Could Ironton be competitive with any team in the state?

[SmallTown]

Ironton is good, but they are untested. Midland, burg, jackson, hartley are all average or worse.


Hartley opponents record that they beat 3-12
Midland hasnt won a game
Burg opponents record that they beat 3-7
Jacksons opponents record that they beat 6-9

[FIDO]

Whomever said that Ironton would win the MAC this year is clearly smoking something that I don’t want to be on. Marion Local is the crème de la crème not just in Ohio but in the United States.

Marion Local has won 52 Consecutive Games. They’ve been running roughshod over teams and have been giving up less than 4 points per game in the last 15 games alone.

Some of y’all are delusional but let’s look at a comparison for Strength of Schedule this year and do a side by side comparison since 2000.

Marion Local Strength of Schedule this year:
1 of 104 in D7
Chances to win region 28:
93%
Chances to win State in D7:
84%

Ironton Strength of Schedule this year:
3 of 106 in DV
Chances to win Region 19:
86%
Chances to win State in DV:
56%

The reason I mention all of this is that another team that Ironton may face (if they get to the state semifinals or finals) is Versailles. Versailles is predicted to lose by 29 this week to Marion Local.

Here’s a W-L comparison since 2000 with State Championships:

Ironton
W-212
L-80
Playoffs: 34-21
State Championships: 0
State Runner Up: 3

Marion Local:
W-305
L-42
Playoffs: 92-8
State Championships: 13
State Runner Up: 3

Simply put, they’re in a class their own.

And they would lay a butt kicking on Ironton this year.

Fortunately Ironton won’t have to play ML. But too bad for those D7 teams that do.

As for Ironton, I would definitely rank them in the top 25 right next to where Ursuline is ranked. That’s good company. So definitely can play with and beat the vast majority of Ohio teams, but not cracking the top 10.

This is the same debate I recall with Burg in 2017. Some fans had delusions of grandeur thinking Burg could play with anyone. Of course that Burg team was good and finished in the top 25, however, ML finished 11th with arguably one of their best teams ever. They would have beaten Burg like a rented mule.

Voice of reason!!

[Jason Vorhees]

Whomever said that Ironton would win the MAC this year is clearly smoking something that I don’t want to be on. Marion Local is the crème de la crème not just in Ohio but in the United States.

Marion Local has won 52 Consecutive Games. They’ve been running roughshod over teams and have been giving up less than 4 points per game in the last 15 games alone.

Some of y’all are delusional but let’s look at a comparison for Strength of Schedule this year and do a side by side comparison since 2000.

Marion Local Strength of Schedule this year:
1 of 104 in D7
Chances to win region 28:
93%
Chances to win State in D7:
84%

Ironton Strength of Schedule this year:
3 of 106 in DV
Chances to win Region 19:
86%
Chances to win State in DV:
56%

The reason I mention all of this is that another team that Ironton may face (if they get to the state semifinals or finals) is Versailles. Versailles is predicted to lose by 29 this week to Marion Local.

Here’s a W-L comparison since 2000 with State Championships:

Ironton
W-212
L-80
Playoffs: 34-21
State Championships: 0
State Runner Up: 3

Marion Local:
W-305
L-42
Playoffs: 92-8
State Championships: 13
State Runner Up: 3

Simply put, they’re in a class their own.

And they would lay a butt kicking on Ironton this year.

Fortunately Ironton won’t have to play ML. But too bad for those D7 teams that do.

As for Ironton, I would definitely rank them in the top 25 right next to where Ursuline is ranked. That’s good company. So definitely can play with and beat the vast majority of Ohio teams, but not cracking the top 10.

This is the same debate I recall with Burg in 2017. Some fans had delusions of grandeur thinking Burg could play with anyone. Of course that Burg team was good and finished in the top 25, however, ML finished 11th with arguably one of their best teams ever. They would have beaten Burg like a rented mule.

