Ironton v. Wheelersburg. Week 12

[Jolly P(irate)]

JP those stats are just a little bit misleading. MF didn't do crap until after Ironton pull some of it starters and Sherman went down. But you can go ahead believe it was a real close game.

So 5 turnovers by Martins Ferry is why they won? By the way it looks on paper it was no where near a blow out.

[Jolly P(irate)]

I am rooting for a Tiger victory, but Jolly P thinks the Burg is invincible :122245 Who ever wins this week enjoy the victory because it will be the last for this year. Hartley way to much for either team.

They have to make it past St C first and us past you.
Seems like every one is afraid of Hartley
I say bring it on...
DOWN GOES FRAZIER

More like GODZILLA to this guy

[seasick80]

Well, its not like either team has no clue how to play against each other! Will again be a tough game for Burg. I like the way Burg has been playing since Jackson game. Good speed on defense, plugging holes and doing a great (but not stellar) job on pass coverage. Liberty Union had a good sized line and a good running back and Burg held up. The offense has been playing better every week. Good play calls and limiting the tendencies that other teams have been able to read. Gonna come down to the Dline for Burg vs Ironton Oline and I hate to say we have an advantage again this game because Sherman is out, but it is what it is. Hate to see him out but I think we could still be defensively and offensively positive in this matchup, just may be a lot easier. But probably not! LOL

Burg needs to use that Oline to smash them in the mouth early and open up the quick hitters in the passing game, keep the LBs in chaos. This will open up Mays to make some good runs and suck up the safeties for the long ball.

Ironton has their Identity back!! Defensively, we need the dline to continue to penetrate against that triple option and give the LBs a gap to the ball. DEs need to stick the ends and not get sucked up to the option. Good luck with that.

Should be a great game! Hoping for a burg win because Cal preps says Burg has a better chance at beating Hartley!! LMAO!!

How about either team hope St C give the Hawks a Devil of a time and wear them down alil bit!!!

Great respect for the Ironton program as always. Prayers for Mr Sherman, but GO BURG!!

[4thgoal]

Wonder why this game is not in Jackson. Could you imagine the people at that game. It is a true neutral site.

My understanding is that Jackson did not initially apply to host a playoff game this year. Once this game was set, Jackson was offered the game and declined.

[Burg_Grad_77]

Yes, Jackson did shut out the Burg, but it wasn't like the Pirates didn't move the ball on them. We were inside the 20 yard line 3 or 4 times and just didn't get it done. To many mental mistakes. Score could have easily been a lot closer.

[Jolly P(irate)]

^^^^^^

That was loooooong ago. Completely different style of play now for the Pirates. No where near the week 1 team.

[bilco 2]

27-0, that don't sound like a blowout too me, its, more like an EXPLOSION LOL

[Tigercannon71]

In the first game and even last year Ironton was having an identity crisis they didnt know what team they wanted to be a run team or a pass team. Burg took advantage of that and beat Ironton. After the Burg game this year Ironton went back to drawing board and threw out all the gimmicks and crap and went back to doing what they do best smashmouth football. It worked well for them this season. Thats the team Burg will be facing a team that knows who they are and what they do. Burg hasnt faced this type of Ironton for over 2 years.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

that means nothing Saturday night, just as I said earlier. I remember when ironton had wayyyy more students than wheelersburg. now wheelersburg has more students. Jackson is d3, they have a very solid tradition there, they are extremely well coached and being d3. they have a much deeper talent pool to choose from. now as Jackson plays a school like this week in Columbus saint francis desales we'll see how far there program has came.

I would like nothing more than to see Jackson win, as I'm sure burg fans do as well. I don't know how many times ironton has lost to a team that won the state title, or in the state championship game. or for that matter been the state runner up. I think ironton has 8/9 games in which they were the state runner up from losing in the state championship game.

then you hear people, generally those who never walked in a cleat say. ''well the runner up is the just the first loser.''
really they are not the first loser at all. they are the second best team in the state. so I hope people appreciate what it takes to get to these games by a program.especially facing all the private schools along the way.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

I would have to agree with you cannon. but burg was definitely the better team week 1. now both teams really seem to be peaking at just the right time. so this should be a classic , unless one team just really blasts the other. this could be another in the long line of ironton/burg games where it is decided by who has the ball last. one advantage the fighting tigers now have. not saying over burg, but an extra weapon we have now. is that we no longer need to go for 2 when scoring because we have a kicker. that has in recent years killed us in playoff games. we need to be developing this kids with the golden toes as early as 6th or 7th grade.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

remember it was ''the toe'' bubby fletcher who had to kick the extra point to beat akron saint Vincent saint mary's in 79 to win the first state title. in akron, none the lass for a state title game. how's that for home field advantage.and if memory serve me correct he had to kick it twice. these points are so important and for years we had to just settle for going for 2.

