Mission15 wrote: Fri Jul 04, 2025 9:34 am
RBH23 wrote: Wed Jun 04, 2025 10:12 am
BigShotRob100 wrote: Tue May 20, 2025 2:40 pm
Since Trevon Pendleton took over as head coach of the Ironton Fighting Tigers in 2019, the football rivalry between Ironton High School and Wheelersburg High School has experienced a significant shift in momentum, favoring Ironton.
Under Pendleton's leadership, Ironton has secured multiple consecutive victories against Wheelersburg, including both regular-season and playoff games. Notably, in the 2024 season, Ironton defeated Wheelersburg 37-7 in the season opener and later delivered a commanding 55-0 victory in the Division V Region 19 championship game . These wins highlight Ironton's growing dominance in the rivalry. It has become very lopsided as rivalries go.
Coach Pendleton has instilled a culture of discipline, resilience, and continuous improvement within the Ironton football program. His emphasis on execution and effort has been evident in the team's performances, particularly in high-stakes games. The 2024 season culminated in Ironton winning its third state championship, marking the program's first title in 35 years .
Wheelersburg remains a respected and competitive program, the recent trend suggests that Ironton has gained the upper hand in this storied rivalry. As both teams continue to develop and adjust, future matchups will determine whether this shift represents a long-term change or a competitive phase in their ongoing series. I contend this will be a long term phase given the much older staff at Wheelersburg and a new outcome of football seemingly becoming less popular amongst student athletes at Wheelersburg.
The Pendleton effect at Ironton has hit the Pirates like a tsunami. How do they get back to being competitive with Ironton?
Pendleton has not changed Burg football. He may have alienated a number of local teams and destroyed the relationship with Ashland, but he has not changed Burg football.
Burg will not play the “transfers” game, so Burg will simply go on being Burg.
Hahaha!! Someone has started July 4th early and cracked a few open this AM. Wheelersburg invented the transfer game! Either that or you are absolutely clueless. Wheelersburg lives on transfers and implants. Their entire school system from youth sports on lives on alumni from other areas or people who don’t have enough pride or mental toughness to stay in the fight within the district they reside in. You’re just mad someone has put you in your place and done it better than you. Get your mind right, I’d suggest going down to Kroger and hitting the best whole food selection in the county, with your burg blinders on because it’s always 75 and sunny in Wheelersburg, just know half the pride is fake and front running.
That’s an entertaining story but it is complete fiction based on zero facts!
One, Burg was one of the last schools to open their borders in the area. Through the 70’s, 80’s, and part of the 90’s it was not easy to transfer to Burg. Had to moved into the district. So that doesn’t sound like a school that “invented the transfer game.”
Second, Burg rarely gets transfers in any of their sports. Just look at the rosters for all sports last year. In football, they lost kids to transfers but received none in return. And the state champion softball team this year? No transfers either.
Third, sticking to just football. Burg’s first state title team had zero transfers. Not one! And the senior class that year? All started at Burg in kindergarten! As for the last state title team, they had one transfer on the team. One!
Again, nice story, but it simply does not hold up to facts!