Playoffs #8 Ironton @ #1 Wheelersburg

[burg1]

7 hours til kickoff! Just drove by the stadium and a few people are sitting in their cars....Tents are going up for the tailgating.... WSAZ...WOWK...BurgFan...99.3...98.3...Portsmouth Daily Times...Ironton Radio...Ironton Tribune and other media outlets will soon be en route...
All around Scioto County people are shouting WE ARE THE BURG! I picked up lunch at Toro Loco and they were shouting ESTAMOS EL BURG!...
Let's Go BURG!!! FBT!!!

[Tigercannon71]

What time gates open?

[burg1]

Gates open at 6pm

[Tigercannon71]

Ok thanks!

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

GO TIGERS

[yabbadabbadoo]

Too bad they can't have a split the pot. Would be a nice take home pay for someone.

Let's put the women and children to bed and go lookin' for dinner!

WE ARE!!!! THE BURG!!!!!!

[Tjhtygeverve]

Good Luck tonight Pirates. Ironton poses problems because of the familiarity the teams have with each other. I do think that Wheelersburg is the better overall team and will get the win however. I really don't like all the talk about being State Champs this early. There's a region to be won first.
Food for thought: Zane Trace's goal is to make it to the State also and they have achieved all the same goals that Wheelersburg has so far.
One Game at a Time.
Go Burg.

I earlier used the ZT final idea as MOTIVATION ONLY because up to yesterday & maybe even some quick run throughs today, it truly has to be one practice @ a time to make each individual better @ their position & bringing it together as a perfect fitting puzzle piece to make a completed puzzle to be the best a team can be.

I know that's what IHS has done since around week 8 & it was ironic to hear a poster say that's what a WB player said they were focusing on this week, so the coaching is there, execution of the puzzle will be the difference.

I'd love to see Ironton get the W, but unless they've truly taken their mix of power running & more mixing of short "over the line" ten yard tosses & 20 yard wide out passes to the next level that they started against Ashland with success in a close 1TD first half, where they also contained D1Marshall signee, baker & demonstrated & effectively used in their last 6 games & did well at it, they will have a hard time getting the W against WB as they already have this down as a team since around week 4.

I also think this is the only way you can get past ZT, Norwayne, coldh20, & CCC. My 3 picks for regional winners (solidly).
Someone used a comparison of this years WB team to the 89 team with a focus of both QB's of having the right mix for a state crown.
I would agree to that being this type of mix for any team to be extremely Hard to beat in any championship.
Although this years WB QB has evolved well, he pales in comparison to the 89 QB. If I remember correctly, he was like 6'5, could see right over an imposing line & was elusive to consistiently bring down.
These are the 2 things this years WHS QB has evolved @ being "good "@, but unfortunately this is something a much faster "D"
line will stomp out quickly. & I have a feeling WHS will face that before a d5 final. I think the div5 final will actually feature the state's 2 best in a semi-final game, so to speak. I hope I'm wrong here as the winner of tonight's game will be the SEO rep for it all & I feel this winner will continue onto a regional final win, but end up somewhere "cold & wet".

Of course I'm optimistic & using all the contacts I have info on what's going on inside the execution of IHS practices each week, especially the last three to four weeks.
Once again, a talk task for the Tigers, but I'm hoping for the best.
If not, WHS has my full support the rest of the way.
Heres to a great game.
Here's to an injury free one, something that has really taken its toll on the Tigers the past 5-years really, & in NO WAY is that an excuse.

I stated when I first heard, IHS was joining the OVC, that I disagreed, that being independent was the way to go, but in reality, it was a great fit!
From the population drop in Ironton, to the lack of interest in being a fighting tiger in FB, & enrollment projections,
Being independent Is not conducive @ IHS any longer.

I do not put myself in a position to eat crow by staying humbled & the only way, I feel that has enabled me to be a humble as possible poster, because let's face it, a sports forum is filled with an ego based mindset, is the Lutz era & getting to the finals so many times & coming up short.
A few, unfortunately still gloat & others now become relentless hijacking haters on here from recent success.
But, I far too well know it's cyclical & the top doesn't stay forever.
Back to eating crow. I gladly ate crow last Friday night after the Tigers "passed" & ran their way to a "W" over SPHS & the Tigers won the OVC. My remark of staying independent was wrong & uncalled for.
Having Ironton, gallia, p-town, will just strengthen the already strong CHS, RHHS, CGDBHS, & promote SPHS, FHS, to be strong. It'll be a great conference to vie for.

Tonight, GOTIGERSGO, for the OVC!
Good luck:
THE PEAKE
&
THE HILL
IN YOUR PLAYOFF GAMES!!!
Rep the OVC WELL!!!

[inOVCsider]

If the pirates don't stay focused and take care of the ball they might be in for a long night. Ironton is not your typical 8 seed and I know they will play their hearts out. I also believe this game is closer than people think, its going to be worth the drive.

[Tjhtygeverve]

If the pirates don't stay focused and take care of the ball they might be in for a long night. Ironton is not your typical 8 seed and I know they will play their hearts out. I also believe this game is closer than people think, its going to be worth the drive.

I hope you enjoyed your drive, I contemplated it………..................…………………NOT!
That xtra 25 minutes from my aunt's house was just to much!!!
Haha.
No posting going on, it would be nice for someone to post a pre-game atmosphere for a fella in Florida!

[Tjhtygeverve]

Gates are open. Mad dash to the 50, 5 rows up

[Tjhtygeverve]

Ironton side first

[Tjhtygeverve]

Possibly burg 50, if I had my old sweatshirt with a huge orange I on the front & @ a huge black I trimmed in FIGHTING TIGER ORANGE in the back.

NOT CANDY CORN BURNT HALOWEEN CORN CANDY ORANGE... Hahee

[BurgGrad6]

Visitor side on the hill right by the breast cancer sign, watching burg's kicker put 45yarders through the uprights!!

[Tjhtygeverve]

Visitor side on the hill right by the breast cancer sign, watching burg's kicker put 45yarders through the uprights!!

Thanks for the visuals.
Appreciate it!
Here's to a good one!
NO INJURIES!!!

[FIDO]

updates on game

[Cpt. Obvious]

Visitor side on the hill right by the breast cancer sign, watching burg's kicker put 45yarders through the uprights!!

Your sittin right next to me!! Obviously!!

[Tjhtygeverve]

Visitor side on the hill right by the breast cancer sign, watching burg's kicker put 45yarders through the uprights!!

Your sittin right next to me!! Obviously!!

Love hearing it!
OBVIOUSLY!

[Buckeye09]

Here on the visitors side at the 20. Sporting my PURPLE. Go OVC!

[Tjhtygeverve]

Here on the visitors side at the 20. Sporting my PURPLE. Go OVC!

Thanks buckeye09. Couldn't be prouder being in the OVC with quality teams like yours. Thanks for being there shouting for our FIGHTING TIGERS. If I wasn't in Florida, I'd be right there with you celebrating our 32nd playoff appearance!!!
GOTIGERSGO!!!!
Gettheball
Gettheball
Gettheball
Gettheball
Gettheball
!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[maniac66]

Let's go Ironton play smart and hard and injury free good luck Tigers