I-Ridge runs over Horizon

Running backs Gabe Campa and Mitch Fischer were dominant for Ironwood Ridge. Campa totaled 77 yards and three touchdowns; Fischer led the Nighthawks with 118 yards and one score.

"The coaching staff told us to come out and punch them in the mouth, and that's what we did," Campa said. "Me and Mitch we were a two-back system, and we go hard on every play."

The duo also combined for 105 yards receiving, with Campa hauling in six catches for 86.

No. 7 Ironwood Ridge will take on No. 2 Glendale Sandra Day O'Connor on Friday night in Glendale.

O'Connor outlasted Glendale Dear Valley 29-19.

After Horizon took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, Ironwood Ridge's Trevor Wesley responded by returning the kick off 65 yards to the 30.

Three plays later, Fischer used the right sideline on a 19-yard touchdown burst.

Fischer said I-Ridge just prepared well, and Horizon's defense was a good fit for the Nighthawks' offense.

But Horizon drove 45 yards for a touchdown on its next drive, with Matt Jones adding the final 7 yards.

From there, the Nighthawks took over. They drove 79 yards to score, with Tyler D'Amore completing four passes for 38 yards.

On fourth-and-3, Campa ran up the middle for 16 yards and the score with 9:21 remaining in the second quarter.

Ironwood Ridge tallied again shortly thereafter on a Campa 6-yard run to give the Nighthawks a 21-9 lead.

Ironwood Ridge opened the third quarter with a 10-play, 80-yard drive. Campa capped the effort with a 5-yard run.

The Nighthawks extended their lead to 35-9 when D'Amore connected with Austin Ballard on a 38-yard scoring pass in the final minute of the third quarter.

Ironwood Ridge's Tyler Williams made a key interception in the fourth quarter to prevent Horizon from narrowing the deficit.

"It was huge, because they were driving on us, and if they would have had that touchdown, the whole game would have been different," Williams said.

Horizon scored late in the game to account for the final margin.