This is a realistic viewpoint and Ironton is having a great season so far but comparing them to the literal standard of small high school football in Ohio and the United States is farce at best and delusional at worst. My hope is that Ironton does go to State and win it all. The odds historically related to the area is egregiously against them. Only 6 times has a SE Ohio team won State:
Crooksville- 1977
Ironton- 1979
Nelsonville-York-1981
Ironton-1989
Wheelersburg-1989
Wheelersburg-2017

Athens was State Runner Up in 2014
Caldwell has been once (2023)
Fort Frye has been 3 times (2018, 2020, and 2022)
Coal Grove twice (1983 and 1990)
Ironton has been 14 times and State Runner Up 9 times
Lucasville Valley once in 2014
Minford once in 1985
Nelsonville-York 3 times (1981, 1982, 2017)
Portsmouth twice in 1984 and 2000
West Portsmouth was State Runner Up in 2002
Wheelersburg has been 8 times
Monroe Central in 2001

Out of the 39 State Semifinal Appearances for the area (Caldwell, Fort Frye, and MC might be SE Ohio stretches), only 6 times has it ever came home. That’s 15%. Only 5% of State Championships belong to SE Ohio. I’ll always root for area teams but reality is reality.

[FIDO]

And they would lay a butt kicking on Ironton this year.

Fortunately Ironton won’t have to play ML. But too bad for those D7 teams that do.

As for Ironton, I would definitely rank them in the top 25 right next to where Ursuline is ranked. That’s good company. So definitely can play with and beat the vast majority of Ohio teams, but not cracking the top 10.

This is the same debate I recall with Burg in 2017. Some fans had delusions of grandeur thinking Burg could play with anyone. Of course that Burg team was good and finished in the top 25, however, ML finished 11th with arguably one of their best teams ever. They would have beaten Burg like a rented mule.

Voice of reason!!

Some teams they could be competitive for 4 quarters, others not so much. They have a good D5 team
Enjoy the ride

[gobucs20]

And they would lay a butt kicking on Ironton this year.

Fortunately Ironton won’t have to play ML. But too bad for those D7 teams that do.

As for Ironton, I would definitely rank them in the top 25 right next to where Ursuline is ranked. That’s good company. So definitely can play with and beat the vast majority of Ohio teams, but not cracking the top 10.

This is the same debate I recall with Burg in 2017. Some fans had delusions of grandeur thinking Burg could play with anyone. Of course that Burg team was good and finished in the top 25, however, ML finished 11th with arguably one of their best teams ever. They would have beaten Burg like a rented mule.

This is a realistic viewpoint and Ironton is having a great season so far but comparing them to the literal standard of small high school football in Ohio and the United States is farce at best and delusional at worst. My hope is that Ironton does go to State and win it all. The odds historically related to the area is egregiously against them. Only 6 times has a SE Ohio team won State:
Crooksville- 1977
Ironton- 1979
Nelsonville-York-1981
Ironton-1989
Wheelersburg-1989
Wheelersburg-2017

Athens was State Runner Up in 2014
Caldwell has been once (2023)
Fort Frye has been 3 times (2018, 2020, and 2022)
Coal Grove twice (1983 and 1990)
Ironton has been 14 times and State Runner Up 9 times
Lucasville Valley once in 2014
Minford once in 1985
Nelsonville-York 3 times (1981, 1982, 2017)
Portsmouth twice in 1984 and 2000
West Portsmouth was State Runner Up in 2002
Wheelersburg has been 8 times
Monroe Central in 2001

Out of the 39 State Semifinal Appearances for the area (Caldwell, Fort Frye, and MC might be SE Ohio stretches), only 6 times has it ever came home. That’s 15%. Only 5% of State Championships belong to SE Ohio. I’ll always root for area teams but reality is reality.

If ironton has won two state championships and been there 14 times how could they have been runner up 9 times? I'm not good at math but too me that seems like they would have 7 state championships which I know they don't. Amanda cc won state championships I'm 97 2003-04 ..

[knightruner]

Don’t like comparing scores,but Ursuline lost to Walsh Jesuit by 2. Jesuit in the power rankings are 5th in the state.We beat Hartley a little worse than Ursuline.And yes Jesuit I think is D1.Don’t let divisions confuse you.

Yeah divisions can be confusing because there are teams in D6 and D7 Ironton can't beat

This year Ironton would beat Kirkland and sweep the MAC.No problem

You must be smoking some good stuff.

[Bird Dog]

Fortunately Ironton won’t have to play ML. But too bad for those D7 teams that do.

As for Ironton, I would definitely rank them in the top 25 right next to where Ursuline is ranked. That’s good company. So definitely can play with and beat the vast majority of Ohio teams, but not cracking the top 10.

This is the same debate I recall with Burg in 2017. Some fans had delusions of grandeur thinking Burg could play with anyone. Of course that Burg team was good and finished in the top 25, however, ML finished 11th with arguably one of their best teams ever. They would have beaten Burg like a rented mule.

