2008 SEOAL Previews: Ironton Fighting Tigers

[loganlocos]

Ironton Fighting Tigers

Head Coach: Bob Lutz (36th Year, 326-68-4)
2007 Record: 5-5 (4-3 in the SEOAL)
Division: IV, Reg. 15
Returning Starters: 15 (8 OFF, 7 DEF)
Key Losses: Bub Johnson (HB/DB), Marc Carter (SE/DB), Taville Osborne (HB/DB), Felipe Beach (OT/DT), Wes Runyon (OG/LB), Nick Rodgers (OT), Jeremy Moore (OT), Nick Lewis (TE/DE)
Key Returnees: Jon Schweickart (QB), Major Brice (HB/DB), Chance Freeman (HB/DB), Erin Edens (LB), Tony Murphy (OG/NG), Keith Wetzel (FB/LB), Geoff White (OT/DT), Chris Warner (OG/LB), Howie Lucas (OG), Sam Cramblitt (OT/DT), Casey Jones (TE/DE), Jon Monning (TE/DE), Lukas Morris (SE/DB)

2008 Schedule:
Aug. 22 - AT Wheelersburg
Aug. 29 - VS Our Lady of the Way (Canada)
Sept. 5 - VS Gallia Academy *
Sept. 12 - VS Ashland (KY)
Sept. 19 - AT Logan *
Sept. 26 - AT Chillicothe *
Oct. 3 - VS Jackson *
Oct. 10 - AT Portsmouth *
Oct. 17 - AT Nelsonville-York
Oct. 24 - VS Warren *

Projected Line-Up:
Offense
QB - Jon Schweickart - 6'0 - 195lbs - SR
FB - Keith Wetzel - 5'7 - 200lbs - JR
HB - Major Brice - 5'9 - 180lbs - SR
HB - Chance Freeman - 5'11 - 180lbs - SR
SE - Lukas Morris - 6'2 - 150lbs - SR
TE - Michael Lamb - 6'3 - 205lbs - SR
RT - Sam Cramblit - 6'0 - 280lbs - JR
RG - Chris Warner - 5'11 - 200lbs - JR
C - Taylor Barker - 6'0 - 285lbs - JR
LG - Howie Lucas - 6'0 - 205lbs - JR
LT - Robbie Webb - 6'3 - 240lbs - Soph
Other Offensive Players:
HB - Courtney Lewis - 5'7 - 150lbs - Soph
HB - Paris Birchfield - 6'1 - 205lbs - JR
OT - Geoff White - 6'2 - 270lbs - SR
OG - Tony Murphy - 5'11 - 270lbs - SR
TE - Jon Monning - 6'0 - 170lbs - JR

Defense
DE - Michael Lamb - 6'3 - 205lbs - SR
DT - Geoff White - 6'2 - 270lbs - SR
NG - Tony Murphy - 5'11 - 270lbs - SR
DT - Brad Spaljaric - 6'3 - 255lbs - Soph
DE - Jon Monning - 6'0 - 170lbs - JR
LB - Erin Edens - 6'0 - 195lbs - JR
LB - Paris Birchfield - 6'1 - 205lbs - JR
CB - Major Brice - 5'9 - 180lbs - SR
FS - Ethan Preston - 5'10 - 155lbs - JR
SS - Chance Freeman - 5'11 - 180lbs - SR
CB - Lukas Morris - 6'2 - 150lbs - SR
Other Defensive Players:
DE - Casey Jones - 6'3 - 235lbs - JR
DT - Sam Cramblit - 6'0 - 280lbs - JR
DB - Cory Dyer - 5'10 - 165lbs - SR
DB - J.P. Taylor - 5'11 - 190lbs - JR
LB - Chris Warner - 5'11 - 200lbs - JR
DB - Courtney Lewis - 5'7 - 150lbs - Soph

2008 Outlook:
Ironton, along with Chillicothe, are the two favorites from the south division to compete for the SEOAL championship. The Fighting Tigers should be uncharacteristically balanced on offense due to the return of senior quarterback Jon Schweickart (6-0, 195). Schweickart was invited to the Top Gun quarterback camp held at Dublin Coffman High School and passed for over 1000 years last season.

