Columbus dispatch has a lot on this game and the locals poll shows them
not picking the Tigers.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sp ... ml?sid=101
Here's their preview:
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Hartley coach Brad Burchfield hopes that Ironton's players regard his team lightly after the 37-16 whipping the Tigers handed the Hawks on Oct. 15, but he knows his counterpart won't let that happen. Bob Lutz is the winningest coach in Ohio history. He is 354-77-4 in 38 seasons there with 27 playoff appearances.
"They're well aware that we made four turnovers the first meeting and we didn't play one of our better games," Burchfield said. "
Getting a chance to atone for that defeat has been on our minds ever since the playoffs started. We're healthier this time, we're not driving all the way down to their place and I think the kids are very motivated."
In the first meeting, Ironton's power running game and big, physical offensive line overmatched Hartley's speed-based defense.
Ironton running backs Brian Warner (865 yards, 16 touchdowns), Tres Wilkes (810 yards, 12 TDs) and Tyler Hager (737 yards, 15 TDs) form a three-headed backfield that averages 6.6 yards per carry.
Hartley's main weapon is senior running back Noah Key, who has rushed for 2,331 yards and scored 33 touchdowns.
"Honestly,
this is one of the easiest games I've ever had to scout for," Burchfield said. "We know what they're going to do. He's done the same thing for the last 40 years. We just have to come out and play a lot better football game than we did a month ago, plain and simple."
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Go Tigers!! They may be hungrier, but we better be ready to go for the Jugular...
