Published: October 24, 2009 12:50 am      

Lutz breaks Ohio’s win mark

IRONTON — Bob Lutz never wanted the individual attention.

This time he couldn’t avoid it.

After Ironton downed Nelsonville-York 32-12 on Friday night, Lutz stood alone as the winningest coach in Ohio high school football history.

Once the final second ticked off the scoreboard, fireworks crackled and popped above Tanks Memorial Stadium and a large Ironton crowd took up the thunderous chant: “3-6-1! 3-6-1! 3-6-1!’’

Lutz, now in his 37th coaching season at Ironton and 40th overall, was quickly engulfed by Ironton players after the monumental victory. Entering the game, Lutz and former Hamilton Badin coach Terry Malone shared the state record with 360 wins.

Ohio High School Athletic Association commissioner Daniel Ross and Malone’s daughter, Kathy, joined the scene on Ironton’s sideline for a ceremony honoring Lutz’s landmark achievement.

“Please tell me how you feel about coach Lutz,’’ Ross said into a microphone as he faced the Ironton grandstand. The response was a loud and sustained roar.

“I know coach Lutz doesn’t like all the attention, but this is an important night to the state of Ohio,’’ said Ross, nothing that the state has 716 high schools that play football. “Tonight, coach Lutz has moved to the head of the class.’’

Malone sent along a message with his daughter that if anybody broke the record, he wanted it to be Lutz.

Terry Malone and Lutz coached against each other twice, with Ironton winning both meetings in the playoffs.

“He (Malone) is one of the classiest and best football coaches in the state of Ohio,’’ Lutz said. “I admire him tremendously.’’

Ironton athletic director Mark LaFon drew big applause when he announced that the Fighting Tigers’ home turf will now be called Bob Lutz Field. Also as part of the ceremony, Ironton senior Erin Edens presented Lutz with a football signed by all of the team’s players.

When it finally came time for Lutz to speak, he told everyone: “I’m glad this is over.’’

For Lutz, the focus is squarely on getting his latest team into playoff form and Ironton’s latest win went a long way in nailing down a first-round game at home. Ironton improved to 7-2 and handed Nelsonsville-York only its second loss of the season.

Lutz took advantage of the spotlight to thank the support of his assistant coaches, players and Ironton fans through the years.

Fighting Tigers junior halfback Tres Wilks played a major role Friday with two electrifying touchdown plays.

“I cried,’’ Wilks said of the special night. “I didn’t know it would be like this. When coach Lutz turned and saw the fireworks, I saw him start to tear up. It got to me.’’

Ironton used a vintage smash-mouth opening drive to take a 7-0 lead on J.P. Taylor’s 6-yard scoring. The drive covered 62 yards, all on the ground.

Wilks made it 13-0 in the second quarter when he took a handoff on a reverse, leaped high to hurdle an on-coming tackler and then pulled away from another defender for a 71-yard TD.

“I didn’t think about it, because it would be too easy to get hurt doing something like that,’’ Wilks said of his eye-popping play that had the place buzzing.

Nelsonville-York pulled to within 13-6 at halftime, but Ironton quarterback Ethan Preston scored on a 14-yard keeper in the third quarter.

The elusive Wilks put the game away on the opening play of the fourth period. Ironton was driving before fumbling behind the line of scrimmage. But Wilks picked up the loose ball, and took it all the way across the field on his way to the end zone for a 38-yard score.

“It was supposed to be an option,’’ Wilks said. “Ethan got hit and fumbled. I was thinking about diving on the ball, but there was nobody on the other side of the field.’’

Fullback Keith Wetzel closed Ironton’s scoring on a 1-yard run with 4:21 remaining. Ironton rushed for 270 yards and kept Nelsonville-York standout running back Derek Arnold in check most of the night.

ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.