IRONTON — Hype. It’s an inevitable part of the sporting world.

Last weekend in college football, we heard about the “Collision at the Coliseum.” Later in the season, we’ll hear about “The World’s Largest Outdoor Party” when Florida plays Georgia in Jacksonville.

For the Logan Chieftains and Ironton Fighting Tigers, Friday night might be the most hyped game they play all regular season.

The Tigers, southeastern Ohio’s most successful football program, comes to town with a 3-1 (1-0 Southeastern Ohio Athletic League) record and looking to rebound from last season’s 5-5 season that included a 53-14 loss at Logan in the final regular season game at Bill Sauer Field.

The Fighting Tigers are averaging 34 points, 218 rushing yards, and 110 passing yards per game. Following a season-opening loss to Wheelersburg (23-22), the orange and black have reeled off three straight victories against Our Lady of the Mount (54-6), a team from Canada, Gallia Academy (42-6), and Ashland, Ky. (18-6).

Offensively, Ironton will operate out of the power-T formation led by junior fullback Keith Wetzel (5-7, 200) and senior halfback Chance Freeman (5-11, 180). Wetzel leads the Tigers in carries and touchdowns (46 carries, 229 yards, seven touchdowns), while Freeman leads with 254 yards on 35 carries for six touchdowns. The second halfback is senior Major Brice (5-9, 180) who has carried 17 times for 153 yards and two scores.

Senior Jon Schweickart (6-0, 195) is one of the top quarterbacks in southeastern Ohio and was an invite to the “Top Gun” quarterback camp held in Dublin earlier this summer. Schweickart has completed 23 of 42 passes for 400 yards with four touchdowns against only one interception.

Schweickart’s top target is senior Michael Lamb (6-3, 205), a Fairland transfer, who has 14 catches for 282 yards and a score. Senior split end Lukas Morris (6-2, 150) has six catches for 134 yards and three touchdowns.

Up front, Ironton will present the toughest challenge faced yet by the purple and white. The I-Tigers average 242 pounds per man from tackle to tackle, and can increase that average 256 in short-yardage situations.

Junior Taylor Barker (6-0, 285) is the center, with classmate Chris Warner (5-11, 200) and sophomore Robbie Webb (6-3, 240) beside him at the guard positions. Senior Tony Murphy (5-11, 270) will take Warner’s guard spot in short yardage situations. Juniors Sam Cramblitt (6-0, 280) and Howie Lucas (6-0, 205) are the tackles.

Murphy, a fullback last season, is yet to carry the football this season but could see his first action in the backfield against the Chieftains.

Defensively, Ironton is allowing 10.25 points and only 182 yards per game. The orange and black, who normally play a 5-2 base defense, may drop to a 4-3 base to combat the Chieftains’ offensive spread attack.

Murphy will be the noseguard and anchors a defensive line allowing only 122 yards per game on the ground. Lamb will be at end where he is one of the area’s top pass rushers.

Other defensive linemen are tackles Geoff White (6-2, 270, senior) and Brad Spaljaric (6-3, 255, sophomore) along with junior end Jon Monning (6-0, 170).

Junior Erin Edens (6-0, 195), along with Chris Warner and sophomore Brian Warner (6-0, 200), have all seen time at linebacker, along with junior Paris Birchfield (6-1, 205).

The Ironton secondary has allowed a measly 60 yards per game through the air and is led by safeties Freeman and junior Ethan Preston (5-10, 155). Morris and Brice will be the cornerbacks.

In addition to his quarterbacking duties, Schweickart will also handle both punting and place kicking for the Fighting Tigers.

Back to the hype. Few games live up to the hype as Ohio State fans witnessed on Saturday night. Only time will tell if this match-up can live up to the hype generated by fans throughout the area.

Logan football historian Spencer Waugh of loganfootball.com previews the Logan Chieftains’ football opponent every Thursday in The Logan Daily News.

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