Fighting Tigers protest being denied spot in playoffs
Published 11:28 am Friday, October 24, 2025
On Friday morning, the Ironton Fighting Tigers football team and supporters were out in front of the Ironton School Board office, saying they were protesting that they will not be allowed in the playoffs.
The team got the news on Thursday after a decision by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
“We are out here fighting, for our right to be able to play in the state playoffs,” said senior Zayne Williams, the running back and linebacker. “It has been taken away from us by some individuals that haven’t got what they want in life and it has come back on these kids.”
The team is being allowed to play their regular season games.
“It is very unfair and I don’t think it has been completely brought to attention on what is going on and why we are in the position we are in now,” Williams said.
Wrapped in a blanket and carrying coffee against the October cold was Megan Cockrell, the mother of Kayden Edwards, the Fighter Tigers’ quarterback.
“We are here because our boys have been kicked out of the playoffs and they deserve to play,” she said. “These kids did nothing wrong and they worked all year to be able to play the sport that they love. I do believe that they deserve to keep going on like everybody else is.”
She said the protest was organized Thursday night, when the news came in.
“My son called me last night, hyperventilating, after practice when they were told the news,” Edwards said. “We had to do something. We can’t let this happen to these boys.”
She said that if everything was handled on Friday in a timely manner, it would be the only day for the protest “but if we have to keep coming down here, I sure will.”
The Ohio High School Athletic Association was contacted by The Ironton Tribune for clarification on the denial and the organization said they will be releasing information later on Friday.
The Tribune will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