This is a realistic viewpoint and Ironton is having a great season so far but comparing them to the literal standard of small high school football in Ohio and the United States is farce at best and delusional at worst. My hope is that Ironton does go to State and win it all. The odds historically related to the area is egregiously against them. Only 6 times has a SE Ohio team won State:
Crooksville- 1977
Ironton- 1979
Nelsonville-York-1981
Ironton-1989
Wheelersburg-1989
Wheelersburg-2017

Athens was State Runner Up in 2014
Caldwell has been once (2023)
Fort Frye has been 3 times (2018, 2020, and 2022)
Coal Grove twice (1983 and 1990)
Ironton has been 14 times and State Runner Up 9 times
Lucasville Valley once in 2014
Minford once in 1985
Nelsonville-York 3 times (1981, 1982, 2017)
Portsmouth twice in 1984 and 2000
West Portsmouth was State Runner Up in 2002
Wheelersburg has been 8 times
Monroe Central in 2001

Out of the 39 State Semifinal Appearances for the area (Caldwell, Fort Frye, and MC might be SE Ohio stretches), only 6 times has it ever came home. That’s 15%. Only 5% of State Championships belong to SE Ohio. I’ll always root for area teams but reality is reality.

If ironton has won two state championships and been there 14 times how could they have been runner up 9 times? I'm not good at math but too me that seems like they would have 7 state championships which I know they don't. Amanda cc won state championships I'm 97 2003-04 ..

I believe Trimble has played in state championship twice and semifinals three times.

[MisterGalliaGuy2016]

It's Kirtland. Not Kirkland. Welcome a board freshman.

It's aboard. Not a board. Jr. High.

I know it's aboard. Auto correct. How's gallia?

In the midst of a very clear developmental season. Very young. A few plays away from pushing for a .500 season, down the stretch. 2 close losses are the difference between 2-3 and 0-5. Blowout losses to Athens, Fairland, and Portsmouth were, unfortunately, expected by many. But the players weren't expecting to lose, by the looks of them. They play hard. Lot of heart on this team. Just hope they stick it out another couple years.

[SOCobserver]

Win Division V first. Ironton has few next level players but there are teams full of next level players. Those teams have next level coaches also. Ironton coaches have a few OVC titles. No way they compete with any team in the state.

[The Nature Boy]

Ironton hasn't been challenged yet this year. They've had a couple games early on were rough but then they pull away. You always seem to have one game you get pushed. From looking at their schedule, I don't know who it will be but how you react to that makes you a champion.

[greygoose]

Ironton is legit. Would win the MAC. But they will have to struggle to win the championship even though they are the favorites in my opinion

e
Thanks Woby for having my back.Naysayers,I said competitive,not that they would always win.Read the topic.

I read it and still feel the same way, also saying some e has your back because they said they’d win the MAC against DV and lower schools doesn’t work real well. There’s a huge difference in playing great against DV schools and competing week in and week out with D1 schools who have just as many D1 athletes on it every week. Pretty simple

[wobycat]

Ironton hasn't been challenged yet this year. They've had a couple games early on were rough but then they pull away. You always seem to have one game you get pushed. From looking at their schedule, I don't know who it will be but how you react to that makes you a champion.

I still think Ironton is favorite in region but prep may very well be better. Perkins is the number one team in d4 and they have blanked every team defensively and offensively are a juggernaut. They have two stud offensive tackles. From what I can gather from that game Perkins had to come back late from that game to beat prep.

[artisgilmore]

Didn’t say they would play D1&2 schools every week Doubt anyone would put a running on them this year though.

[Jason Vorhees]

Fortunately Ironton won’t have to play ML. But too bad for those D7 teams that do.

As for Ironton, I would definitely rank them in the top 25 right next to where Ursuline is ranked. That’s good company. So definitely can play with and beat the vast majority of Ohio teams, but not cracking the top 10.

This is the same debate I recall with Burg in 2017. Some fans had delusions of grandeur thinking Burg could play with anyone. Of course that Burg team was good and finished in the top 25, however, ML finished 11th with arguably one of their best teams ever. They would have beaten Burg like a rented mule.