[doubleplay643]

Oh what the heck lol I will weigh in on this match-up and give my perspective for what it is worth (probably not much).

I seen the first match up in Week 1 at Wheelersburg as Jackson had a Saturday game that week. Here are my recollections from that game. Palladino did not play defense or special teams (kick/punt returns) in that game as he had a toe or foot problem if I remember correctly. At the time didn't think too much about that because I didn't know much about him. After seeing him at Jackson without the injury (or at least seemed to be healthy) on offense, defense and special teams I can say that playing without him at least healthy in Week 1 probably hurt the Tigers. Yes he played offense but he was hampered from what I witnessed later in the year.

Continuing on with that thought, I doubt very much it would have made much difference that night because Ironton line (both sides) were simply gassed by halftime.

Yes, after watching them Week 1 and then Week 8 Ironton is most definitely an improved team...but to think that Wheelersburg didn't get better or improve equally from Week 1 or so until now is not accurate either.

Week 12 brings the Palladino kid playing all 3-phases (O-D-Special Teams) but Ironton loses big #75 who seemed to be the leader on the line each way based on me watching them both games. I have no idea who the next man up is, but #75 was an experienced senior as I recall and an extremely large/strong player (think maybe even a captain??) so Ironton picks up a lot with Palladino and gets a set-back with the loss of #75.

I never saw Burg play after Week #5 when we were at their place, but the comment above is correct they had 3-4 possessions in our end of the field and turned ball over on failed 4th down conversions and a dropped pass in the end zone in the 1st quarter. So 27-0 is a bit misleading.

Ironton played tough at Jackson, but two of their scores came on back to back series. Palladino returned a punt 40-45 yards for a TD (missed block in the back call lol) and then on very next possession first play escaped from a sure tackle for a loss and went 70-75 yards for a TD.

If you are comparing Ironton/Burg to Jackson as some have done above from my perspective it was equally "close". The Jackson/Burg score didn't really indicate their missed opportunities and the Jackson/Ironton score was "close" because of two explosive plays initiated by Palladino.

I think Ironton has the edge in being a little bigger/physical overall and I think Burg has the edger being a little more athletic if you consider all 11 players.

This match-up on Saturday I believe will be very, very good. If I had to bet maybe an edge to Burg, but it is hard to beat someone twice and they must hem in Palladino, he is a different back than what they saw Week 1. I hope to be able to make it to Portsmouth.

Great to see Ironton, Burg, Jackson, Trimble and Athens playing in Week 12 it really is. Good luck to both teams.

[Trojan_Pride]

Enjoyed the analysis bait. Good stuff. A couple of things to add

1. In burg vs Jackson they had not implemented a power running game, and one of their bigger lineman was out. Not that it would have changed the outcome but the score may have.

2. Personnel and scheme change. Burg has changed the way their defense is because of a returning player and it has paid off

3. The loss of Sherman is bad. I hate that a team in the playoffs has to adjust on the fly. I feel bad for the kid. The tigers will have to rely on another kid to step up and fill the void.

Here's to a clean injury free game.

excuses for the jackson game ?????? come on

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

Oh what the heck lol I will weigh in on this match-up and give my perspective for what it is worth (probably not much).

I seen the first match up in Week 1 at Wheelersburg as Jackson had a Saturday game that week. Here are my recollections from that game. Palladino did not play defense or special teams (kick/punt returns) in that game as he had a toe or foot problem if I remember correctly. At the time didn't think too much about that because I didn't know much about him. After seeing him at Jackson without the injury (or at least seemed to be healthy) on offense, defense and special teams I can say that playing without him at least healthy in Week 1 probably hurt the Tigers. Yes he played offense but he was hampered from what I witnessed later in the year.

Continuing on with that thought, I doubt very much it would have made much difference that night because Ironton line (both sides) were simply gassed by halftime.

