Big Walnut Takes a Trip to Ironton for a Statewide Test

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>By Michael R. Robinson Sr.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big Walnut has made the first five weeks look convincing. The Golden Eagles are 5–0, averaging 41.2 points while allowing just seven per game. Friday night brings a different kind of test: a trip to Ironton to face another unbeaten team in front of a home crowd eager to see how the Fighting Tigers match up with one of Division II's best.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big Walnut's offense begins with senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='1628989' first='Nolan' last='Buirley']. The Northwestern linebacker commit has rushed for 873 yards and 14 touchdowns through five games. At 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds, he gives the Golden Eagles a back who can make defenders tackle repeatedly and still threaten to break a long run. After winning Division II Offensive Player of the Year last season, Buirley has remained the player opponents must account for first.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That attention creates opportunities for senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1628991' first='Eli' last='Stumpf']. The Michigan State commit has completed 54 of 77 passes for 782 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has added 216 rushing yards and two scores. Tight end [player_tooltip player_id='2392130' first='Jackson' last='Bowers'] has 250 receiving yards and three touchdowns, while [player_tooltip player_id='1676773' first='Gavin' last='Harrington'] has 204 yards and three scores. Big Walnut can lean on its run game, then punish a defense that brings too much help toward Buirley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Golden Eagles are averaging 243.6 rushing yards per game. Their listed starting offensive line—[player_tooltip player_id='1599723' first='Matt' last='Green'], [player_tooltip player_id='2405161' first='Avery' last='Henson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1939807' first='Kale' last='Shelby'], Levi VonAlmen and Caiden Long—averages roughly 250 pounds. Ironton has been outstanding on defense, but Friday will test whether it can control that front without leaving Stumpf favorable matchups downfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big Walnut's defense has been every bit as important to its unbeaten start. It has allowed only 80 rushing yards and 67.8 passing yards per game. Buirley also lines up at linebacker alongside Cole Swonguer, Gage Eckelbarger and Cole Hysell. Up front, Sal Moyer, Brady Schneider and TJ Minor will be central to disrupting Ironton sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1561468' first='Wyatt' last='Wolfe'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wolfe has thrown for 972 yards, and Ironton has several ways to get the ball to Boston College commit [player_tooltip player_id='826899' first='Kayden' last='Edwards']. For Big Walnut, the challenge is to make Wolfe move off his first read while keeping Edwards and the Tigers' other playmakers from turning short gains into long ones.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams enter Friday atop their respective regional Harbin standings. Drew Pasteur's Fantastic 50 ranks Big Walnut No. 12 statewide and projects the Golden Eagles as the favorite. But rankings will mean little once the ball is kicked. Big Walnut's path is clear: establish Buirley, protect Stumpf, and force Ironton to earn every yard against a defense that has surrendered only 35 points all season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->