Mostly cloudy early with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 86F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..
Tonight
Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming foggy and damp after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds light and variable.
Mostly cloudy early with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 86F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..
Tonight
Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming foggy and damp after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds light and variable.
Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch Ironton's Garrett Carrico looks for running room as the Fighting Tigers take on Coal Grove in a high school football game on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016, at Tanks Memorial Stadium in Ironton.
Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch Ironton's Garrett Carrico looks for running room as the Fighting Tigers take on Coal Grove in a high school football game on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016, at Tanks Memorial Stadium in Ironton.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior running back at Ironton High School likely will carry the football plenty as the Fighting Tigers' featured back, but he figures to have more help than he did last year when he rushed for a team-high 923 yards and 14 touchdowns on 139 carries.
Carrico and his teammates will try to run the ball at will at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against Wheelersburg at Tanks Memorial Stadium. The Pirates have beaten Ironton four consecutive seasons, including 49-6 in the 2016 opener at Wheelersburg. Carrico said he hopes the Fighting Tigers can control the football.
"We have a lot of depth," Carrico said. "That helps, especially in the fourth quarter when you can rotate guys in and keep fresh legs."
Ethan Duncan (5-10, 205, Jr.), Seth Fosson (6-1, 225, So.) and Tanner Wilson 6-1, 220, Jr.) ran for more than 400 yards apiece last year. They're expected to be joined by tight end/fullback/linebacker Jaxon Pleasant (5-10, 195, Sr.) to give the Tigers a wealth of talent and experience at halfback and attempt to take some pressure off sophomore quarterback Gage Salyers..
Carrico, a tough runner with speed, figures to carry the ball more than the others.
"Garrett's very reliable," Ironton head coach Mark Vass said of the third-year starter. "He's tough and takes care of the football."
Carrico also plays safety and is a lead-by-example type from the secondary. Tough in run support, Carrico is strong against the pass.
"He has a knack for the ball," Vass said.
Carrico said he anticipates Ironton making the playoffs, as usual, and winning a third consecutive Ohio Valley Conference championship. The Tigers are 13-0 in league games since joining the OVC two years ago.
"The goal is the playoffs," Carrico said. "I think we'll have a good year."
