×

Potters team up for Ohio All-Stars

EAST LIVERPOOL — Before continuing their respective careers in college, East Liverpool quarterback Austin Mayfield and lineman Freddie Plum are enjoying one last chance to play high school football together as they continue practice for the 38th annual Penn-Ohio Stateline Classic Thursday at Geneva College.

“It’s an honor to play one more game together,” Mayfield said. “It’s kind of bittersweet when your senior year ends, but it’s nice to suit up with a teammate for one last game as a senior.”

Mayfield and Plum were two stalwarts for an East Liverpool team that finished the season 3-7.

Mayfield, a second-team Division IV All-Ohioan, was a two-way threat in the Potters’ spread offense, throwing for a single-season school-record 1,714 yards and 10 touchdowns, while adding 432 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

Plum is one of the biggest players on the Ohio roster at 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds. He served as an anchor on the Potters’ defensive line, recording 75 tackles, including 21 for losses, eight sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception.

“In the back of my mind, I always thought it would be really cool to play in this game,” Plum said. “Being here with a teammate makes it better.”

Both Plum and Mayfield will be moving on to play at the Division II level next season. Plum will be going to West Virginia State, while Mayfield will be heading to West Liberty and majoring in education.

“These practices give you a taste of what college is going to be like,” Plum said. “You get to practice against a whole new set of guys. It’s been nice to bond with a bunch of different guys at positions you never thought you would.”

“It’s been fun getting to see how other kids practice compared to the way we practice,” Mayfield said. “It’s been fun getting to know a different group of guys.”

Mayfield’s multitude of talents will be put to good use by Ohio coach Jim Tsilimos. He will serve as one of the team’s three quarterbacks along with Columbiana’s Mitch Davidson and Lisbon’s Colin Sweeney. He will also see action at inside linebacker on defense.

As part of Ohio’s three-quarterback rotation, Tsilimos said Mayfield will primarily be responsible for the team’s stacked-I package, but his versatility also allows him to run the veer and spread offenses that Tsilimos also plans on using.

“Austin is one of the guys that’s really impressed me,” Tsilimos said. “He can probably play up to four positions on both sides of the ball. It’s easy to see why he’s going to a Division II school.”

Mayfield said its been an adjustment trying to run the stacked-I after growing used to running a spread offense as a senior at East Liverpool.

“It’s been a big change because I was tacking snaps out of the shotgun and now I have to get used to going under center again,” Mayfield said. “But I’ve run it in the past, so it’s not that big of a deal. It’s been fun.”

When reflecting on a favorite memory from their time together as teammates for the Potters, the game that immediately came up for both Mayfield and Plum was their 28-13 this season over archrival Beaver Local. East Liverpool scored three touchdowns in the last nine minutes, powered by 285 passing yards from Mayfield.

“I’ll always remember the rivalry with Beaver Local,” Mayfield said. “Especially getting to go out and put it to them our senior year. That was one of my best high school memories.”

“I’ll definitely always remember that Beaver Local game,” Plum said. “There’s nothing like going out and beating your rival like that.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today