is off the schedule now and West is looking.

[86Tiger]

[quote="superblue"][quote="You're Tiger Bait"]we ain't gonna win another game turning the ball over like that, the sad part is ironton dominated the line of scrimmage and may have even had more yards than ashland when the stats come out. but it means nothing if you lose the ball.[/quote]

HMMMM.... Final stats are in.... total net yards=ASH-382....IT-295, Its hard to say that ironton dominated the line of scrimmage.... LOL[/quote]

Thank you I have been saying that all weekend. Our backs took a beating and were swarmed everytime they hit a hole. We did not dominate the line of scrimmage.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

I don't know of any that would but I also can't imagine why they wouldn't either....I believe there could be some very competitive games....Most of the SOC teams are playing the OVC teams in non-conference games. I would like to see some of the teams play Jackson, GAHS and others...I think it would be good for the league and gates....Heck, I'd like to see them play Ironton too.....Keep the money in state instead of Russell, Ky..........What doesn't kill you will only make you better, eh!!

-----------THATS SO TRUE FIDO. IT SURE PAYS OFF COME PLAYOFF TIME, I ADMIRE GAHS, FOR KEEPING IRONTON.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

FROM WHAT I'M HEARING THE SEOAL SCHOOLS ARE DROPPING US. EXCEPT PORTSMOUTH.

[NY BUCKS]

i heard ironton and NY might be playing again..does anybody know this for a fact..?

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

that would be a great game the enrollment of the schools is very , very similiar. i would like to see that every year.

[Westfan]

Have any SOC II teams shown any interest in playing GAHS? Has GAHS ever played an SOC II team in non conference play? I know you scrimmage West and those contests seem competitive.

West used to play GAHS back in the 80's.
I believe South Point is off the schedule now and West is looking.

West should be looking to elevate their competition and so should Valley and Minford. All three of these schools have been playing the OVC non conference schedule too. I think any of these schools can compete with Portsmouth or Gahs. They may not win them all but so what. It's about increasing your competition level to better your program.....

I was told a couple schools that they are evaluating. One would be an excellent upgrade to the schedule. He said they would have to make a descision soon.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

a lil bird told me, ahl never mind. you would not believe me.

[camnott]

I'm having a hard time understanding why Ironton left the SEOAL but still schedules a large portion of SEOAL teams. Don't get me wrong I'm not bashing Ironton at all, they have a great program and I hated to see them leave. We,(SEOAL) need to add Portsmouth West, Burg,Nelsonville York, Athens and Ironton in my opinion. I can understand Marietta and even Warren having difficulties financially staying in the SEOAL but there are some other quality teams in our proximity that could be added.
Just my opinion. By the way good luck to both teams sorry but I gotta root for Gallia but I think it's gonna be a tuff row to hoe.

[F-4 Phantom]

You may want to add SOC II teams to the league but they aren't going anywhere....TTOTTB!! JMO! They have no incentive to leave.....

[JChipwood]

Dropping Ironton for Fairland seems like a win win to me. Sure you may lose on the gate every other year but also gain every other year in terms of travel expense so that is a wash. I also think Fairland travels fairly well. Add to that the fact that we would be a lot more competitive with Fairland if not beat them most every year and pick up playoff points because they are in a league that isn't very tough and they will win their fair share of games annually. Both are D IV teams so the playoff points are fairly even except sedond level points because of the teams Ironton will beat yearly are more competitive and their opponents have a higher division average. Of course we gain ZERO points for losing, first or second level, so regardless of schedules we are going to be ahead playing a team like Fairland. Plus Ironton wanted out of the league due to travel so grant them their wish. I enjoy playing the Tigers and would miss the game, even in defeat I have a great amount of respect for the Tigers and the way they treat the fundamental aspects of the game allowing them to be competitive every year.

Marietta is a no brainer, way too far to travel if ANYONE closer wants to play and the gate, as stated, is horrible for us. Add to that we will gain NO playoff points from them because unless they committ to getting a lot better they aren't going to win more than a couple games yearly. I would think Point would be interested in playing again, if nothing else to help prepare them for the WV playoffs. Their program has found life of late and our talent pool isn't what it was when they dropped us.

As for this week............Ironton will be more than ready and IMHO are a much more physical team than any team we will play all year and have as much or more talent than anyone on our schedule. Add to that the fact that they are much better at blocking and tackling than anyone in SEO and we may have a recipe for a rough night. I am rooting for a Devil win but realistically hoping to come out of the game injury free having learned lessons to carry over in to league play. Anything can happen though on a given night. Would like to see us try to get #1 involved in the passing game but also understand that we are sorta limited in our downfield passing attack. If nothing else we could take a 3 step drop and throw it as far as QB1 can and let a guy run under the ball. The slow developing short outs (why not just a quick bubble screen?) are going to fail us and sending 2 guys into a pass route isn't going to yeild a whole lot of success against a fundamental team like Ironton. Like I said our QB is young and only being able to stretch the field 35 yards maximum is something we are going to have to accept and live with, it should get better with growth and maturity. I do like the way we tried to mix it up a little but we are still elementary in our passing scheme and handcuff ourselves. On a more positive note, I don't think I have ever seen a Blue Devil run harder than Brandon Taylor. Pound for pound he is the strongest back I have witnessed at GAHS.