JACKSON — The Miami Trace Panthers had a tough road ahead when they traveled to Jackson High School to take on the Ironmen in a Frontier Athletic Conference week No. 2 match-up.
Jackson scored almost at will on all seven of its first-half possessions and simply stymied the Panthers en route to a 69-0 win inside spacious Alumni Stadium.
It marked the second consecutive week, and the first time in the 120-year history of Ironmen football, that Jackson has scored that many points in back-to-back games.
Justin Shoemaker punted eight times including on the Panthers’ opening six possessions, as five of those were following three-and-outs and all inside their own 30-yard line.
On Miami Trace’s fifth possession, Dalton Mayer managed a 20-yard run to the 40-yard-line for the Panthers’ first of only three first downs, as the other two came via way of penalties, including on the same drive that got no further.
Mayer’s pass on the Panthers’ seventh series — which began at their own 48 but moved as far as the Jackson 31 thanks to a roughing-the-passer penalty — resulted in an interception, as they had the ball for the final 46 seconds of the half but didn’t score.
Jackson led 15-0 after the first quarter and 49-0 at halftime, as the Ohio High School Athletic Association running-clock rule was in effect for the entire second half.
The Panthers then ran just 10 plays in the final two periods, starting their final possessions on their own 35 — but never getting beyond the 38.
Their first drive started at their own 24 and resulted in a lost fumble, as did their only snap on their second series.
The final two possessions resulted in three-and-outs.
Mayer made a 15-yard reception besides his 20-yard run, as those were the only other Panther plays of more than 10 yards.
Of Shoemaker’s eight punts, he boomed and rolled a 73-yarder on his second attempt of the night.
The Ironmen raised their record to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the FAC, while the Panthers fell to an opposite 2-5 and 0-2.
In the two teams’ first meeting last season since their only other four in the mid-1970s, Jackson won at the Panther Pit 48-28.
Miami Trace is back on the road next week at Chillicothe. The Cavaliers beat McClain Friday night, 63-7.
