Week 1 - Ironton @ Wheelersburg

[wobycat]

Burg has much as they want! kidding of course.

Offense: Edge - Even
Both Burg and I-town return their best runner along with a strong line. It may come down to passing if there is one! LOL

Defense: Edge - Ironton
Burg so far in scrimmages is having trouble picking up the runners. Ironton will be more experienced.

Special Teams: Edge - Burg
With the kicking game being trouble for I-Town, Burg might gain ground with xtra points and field goals.

Coaching: Edge - Ironton
Wining-est coach in history, enough said. Although Coach Woodward is a good coach.

Intangibles: Edge -Even
Burg at home and wants to prove themselves. Ironton believes they can make a deep playoff run.

If Burg stays with Ironton offensively, then Burg has a shot.

Burg by 7, a Burg fan prediction!

[FaberGrad62]

Hopefully we don't see a lot of 'cramps' this time. We'll see who was taking summer conditioning seriously.

GO PIRATES!!!

Nah! The Days of "cramps" disappeared with Coach Lutz's return. Coach Triplett was the cause of the "cramps"

Does Coach Tripletts West teams suffer alot of cramps vs Wheelersburg? Seems to me that there are a lot of "blowhards" in Scioto County as well.
Back to the game:
It seems that ironton is still adjusting it's lineup a bit and it also appears that maybe all of the pieces aren't in place yet. Ironton will be a little "new" on the ends and in the secondary. Wheelersburg usually exploits Ironton's pass defense a bit, so i will give the edge in the passing game to Wheelersburg. I think the Fighting Tigers will try to control the ball and eat up clock. It may be a long night for the defenses. I think Burg will have quick strike capability and it may just come down to who holds onto the ball. I believe Ironton can move the ball and i think they will have some long drives. however, the long drives are only good if you score and you dont turn it over.

I originally said this would be a 19-17 game. I am still going with the spread but not the same score. Burg will play well at home and they are going to be hopping mad after getting manhandled last season. Ironton's lack of a kicking game may come back to bite them, but I like Coach Lutz in this series. He has certainly had the better of Wheelersburg down through the years. My linescore looks like this:

Ironton 8 12 6 6 32
Burg 7 7 9 7 30

Good evaluation, all but the score. Both teams will try and control the clock so that they can keep the other's teams offense off the field. Burg has the o-line this year to do that, as does itown. With that, I see a score in the teen's. 17-16.


This has been a classic over the years and I see nothing different. Looks to possibly a huge crowd with some outsiders coming down. Burg welcomes you, but will advise to get there early

[Tiger Man]

I will start the evening with a pizza from Freds. I will then go to the game and look up some friends (Dave, Rick, Dave, & few more) on the Burg side and tell them just how bad the TIGERS are going to kick the crap out of them. They will not agree of course. I will then settle into my seat and wipe the sweat off the entire game. I will be smiling though as my Fighting TIGERS dominate the game. I will then try to telephone my Burg friends to discuss the game but of course they will not answer for me.

Life will be good as the Fighting TIGERS get a good win to start their un-defeated season.

GO TIGERS GO!!!!!!!

HIT SOMEBODY!

[Neutron Man]

Neutron I was there at the game you keep complaining about. Dumb comments..to "do"that ONCE in 25+ years of coaching and "on purpose"?..get over the loss, those kids weren't pretending. Hey I got some land to sell you too!
Anyway, I take Ironton in this one. Burg lost a couple super athletes last year that will be hard to replace. Burg still has some solid players but have to go with I-town this year.

Doesnt really matter thats long in the past. Get over it Neutron, Ironton will have there starters on the bench before the 3rd quarter is over.

EXCUSE ME??? I only kept it going cause of 85inside. It is now a big joke. And the cramps may have been legit but the placement of the fall wasnt. Once in 25 yrs is right and it just so happened the one season Lutz was gone. Meaning that it was Triplett. I'm not slamming Ironton! Geez ppl I know you guys have to be smarter than that. Anyone can see I was slamming Triplett.

Pattycake, 3rd Quarter huh? When they don't tell me what that crow tastes like. Even if Ironton wins.

[tigerpower89]

i will have to take my Tigers in this one but it could be a close one

[TigersGameDayFan]

I was on that team that played at Burg with Coach T as the Head Coach and the cramps were legit trust me....