Ironton will also have unusual depth, and project only 3-5 starters to play on both sides of the football. Joining Schweickart in the backfield of Ironton’s T-formation offense are junior fullback Keith Wetzel (5-7, 200) and senior halfbacks Major Brice (5-9, 180) and Chance Freeman (5-11, 180). Transfers Paris Birchfield (6-1, 205) and Courtney Lewis (5-7, 150) add depth.

Senior Lukas Morris (6-2, 150) hopes to replace speedy Marc Carter at split end, while transfer Mike Lamb (6-3, 205) will play at tight end providing Schweickart with two talented pass catchers.

Up front, the Tigers will have beef with tackles Sam Cramblit (6-0, 280, JR) and Robbie Webb (6-3, 240, Soph) along with center Taylor Barker (6-0, 285).

Defensively, senior Tony Murphy (5-11, 270) will anchor the defensive line at nose guard. Senior Geoff White (6-2, 270) and sophomore Brad Spaljaric (6-3, 255) will be the tackles. Junior Jon Monning (6-0, 170) returns after leading the Tigers in sacks last season, and Lamb will start on the opposite side.

Erin Edens (6-0, 195) returns at linebacker, while Freeman, Brice, and Morris will anchor the Ironton defensive backfield.

[PLEASANTFLYER]

Ironton Fighting Tigers

Head Coach: Bob Lutz (36th Year, 326-68-4)
2007 Record: 5-5 (4-3 in the SEOAL)
Division: IV, Reg. 15
Returning Starters: 15 (8 OFF, 7 DEF)
Key Losses: Bub Johnson (HB/DB), Marc Carter (SE/DB), Taville Osborne (HB/DB), Felipe Beach (OT/DT), Wes Runyon (OG/LB), Nick Rodgers (OT), Jeremy Moore (OT), Nick Lewis (TE/DE)
Key Returnees: Jon Schweickart (QB), Major Brice (HB/DB), Chance Freeman (HB/DB), Erin Edens (LB), Tony Murphy (OG/NG), Keith Wetzel (FB/LB), Geoff White (OT/DT), Chris Warner (OG/LB), Howie Lucas (OG), Sam Cramblitt (OT/DT), Casey Jones (TE/DE), Jon Monning (TE/DE), Lukas Morris (SE/DB)

2008 Schedule:
Aug. 22 - AT Wheelersburg
Aug. 29 - VS Our Lady of the Way (Canada)
Sept. 5 - VS Gallia Academy *
Sept. 12 - VS Ashland (KY)
Sept. 19 - AT Logan *
Sept. 26 - AT Chillicothe *
Oct. 3 - VS Jackson *
Oct. 10 - AT Portsmouth *
Oct. 17 - AT Nelsonville-York
Oct. 24 - VS Warren *

Projected Line-Up:
Offense
QB - Jon Schweickart - 6'0 - 195lbs - SR
FB - Keith Wetzel - 5'7 - 200lbs - JR
HB - Major Brice - 5'9 - 180lbs - SR
HB - Chance Freeman - 5'11 - 180lbs - SR
SE - Lukas Morris - 6'2 - 150lbs - SR
TE - Michael Lamb - 6'3 - 205lbs - SR
RT - Sam Cramblit - 6'0 - 280lbs - JR
RG - Chris Warner - 5'11 - 200lbs - JR
C - Taylor Barker - 6'0 - 285lbs - JR
LG - Howie Lucas - 6'0 - 205lbs - JR
LT - Robbie Webb - 6'3 - 240lbs - Soph
Other Offensive Players:
HB - Courtney Lewis - 5'7 - 150lbs - Soph
HB - Paris Birchfield - 6'1 - 205lbs - JR
OT - Geoff White - 6'2 - 270lbs - SR
OG - Tony Murphy - 5'11 - 270lbs - SR
TE - Jon Monning - 6'0 - 170lbs - JR

