Not much of anything. Ironton never gonna win with their poor coaching and lack of a solid schedule to prepare them for the elite teams in D5.
Aren't they becoming an independent in football?
Ironton will be just fine. I don’t see them taking a step back. Ironton will also become independent after this season. Starting in 2024 they will schedule more games outside of SEO.
"Mooney's backyard" is light pickens these days. The southside neighborhoods aren't what they were in the glory days. Assembling talent amidst disserted and dilapidated housing makes it doubly tough. Kids just aren't there. But like Ursuline, Mooney can draw from anywhere in the valley. Stopping the bleeding to Wick Avenue will be key. Safety remains a top concern for parents. Southside shootings don't help. Leadership at Ursuline has been static while CM's has been like a revolving door. There's been a sense that the tail (football) has wagged the dog (academics) at Mooney. "Football factory?" I don't know how accurate that has been in more recent years but perception is everything. But even Ursuline fans like me can't imagine a future without our "archrival." I hope they make it.
By back yard, I meant a little further stretch than south side naturally. Get a couple kids from Chaney, a talented kid or two that might not start at Fitch but will be still be a big upgrade at a couple positions. Maybe an Ursuline defector and a Struthers or Boardman stud who may want to play postseason ball. Not that hard if you put your nose to the grindstone to get results.
Coldwater: I expect them to be right back at 8-2 or 9-1 and hosting two playoff games. Kenton will probably be down again but big points from D3 Bellefontaine. With replacing most of their line but being athletic on the outside, will they have another athletic QB that can run and hit the roll out/sprint-out option passes or more of a traditional pocket passer.
Anyone know why the Mooney-Fitch series has halted? Is this a decision by the Cardinals or the Falcons?
Fitch didn’t want to play them anymore because they were getting basically 0 points from it. I would imagine that can change going forward but that’s what stopped it
Our entire line returns this year
Milton Union will not make it past r2 of playoffs. they lost 10/11 starts on offense
Agree. VV loses quite a bit, especially Clark at RB. He was a big part of that offense last season. Losing key players up front hurts as well. They'll hang their hat on a three year starting QB to run the offense. R20 isn't the strongest overall. You'll see the usual cast of characters from the SWBL along with MU. I'm not sure who Northeastern or Madeira return, or if maybe a school like Greeneview has a good class.
After seeing Ironton at Canton last December, I got the impression that the studs on the field were certainly talented, and possibly, it was the luxury of having a D1 stud at running back all season, but it seemed like once threat #1 was neutralized, the offense seemed unable to figure out how to consistently move the chains using other schemes. I could be way off, but I believe Ironton will go as far as the guys wearing the headsets take them.