Anyways the past is the past and were now talking about Friday:
Ironton @ Wheelersburg: The Ironton offense is going to have it's way. Not saying the Burg D isnt good. But this offense can move the football up the field. The 3 Backs in Wilks, Hager, and Warner hit the holes HARD! These cats can flat out move too. Hager and Warner are huge for backs. Wilks well we all know about his talent and what he can do in the open field. The offensive line is loaded. With probably one of the biggest lines in southern ohio. With Webb, Spaljeric, and Lawless on one side, you can run behind that ALL DAY. Taylor and Roach on the left side. HUGE....Now our defense is the only question. With Coach Lutz being pretty bright on the defensive side of the ball i'd say this week of practice it will be straightened out.
The Wheelersburg offense will be pretty legit as well. With Schank coming back, this guy can take on the distance in a heart beat.He has the break away speed to score when he gets an opening. Obviously i do not have much knowledge of this Wheelersburg team. But from reading the post from the Wheerlersburg fans. I believe that there defense may have a few holes in it to fill. But it's Wheelersburg. Some one will step up.
With all that said and after making two previous predictions on different threads, i have now came down with my final answer.(Unless someone gets hurt this week in practice, let's pray no one does though)

First Quarter: Both teams come storming onto the field at Ed Miller Stadium with the electricity in the air. A lot of hard hitting, and probably select few turnovers. Little mistakes by both teams could give up big plays.
1st quarter score: Ironton 6
Wheelersburg 7

Second Quarter: With adjustments being made in between quarters, and all butterflies being gone. The game will probably slow down a bit with Ironton controlling the tempo with the run game.
Halftime score: Ironton 14
Wheelersburg 10

Third quarter: After halftime is where I believe the team with the most heart will start to pull away with this one. Coach Lutz half time adjustments are usually what makes the difference in ball games. This Ironton team is also well conditioned.
End of 3: Ironton 21
Wheelersburg 10

Fourth Quarter: Teams begin to where down and this is when you find out who your true football players are. With this game being a battle as always. I see The Fighting Tigers controlling the tempo the entire 2nd half. Keeping the ball away from the Burg offense. Putting one more TD on the board, and plus a late TD from the Burg leaving the final score at:
Ironton Fighting Tigers: 27
Wheelersburg Pirates: 17


Good Luck to both teams. I hope the place is packed Friday Night for this Battle.
Prayers for no injuries and a great ball game.
Go Tigers Go!

[Da_Burg]

Ironton is always a tough team to play for Burg, but its always a fun one to watch! Last year we started out on the downside with no adjustment til half time. Second half the Pirates were taming the tigers in that loss! This friday, Im thinking the Pirates will play their hearts out from the time the first whistle blows until the last whistle blows and in the end, I believe the Pirates will be on top! Good Luck to both teams this year! GO PIRATES!!!!!!

[caglewis]

NOTE TO ALL - muscle cramps have much more to do with fluid and electrolyte balance than with coaching/conditioning!! That's why "cramping" tends to be a problem during games in hot weather when players are sweating more profusely. That's why mandatory "hydration time-out" rules were instituted by OHSAA. Conditioning is obviously very important regarding players' stamina; but 80-90 degree weather is a greater factor in causing muscle cramping! That's why the electrolyte-containing sports drink, "Gatorade", that we all take for granted now was invented/originated in Florida!!!

[TigersGameDayFan]

Perfect example of why being in shape has nothing to do with cramps. JON MONNIG.......cramped up every game until about week 6 or 7 last year and we all know he was in shape.

[Burg_Grad_77]

Ironton is to much for Burg.

Ironton will probably be to much for everyone on their schedule this year. If the Pirates can stay within 2 TD's I'll be impressed.

Good luck to both squads and I hope it's an injury free game.

[tl985]

I say the Tigers roll. Don't be surprised to see the 3rd string in the 3rd quarter.

Ironton - 56
wheelersburg - 6

I honestly think this Tiger team would beat most College Division III teams.

[Burg_Grad_77]

I say the Tigers roll. Don't be surprised to see the 3rd string in the 3rd quarter.

Ironton - 56
wheelersburg - 6

I honestly think this Tiger team would beat most College Division III teams.

I'll take that 50 point spread for $100. You game or just like running your mouth?

[TigersGameDayFan]

I say the Tigers roll. Don't be surprised to see the 3rd string in the 3rd quarter.

Ironton - 56
wheelersburg - 6

I honestly think this Tiger team would beat most College Division III teams.

I'll take that 50 point spread for $100. You game or just like running your mouth?

Im on 77's side here...No chance in H311 this game is a 50 point blowout....this game can go either way.