Defense
DE - Michael Lamb - 6'3 - 205lbs - SR
DT - Geoff White - 6'2 - 270lbs - SR
NG - Tony Murphy - 5'11 - 270lbs - SR
DT - Brad Spaljaric - 6'3 - 255lbs - Soph
DE - Jon Monning - 6'0 - 170lbs - JR
LB - Erin Edens - 6'0 - 195lbs - JR
LB - Paris Birchfield - 6'1 - 205lbs - JR
CB - Major Brice - 5'9 - 180lbs - SR
FS - Ethan Preston - 5'10 - 155lbs - JR
SS - Chance Freeman - 5'11 - 180lbs - SR
CB - Lukas Morris - 6'2 - 150lbs - SR
Other Defensive Players:
DE - Casey Jones - 6'3 - 235lbs - JR
DT - Sam Cramblit - 6'0 - 280lbs - JR
DB - Cory Dyer - 5'10 - 165lbs - SR
DB - J.P. Taylor - 5'11 - 190lbs - JR
LB - Chris Warner - 5'11 - 200lbs - JR
DB - Courtney Lewis - 5'7 - 150lbs - Soph

2008 Outlook:
Ironton, along with Chillicothe, are the two favorites from the south division to compete for the SEOAL championship. The Fighting Tigers should be uncharacteristically balanced on offense due to the return of senior quarterback Jon Schweickart (6-0, 195). Schweickart was invited to the Top Gun quarterback camp held at Dublin Coffman High School and passed for over 1000 years last season.

Ironton will also have unusual depth, and project only 3-5 starters to play on both sides of the football. Joining Schweickart in the backfield of Ironton’s T-formation offense are junior fullback Keith Wetzel (5-7, 200) and senior halfbacks Major Brice (5-9, 180) and Chance Freeman (5-11, 180). Transfers Paris Birchfield (6-1, 205) and Courtney Lewis (5-7, 150) add depth.
Senior Lukas Morris (6-2, 150) hopes to replace speedy Marc Carter at split end, while transfer Mike Lamb (6-3, 205) will play at tight end providing Schweickart with two talented pass catchers.

Up front, the Tigers will have beef with tackles Sam Cramblit (6-0, 280, JR) and Robbie Webb (6-3, 240, Soph) along with center Taylor Barker (6-0, 285).

Defensively, senior Tony Murphy (5-11, 270) will anchor the defensive line at nose guard. Senior Geoff White (6-2, 270) and sophomore Brad Spaljaric (6-3, 255) will be the tackles. Junior Jon Monning (6-0, 170) returns after leading the Tigers in sacks last season, and Lamb will start on the opposite side.

Erin Edens (6-0, 195) returns at linebacker, while Freeman, Brice, and Morris will anchor the Ironton defensive backfield.

These boys are brothers and BOTH CAME UP THROUGH THE IRONTON GRADE SCHOOL SYSTEM. They moved away for less than a year for family reasons. Locos you do a great job with these preveiws and you have loads of knowledge on HS football,you don't need to stoop down and make a slanted comment like this.

[Tigercannon71]

No offense Locos, but didnt you post this already. No matter though you do a great job.

[loganlocos]

pleasantflyer -

My info came from Ironton fans who have emailed or PM'd me. I don't follow Ironton at the lower levels. For all I knew, Lewis was on the Ironton Freshman team last year, since he is a sophomore.

Don't shoot the messenger. I just pass along what I get from my sources.

[loganlocos]

No offense Locos, but didnt you post this already. No matter though you do a great job.

TC -

I posted preview for all 10 teams in the spring, this is an update to reflect changes made during 2-a-days, etc. For instance, in the spring Tony Murphy was still a fullback, Geoff White a center, and Michael Lamb was still at Fairland.

[Tigercannon71]

Ok I gotcha.