Gallia Academy @ Ironton Top Offensive Performances

In the two prior meetings between Gallipolis Gallia Academy, the visiting team not only earned bragging right, but left town with one step away from the Ohio Valley Conference crown. That trend broke Friday night when the host Fighting Tigers cruised to a 55-7 win. Both teams were coming off lopsided Week One wins where the starters only played a half (in the case of the Blue Devils, their opener was called official moments before halftime due to lightning). -Mr. Football and All-America candidate [player_tooltip player_id="34181" first="Reid" last="Carrico"] didn’t let the IHS contingent down during Senior Night. The 6'3, 225-pound Ohio State verbal commit racked up 105 of the Fighting Tigers’ 216 rushing yards during the contest. In a time where the spread offense is the preferred method of attack for most football teams, Ironton’s combination of wishbone and I formations were at a severe advantage against Gallia Academy’s defensive front seven. The keys were the guard-center-guard combination of juniors Nate Cochran (6'2, 240) and C.J. McCall (6'1, 315) flanking senior Rocky White (5'11, 235). The pulling and trap schemes successfully executed by the interior trio was tough to defend. -In his second start under center, Tayden Carpenter (5'11, 175) hasn’t been asked to do too much as the Fighting Tiger running game has proved to be more than enough in the first two weeks. But when the sophomore southpaw is called to put the ball in the air, he is an efficient 14-of-18 passing for 240 yards, 4 touchdowns, and no interceptions. He has also demonstrated poise in rollout situations, determining when to weave ball into a tight spot, hurling the ball out of bounds, or tucking away the pigskin when his best option is to get a few yards in order to fight another down. With the void left 2019 starter Gage Salyers (now a defensive back at Youngstown State), Carpenter’s continuous growth during the final four regular season games leading up to the playoffs will be critical if Ironton wishes to atone for last year’s Division V state championship loss and hoist the gold trophy. -Briar Williams was the Blue Devils' main threat for the evening. The 5'10, 146-pound junior had four catches for 99 yards. He screamed past the Ironton secondary early in the second quarter for an 81-yard touchdown reception, which accounted for all of the GAHS scoring. Senior quarterback Noah Vanco (6'2, 195) was 11-of-23 passing for 173 yards and the lone score. -Both offenses cherished possession as a lone fumble that was recovered by the Blue Devil offense was the only sign of a blemish in that department.