By Spencer Waugh
Logan Daily News
JACKSON — It seems appropriate that Jackson and Logan should meet in week nine with a share of the SEOAL championship on the line.

After all, the Ironmen’s 20 SEOAL championships are second only to Logan’s 24. And the match-up is truly a championship game, with Jackson finishing its season at non-league Zanesville next week, while Logan would clinch a share of the title going into one more league game with Chillicothe in week 10.

Jackson is off to its best start since 2003 and controls its own destiny in both the OHSAA playoff hunt and the race for the SEOAL championship.
Needless to say, first-year head coach Andy Hall has won over the Ironmen faithful. The Ironmen opened their season with wins over Wellston (21-7), Waverly (33-25), Vinton County (42-16), Portsmouth (27-26), Gallia Academy (28-16) and Marietta (35-21) before losing to Ironton (28-7). Last week, the Ironmen got back on the winning track by winning at Chillicothe 20-0.

Jackson’s turnaround from last season is the direct result of an improvement in the turnover department. Last season, the Ironmen were giving away the football multiple times almost every game; this fall, the Red and White have been stingy — losing just one fumble while throwing only two interceptions — while taking the ball away from opponents 17 times.

Offensively, Jackson is still a run-oriented team, but with more balance than usual. JHS is averaging nearly five yards per rush and passing for over 100 yards per game.

Kruize Wandling (6-0, 180, senior), a transfer from Gallia Academy, is the trigger man in the Jackson multiple-formation attack. The quarterback has completed 57 of 103 passes for 853 yards with seven touchdowns and only two interceptions. He has also rushed for 171 yards and four touchdowns.

Wandling shares the backfield with fullback Klay Arthur (6-0, 195, junior) and Drew Ervin (6-0, 185, sophomore). Arthur is a returning starter at fullback and has rushed for 438 yards and four touchdowns on a team high 95 carries.

Ervin is the feature back in coach Hall’s offense, leading the team with 571 yards and 10 touchdowns on 91 carries.

Derrick Meredith (5-10, 170, junior) has 163 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries. Eric Landrum (6-0, 190, senior) will see time at receiver and running back. Landrum has rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown and caught six passes for 105 yards and another score.

The top receiver in the JHS offensive attack is Kip Winchester (6-1, 170, junior) with 23 receptions for 278 yards and three touchdowns. Nathaniel Haller (6-0, 215, senior) will line up at tight end and has six catches for 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Ty McNelly (5-11, 160, sophomore) and Aaron Costilow (6-3, 170, junior) have combined for two catches for 28 yards and will line up opposite Winchester.

Up front, Jackson averages nearly 240 pounds per man from tackle to tackle, led by tackle Aaron “Bubba” Landrum (6-0, 305, junior). The guards are Tyler Gillum (6-1, 220, senior) and Jimmy Brushart (6-0, 205, senior).

Ryan Klingaman (6-1, 205, senior) is the center with Coleman Kearns (6-0, 255, junior) playing the tackle spot opposite Landrum. Austin Landrum (5-10, 300, junior) adds depth at tackle while Tyler Jeffers (5-11, 230, sophomore) will line up at tight end when the Ironmen are in short yardage situations.

Defensively, Jackson is allowing just over 17 points and nearly 300 yards per game with yardage coming nearly equally on the ground as through the air. Like on offense, the Ironmen are deep and will rotate many players throughout the game.

The Red and White will move back and forth from a 5-2 defensive alignment to a 3-5 alignment depending on down, distance, and situation.

In either case, Haller and Brushart will be the ends, with O.J. Barr (5-9, 160, sophomore) at noseguard. Frankie Mapes (6-1, 240, senior) will see time at defensive tackle when the Ironmen have five down linemen and nose guard when they have three. Patrick Harrison (5-9, 160, senior) and Paul Canter (5-10, 200, junior) will also play defensive tackle.

Dillon Bentley (6-3, 215, junior) and Paul Simon (5-10, 170, sophomore) add depth at defensive end.

Eric Landrum and Klingaman are the linebackers with Meredith and Ervin playing safety when the Ironmen have five down linemen and linebacker when they have three down linemen. Arthur and Jeffers add linebacking depth.

Winchester and Garrett Ewing (5-9, 170, senior) are the cornerbacks with Costilow and Tyler Williams (5-10, 165, senior) add depth in the defensive backfield.

Ryan Mullins (5-10, 160, senior) is one of the league’s top placekickers and punters. His 31-yard field goal beat Portsmouth with 15 seconds to play. Ervin, Winchester, and Meredith are all capable kick returners.

Spencer Waugh of loganfootball.com offers his scouting report of the Chiefs’ opponent every week in The Logan Daily News.