by Canton, OH: Shaun Terry was a man on a mission Saturday, scoring three times to lead the Ironton Tigers to a 28-17 victory in the Division V State Championship, Ironton’s first title since 1989. Terry racked up 223 yards of total offense and added a game-sealing interception late in the fourth. Senior quarterback Braden Schreck went 14-20 for 179 yards and two touchdowns.
First Half
Ironton received the opening kickoff and put together one of the most impressive drives of the weekend. The Tigers went 80 yards in 14 plays, draining over seven minutes off the game clock. Facing a third and long, Braden Schreck found Shaun Terry, who hurdled a defender and put two more on skates en route to a 35-yard touchdown.
Already leading 7-0, Ironton would strike again in the second quarter. Just like on their first drive, Schreck found Terry once again, this time for a 46-yard touchdown that put the Tigers up 14-0. With their backs against the wall, Liberty Center’s offense would come through. Beginning the drive on their 30, Liberty Center ran eight plays and got into the end zone on a one-yard plunge from Waylon Rentz. A missed extra point made it 14-6 Ironton with just over two minutes remaining in the half.
After forcing an Ironton punt, Liberty Center would get the ball back on their 31 with 1:06 remaining. A 26-yard run by Garrison Kruse put them in field goal rage and a 39-yard field goal from Max Walker made it 14-9 Ironton at the halftime break.
2nd Half
Long, time consuming drives were the story of the third quarter on both sides. Each squad would make it across midfield but neither was able to put up any points. With just over nine minutes remaining in the fourth, Ironton began a drive backed up on their seven-yard line. Nine plays later, Braden Schreck took a QB keeper four yards for a touchdown, extending Ironton’s lead to 21-9.
Needing a score to stay in the game, Liberty Center exectued an 11-play, 66-yard drive, capped off by a beautiful pass form Kaden Kreinbrink to Garrison Kruse. After a two-point conversion from Waylon Rentz, Ironton held a 21-17 lead with just over two minutes left.
Ironton recovered the onside kick attempt, but disaster struck on the second play from scrimmage as the ball hit the turf and Liberty Center recovered. Just when it looked like they might score a comeback victory, Liberty Center coughed the ball up back to Ironton.
Facing a 3rd & 12, Shaun Terry took the handoff and exploded around the left side, rumbling 67 yards for an Ironton touchdown that proved to be the final nail in the Liberty Center coffin. When the final whistle blew, Ironton walked away with a 28-17 victory, their first state championship since 1989.
Top Performers
Liberty Center
Grady Miller: 6-8 74 yards 5 carries 2 yards
Garrison Kruse: 3 carries 88 yards 4 catches 43 yards TD
Waylon Rentz: 20 carries 34 yards TD 2 catches 16 yards
Cam Kahle: 4 catches 45 yards
Ironton
Braden Schreck: 14-20 179 yards 2 TD 16 carries 43 yards TD
Shaun Terry: 10 catches 148 yards 2 TD 2 carries 75 yards TD
Zayne Williams: 9 carries 37 yards
