Tim Stephens

he question for Ironton High School football is, what now? The Ohio High School Athletic Association last week banned the Fighting Tigers (8-2) from the 2025 playoffs, meaning they can't defend their state championship, for recruiting violations starting in 2018 and including this season. Ironton has little choice but to take the punishment and try not to make it worse. If the staff can prove injustice was done, it most definitely should do it, but that's going to be extraordinarily difficult. The investigation has been going on since June.

SPRING VALLEY -- A game of extended drives, lengthy runs and a long field goal attempt came down to mere inches. Woodrow Wilson's Vince Umberger came up just short on a 43-yard field goal attempt as time expired Friday to let Spring Valley (6-3) escape with a 29-28 victory in high school football at the Wolves Den. The Flying Eagles (4-4) turned a pair of Timberwolves fumbles into touchdowns to transform a 21-7 deficit into a 28-21 lead by the 4:06 mark of the fourth quarter. Spring Valley, though, moved 69 yards in 10 plays, with Zeke Lewis running 6 yards for a touchdown, and then a 2-point conversion for the game winner.

HUNTINGTON — Alvaro Alvarez said he’ll leave it up to coach Chris Grassie to decide whether he’s earned more playing time for the Marshall University men’s soccer team.

HUNTINGTON -- Chana Dixon said Huntington High volleyball has made a jump. Not just at the net but as a team. The Highlanders (7-11-2) swept Boyd County and Parkersburg South Tuesday in Lucas-Archer Gym, breaking a five-match losing streak. "We've been right there, even in the losses," said Dixon, Huntington High's first-year head coach. "We've played some good teams close."

HUNTINGTON -- Elizabeth Bohren had seen enough. The Huntington High volleyball standout was tired of Boyd County hanging around Tuesday and did something about it. With the Highlanders leading 10-7 in the third set, Bohren scored four of the Highlanders' next five points for a 15-13 victory in Lucas-Archer Gym. "I think we played our very hardest," Bohren said.

WHEELERSBURG, Ohio -- Ironton's football team scheduled opponents from Virginia, Kentucky, New York and Pennsylvania trying to find a worthy foe.

Quinn Cole wasn’t sure he wanted to coach the Ironton St. Joe High School golf team but now is glad he does.

IRONTON -- Canisius featured the premier player, but Ironton fielded the better team.

According to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Paul Revere uttered, "one, if by land, and two, if by sea" to warn how the British were planning to attack in Massachusetts. George Washington might prefer air supremacy. George Washington High School's football team, that is. The Patriots (2-0) play at Cabell Midland (0-2) at 7 p.m. Friday. GW undoubtedly has noted the Knights gave up 215 passing yards to Pikeville and 133 to Capital this season. Panthers passers were 14 for 15. The Cougars connected on 5 of 8.

HUNTINGTON — Huntington Expression Prep has long been known for producing major college players in basketball.