[Neutron Man]

I say the Tigers roll. Don't be surprised to see the 3rd string in the 3rd quarter.

Ironton - 56
wheelersburg - 6

I honestly think this Tiger team would beat most College Division III teams.

I'll take that 50 point spread for $100. You game or just like running your mouth?

I want in on that also! 50 points and Burg.
I'm thinking we have another fool fan. The ones that the real fans stay away from. Ask any Ironton fan and they'll roll their eyes
and say, what a moron! Burg has em' EVERY school has em.
Some just want to post outragous scores to get others going.

[KVDW]

I say the Tigers roll. Don't be surprised to see the 3rd string in the 3rd quarter.

Ironton - 56
wheelersburg - 6

I honestly think this Tiger team would beat most College Division III teams.

wow!! you and tigerman must be related to yoretigerbait.

[KVDW]

I was on that team that played at Burg with Coach T as the Head Coach and the cramps were legit trust me....

Anyways the past is the past and were now talking about Friday:
Ironton @ Wheelersburg: The Ironton offense is going to have it's way. Not saying the Burg D isnt good. But this offense can move the football up the field. The 3 Backs in Wilks, Hager, and Warner hit the holes HARD! These cats can flat out move too. Hager and Warner are huge for backs. Wilks well we all know about his talent and what he can do in the open field. The offensive line is loaded. With probably one of the biggest lines in southern ohio. With Webb, Spaljeric, and Lawless on one side, you can run behind that ALL DAY. Taylor and Roach on the left side. HUGE....Now our defense is the only question. With Coach Lutz being pretty bright on the defensive side of the ball i'd say this week of practice it will be straightened out.
The Wheelersburg offense will be pretty legit as well. With Schank coming back, this guy can take on the distance in a heart beat.He has the break away speed to score when he gets an opening. Obviously i do not have much knowledge of this Wheelersburg team. But from reading the post from the Wheerlersburg fans. I believe that there defense may have a few holes in it to fill. But it's Wheelersburg. Some one will step up.
With all that said and after making two previous predictions on different threads, i have now came down with my final answer.(Unless someone gets hurt this week in practice, let's pray no one does though)

First Quarter: Both teams come storming onto the field at Ed Miller Stadium with the electricity in the air. A lot of hard hitting, and probably select few turnovers. Little mistakes by both teams could give up big plays.
1st quarter score: Ironton 6
Wheelersburg 7

Second Quarter: With adjustments being made in between quarters, and all butterflies being gone. The game will probably slow down a bit with Ironton controlling the tempo with the run game.
Halftime score: Ironton 14
Wheelersburg 10

Third quarter: After halftime is where I believe the team with the most heart will start to pull away with this one. Coach Lutz half time adjustments are usually what makes the difference in ball games. This Ironton team is also well conditioned.
End of 3: Ironton 21
Wheelersburg 10

Fourth Quarter: Teams begin to where down and this is when you find out who your true football players are. With this game being a battle as always. I see The Fighting Tigers controlling the tempo the entire 2nd half. Keeping the ball away from the Burg offense. Putting one more TD on the board, and plus a late TD from the Burg leaving the final score at:
Ironton Fighting Tigers: 27
Wheelersburg Pirates: 17


Good Luck to both teams. I hope the place is packed Friday Night for this Battle.
Prayers for no injuries and a great ball game.
Go Tigers Go!

great post from a sensible ironton fan....(apparently the one and only).

[KVDW]

Ironton will have there starters on the bench before the 3rd quarter is over.

surely you don't think they will ALL be cramped out by then, Patty.

[TigersGameDayFan]

KVDW: Thank ya for the appreciation of my post. Most of the Ironton fans on here post with great respect, people just take them the wrong way. Tiger Man for instance knows people from the Burg very well and they all know he is joking around.

Anyways, Good Luck to both teams friday night! Coming from a former Fighting Tiger.

[Neutron Man]

Ironton will have there starters on the bench before the 3rd quarter is over.

surely you don't think they will ALL be cramped out by then, Patty.

Watch out KVDW! The Ironton fans get all huffy when you bring that up!
Can't joke about those things. Those cramps were real!

[TigersGameDayFan]

Ironton will have there starters on the bench before the 3rd quarter is over.

surely you don't think they will ALL be cramped out by then, Patty.

Watch out KVDW! The Ironton fans get all huffy when you bring that up!
Can't joke about those things. Those cramps were real!

The cramps were real. I was on that team. We had issues with cramps the first few weeks of the season. And Also the weeks before the games during practice.