1993 Playoff Game
Jackson, Ironton defeat Dragons
By Joseph Person
The Herald-Dispatch
Portsmouth, Ohio - South Bend can wait.
Ironton's Jermon Jackson, who passed on an invitation to attend the Notre Dame-Florida State game Saturday to help the Tigers begin their quest for the state championship, ran for 246 yards and three touchdowns as Ironton defeated Fairland 28-6, in the first round of the Division III playoffs at Spartan Municipal Stadium.
The Tigers next week will play Vinton County, a 42-35 winner Saturday over Sheridan.
"I'd like to have been there of course." Jackson said of the No. 1-No. 2 match up, "but we were trying to get a win and advance."
Mission accomplished.
The Tigers rushed for 334 yards and four touchdowns on a muddy turf, while holding an effective Fairland offense out of the end zone until the third quarter.
"We knew they'd do that," Ironton coach Bob Lutz said of the Fairland passing attack, which gained 182 yards. "But we handled that pretty good."
But the story of this game was Jackson, who also caught two passes for 44 yards and returned a punt 25 yards to set up Ironton's final score.
"He played pretty good," Lutz said.
Fairland coach Jack Harris was more elaborative.
"We know that Jackson had game breaking capabilities and he broke two or three on us," Harris said. "He's truly a very gifted and talented athlete."
Ironton's first touchdown followed a fumble recovery by Neil Evans, who pounced on the loose ball on the Tigers 29-yard line after Fairland's Chris Hamlin lost the handle.
Two plays later, Jackson took a pitch around the right end and, following a block of tight end Wes Jackson, sprinted 60 yards for a 6-0 lead.
Chris Akerman added the extra point to make it 7-0 with 3:51 left in the opening quarter.
Two series later, after a 49-yard punt by Fairland's Bill Cumings, Ironton took over on it's own 14.
A 19-yard run by fullback J.J. King and a couple of short runs by Jackson brought up a 2nd down and 9 at the Ironton 47.
Again it was Jackson, this time trying the left side of the line and finding success, as the senior raced 53 yards down the sideline for another Ironton score.
Jackson finished the first half with 158 yards on only nine carries, while King added 64 rushing yards in the first half.
Fairland moved the ball well in the first half, but was plagued by penalties. The Dragons were whistled four times for 30 yards in the opening half, including a 15-yard clipping call that helped stall a second-quarter drive.
Michael Jackson was eight of 16 passing in the first half for 60 yards.
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th total
Fairland 0 0 6 0 6
Ironton 7 7 7 7 28
Scoring Summary
Ironton - 60 yard run by Jackson. Kick good by Ackerman.
Ironton - 53 yard run by Jackson. Kick good by Ackerman
Ironton - 27 yard run by Jackson. Kick good by Ackerman
Fairland - 6 yard pass from Michael Jackson to TJ Henson. Kick failed.
Ironton - 1 yard run by Guthrie. Kick good by Ackerman
Fairland Ironton
First Downs 18 17
Rushes - yards 26-67 40-334
Passing - yards 182 44
Total yards 249 378
Fumbles - lost 3-1 3-2
Penalties - yards 6-50 4-35.5
Punts 6-38.0 4-35.5
Individual Stats
Rushing - Fairland: Cumings 12-25, Jackson 9-36, Hamlin 3-7, Henson 1-(-1). Ironton: Jackson 20-246, King 14-90, Guthrie 3-(-13), Cain 3-11
Passing - Fairland: Jackson 18-33-1, 145 yards, Taylor 1-2-0, 33 yards. Ironton: Guthrie 2-6-0, 44 yards.
Receiving - Fairland: Mills 8-90, Henson 3-23, Hinkle 4-25, Hager 1-5 Cumings 2-30, Hamlin 1-5, Jackson 1-4. Ironton: Jackson 2-44