Yes, after watching them Week 1 and then Week 8 Ironton is most definitely an improved team...but to think that Wheelersburg didn't get better or improve equally from Week 1 or so until now is not accurate either.

Week 12 brings the Palladino kid playing all 3-phases (O-D-Special Teams) but Ironton loses big #75 who seemed to be the leader on the line each way based on me watching them both games. I have no idea who the next man up is, but #75 was an experienced senior as I recall and an extremely large/strong player (think maybe even a captain??) so Ironton picks up a lot with Palladino and gets a set-back with the loss of #75.

I never saw Burg play after Week #5 when we were at their place, but the comment above is correct they had 3-4 possessions in our end of the field and turned ball over on failed 4th down conversions and a dropped pass in the end zone in the 1st quarter. So 27-0 is a bit misleading.

Ironton played tough at Jackson, but two of their scores came on back to back series. Palladino returned a punt 40-45 yards for a TD (missed block in the back call lol) and then on very next possession first play escaped from a sure tackle for a loss and went 70-75 yards for a TD.

If you are comparing Ironton/Burg to Jackson as some have done above from my perspective it was equally "close". The Jackson/Burg score didn't really indicate their missed opportunities and the Jackson/Ironton score was "close" because of two explosive plays initiated by Palladino.

I think Ironton has the edge in being a little bigger/physical overall and I think Burg has the edger being a little more athletic if you consider all 11 players.

This match-up on Saturday I believe will be very, very good. If I had to bet maybe an edge to Burg, but it is hard to beat someone twice and they must hem in Palladino, he is a different back than what they saw Week 1. I hope to be able to make it to Portsmouth.

Great to see Ironton, Burg, Jackson, Trimble and Athens playing in Week 12 it really is. Good luck to both teams.

great post. and also valley and west were in, with valley still being alive. I think you posted a great post and extremely accurate. I too believe on paper burg is the favorite. these 2 have had some classic battles. and that's exactly how I see this one going down.

[doubleplay643]

Forgot Valley lol, not sure how I did that but yes you are right YTB. Great year so far for SE Ohio and getting through Week 11 games.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

this is just my personal opinion, and I know ironton has worked on this.
the key to burg's win over us week 1 was they dictated the tempo with that exhaustive hurry up offense. and it was an excellent strategy against ironton at the time. we were completely gassed the second half, and the ironton players for the most part were dragging back to the line of scrimmage, and we started making key mistakes out of exhaustion. burg saw that and started going deep on us. and we let way too many people get behind us. we must have that corrected to win this game. burg's conditioning is second to none around here. and now the weather is cooler so hopefully ironton's big linemen won't be so gassed.if the burg does that again, and we're not ready for it, it could be a long night.

the fighting tigers need to mix it up in this one, and do somethings that are unexpected, and try to waller the burg with a smothering running game. and not make mistakes on defense and wrap up better than week 1.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

yes brother, very great representation from the southern teams with nearly all alive still in week 12.
generally this is where it gets real week 12.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

actually paint valley and court house were in there as well.

[4thgoal]

Very good summary doubleplay.....I think that's the best comment on this thread so far. Both teams can thump thier chests and say how much they have improved since week 1, but we wouldn't be talking about this in week 12 if that was not the case! The impact of the loss of their big lineman will not be realized until Saturday night, but surely will have at least some impact on both sides of the ball.

I really liked the amoeba style defense that Burg threw at LU last week and it kept them off balance and they never knew where the pressure was coming from and I expect to see more of that this week. Anytime you hold a 1,000+ yard running back to negative yards for the game, you are doing something right.

[Trojan_Pride]

JP those stats are just a little bit misleading. MF didn't do crap until after Ironton pull some of it starters and Sherman went down. But you can go ahead believe it was a real close game.

I'm pretty sure that's what Ironton fans said after 1st game.

" Ironton gave burg all they wanted for 2 qtrs " That was until the final score was 42-16.

Stats are never misleading, although turnovers and special teams are always overlooked. This game was never in doubt but don't act like the game was a blowout.

STATS ARE NEVER MISLEADING ??????

1 burg poster said burg held jackson to the lowest total of the year(LOL)

since i am supporting ironton here i will go out on limb and say IRONTON SCORED MOST on jackson all year