This is a realistic viewpoint and Ironton is having a great season so far but comparing them to the literal standard of small high school football in Ohio and the United States is farce at best and delusional at worst. My hope is that Ironton does go to State and win it all. The odds historically related to the area is egregiously against them. Only 6 times has a SE Ohio team won State:
Crooksville- 1977
Ironton- 1979
Nelsonville-York-1981
Ironton-1989
Wheelersburg-1989
Wheelersburg-2017

Athens was State Runner Up in 2014
Caldwell has been once (2023)
Fort Frye has been 3 times (2018, 2020, and 2022)
Coal Grove twice (1983 and 1990)
Ironton has been 14 times and State Runner Up 9 times
Lucasville Valley once in 2014
Minford once in 1985
Nelsonville-York 3 times (1981, 1982, 2017)
Portsmouth twice in 1984 and 2000
West Portsmouth was State Runner Up in 2002
Wheelersburg has been 8 times
Monroe Central in 2001

Out of the 39 State Semifinal Appearances for the area (Caldwell, Fort Frye, and MC might be SE Ohio stretches), only 6 times has it ever came home. That’s 15%. Only 5% of State Championships belong to SE Ohio. I’ll always root for area teams but reality is reality.

If ironton has won two state championships and been there 14 times how could they have been runner up 9 times? I'm not good at math but too me that seems like they would have 7 state championships which I know they don't. Amanda cc won state championships I'm 97 2003-04 ..

9+2=11. 3 times they didn’t make a State Championship Appearance.

Add Trimble x3 as well;
State Runner Up in 2013
State Semifinal Appearance in 2014
State Runner Up in 2018

[artisgilmore]

Watched Prep play Ashland.Ironton’s offense much better than Prep.

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

No.

[artisgilmore]

Didn’t say they would play D1&2 schools every week Doubt anyone would put a running on them this year though.

let me crawl fish back a little.Maybe Hoban.

[RBH23]

And they would lay a butt kicking on Ironton this year.

Fortunately Ironton won’t have to play ML. But too bad for those D7 teams that do.

As for Ironton, I would definitely rank them in the top 25 right next to where Ursuline is ranked. That’s good company. So definitely can play with and beat the vast majority of Ohio teams, but not cracking the top 10.

This is the same debate I recall with Burg in 2017. Some fans had delusions of grandeur thinking Burg could play with anyone. Of course that Burg team was good and finished in the top 25, however, ML finished 11th with arguably one of their best teams ever. They would have beaten Burg like a rented mule.

This is a realistic viewpoint and Ironton is having a great season so far but comparing them to the literal standard of small high school football in Ohio and the United States is farce at best and delusional at worst. My hope is that Ironton does go to State and win it all. The odds historically related to the area is egregiously against them. Only 6 times has a SE Ohio team won State:
Crooksville- 1977
Ironton- 1979
Nelsonville-York-1981
Ironton-1989
Wheelersburg-1989
Wheelersburg-2017

Athens was State Runner Up in 2014
Caldwell has been once (2023)
Fort Frye has been 3 times (2018, 2020, and 2022)
Coal Grove twice (1983 and 1990)
Ironton has been 14 times and State Runner Up 9 times
Lucasville Valley once in 2014
Minford once in 1985
Nelsonville-York 3 times (1981, 1982, 2017)
Portsmouth twice in 1984 and 2000
West Portsmouth was State Runner Up in 2002
Wheelersburg has been 8 times
Monroe Central in 2001

Out of the 39 State Semifinal Appearances for the area (Caldwell, Fort Frye, and MC might be SE Ohio stretches), only 6 times has it ever came home. That’s 15%. Only 5% of State Championships belong to SE Ohio. I’ll always root for area teams but reality is reality.

Wow, those are sobering stats!

[RBH23]

Ironton is legit. Would win the MAC. But they will have to struggle to win the championship even though they are the favorites in my opinion

e
Thanks Woby for having my back.Naysayers,I said competitive,not that they would always win.Read the topic.

Massillon just beat Clarkson 45-6.

I think we can put to rest the theory that IHS can play with the big dogs. IHS is not beating ML or Kirtland either.

Very good team, but there’s just a big gap with the top D1/D2, ML, and Kirtland schools.

[GoBigI]

This post surely wasn’t made by an Ironton fan. If so, it hasn’t aged well at all. I won’t bother answering the question above, but I’ll say numerous teams in DV will give us fits. We have problems on the O line, D line, and a couple of linebacker spots. We better have these issues fixed before week 12 or so.