Leetonia’s Ethan Mathia recovers a United fumble in the end zone and returns it 69 yards on the opening drive on Friday. Also shown is United’s Wyatt Heaver, Braden Schwartz, Bryce Wood and Tyler Wood.

LEETONIA — United is out of Leetonia’s league.

The Golden Eagles had a big first quarter — scoring on Sydney Casto’s 77-yard interception return, M’Kyan Haynes’ 71-yard run and Wyatt Heaver’s 10-yard fumble return — on the way to a 49-8 win over Leetonia on Friday.

It sets up an Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference showdown between the first-place teams with United hosting East Palestine. The Eagles are 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the EOAC.

Leetonia, which announced this week it is leaving the EOAC for the Northeast Athletic Conference next school year, falls to 2-4 and 0-3 in the EOAC. The Bears have lost 29 league games in a row.

Seven different Eagles scored touchdowns, highlighted by senior lineman Jacob Riffe’s 1-yard run against his former Leetonia teammates.

United marched down the field on the opening possession, but fumbled into the end zone and Leetonia’s Ethan Mathia returned it to the United 31-yard line.

But two plays later, Casto scored on an interception return and the Eagles never looked back.

The Eagles had a one-play drive with Haynes racing 71 on a jet sweep and Heaver scored on a fumble recovery caused by a Wyatt Swanson sack following a 28-yard loss.

Swanson and quarterback Tom Brown had 4-yard touchdown runs in the second quarter to up the score to 35-0.

Riffee added his touchdown run and sophomore Dom Wilson had a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter to close out the United scoring. Liam Jones was 7-for-7 on extra-point kicks.

The Bears scored midway through the fourth quarter on Grayden Henderson’s 2-yard pass from Dylan Jones. Jones added the two-point conversion run.

Leetonia will play at Southern Friday.

U: 21-14-14-0–49

L: 0-0-0-8–8

U–Sydney Casto 77 interception return (Liam Jones kick)

U–M’Kyan Haynes 71 run (Liam Jones kick)

U–Wyatt Heaver 11 fumble recovery (Liam Jones kick)

U–Wyatt Swanson 4 run (Liam Jones kick)

U–Tom Brown 4 run (Liam Jones kick)

U–Jacob Riffee 1 run (Liam Jones kick)

U–Dom Wilson 27 interception return (Liam Jones kick)

L–Grayden Henderson 2 pass from Dylan Jones (Dylan Jones run)

Columbiana 37,

Southern 14

COLUMBIANA — Columbiana is heading in the right direction.

The Clippers won for the third time in three games with a 37-14 victory over Southern Local on Friday.

Columbiana improves to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference. They will play at Valley Christian next Saturday.

Danny Mangiarelli rushed 15 times for 120 yards and four touchdowns for the Clippers. Jensen Nordquist also had a rushing touchdown.

Landen Heffner rushed 19 times for 165 yards and two touchdowns for the Indians.

Southern drops to 1-5 and 1-2 in the EAOC. The Indians will host Leetonia on Friday.

C: 16-14-7-0–37

S: 0-6-0-7–13

SCORING

C–Jensen Nordquist 7 run (Danny Mangiarelli run)

C–Danny Mangiarelli 15 run (Mangiarelli run)

C–Mangiarelli 13 run (Geoffrey Malcomson kick)

S–Landen Heffner 67 run (run failed)

C–Mangiarelli 22 run (Malcomson kick)

C–Mangiarelli 1 run (Malcolmson kick)

S–Landen Heffner 10 run (Callen Bettis kick)

Lisbon 38, Valley 34

LISBON — Lisbon picked up its first Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference win of the season with a 38-34 win over Valley Christian on Friday.

Lisbon is 3-3 and 1-2 in the EOAC, while Valley fell to 3-3 and 2-1 in the league.

Ashton Hinchcliffe paved the way for the Devils with 22 carries for 148 yards and three touchdowns. Grant Minor had 18 rushes for 160 yards and a touchdown. In the passing game, Minor connected on six of nine passes for 124 yards including a 69-yard touchdown toss to Hinchliffe.

The game ended at 10:17 p.m.

Lisbon welcomes Wellsville and former coach Jim Tsilimos on Friday.

Valley Christian is 3-2 and 2-0 (tied with United and East Palestine) host Columbiana next Saturday.

VC: 7-13-0-14–34

L: 7-24-0-7–38

LISBON SCORING

LI–Grant Minor 4 run (Baylen Jackson kick)

LI–Ashton Hinchliffe 8 run (kick failed)

LI–Devin Kelly 3 run (kick failed)

LI–Hinchliffe 69 pass from Minor (kick failed)

LI–Hinchliffe 20 run (kick failed)

LI–Hinchliffe 21 run (Jackson kick)

West Branch 56, Minerva 6

MINERVA — West Branch made sure Minerva knew who was still boss in the Eastern Buckeye Conference.

West Branch built a 42-point lead at the half and cruised to a 56-6 running clock win.

Minerva (4-2, 0-1 EBC) was on its first four-game winning streak since 2011 when it went 11-1. West Branch (5-1, 1-0 in EBC) got 342 yards passing and five touchdowns from Grady Hirst in the win.

Jeremiah Thomas caught five balls for 170 yards and two touchdowns for the Warriors. Gavin Gregory added three catches for two touchdowns. Drake Stryffeler had an 86-yard touchdown run and also caught a touchdown pass, while Gavin Marshall had seven carries for 59 yards and a touchdown. Lukas Blake had three carries for 19 yards and a touchdown.

Jeremy Ramsey had an interception on defense and Drew Gaspar recovered a fumble.

Minerva’s only loss before Friday was an opening week defeat at United.

The Lions host Salem next Friday, while West Branch hosts Marlington.

WB: 21-21-7-7–56

MI: 0-0-0-6–6

SCORING

WB–Gavin Marshall 8 run (Gavin Clemens kick)

WB–Jeremiah Thomas 78 pass from Grady Hirst (Clemens kick)

WB–Thomas 68 pass from Hirst (Clemens kick)

WB–Lukas Black 8 run (Clemens kick)

WB–Gavin Gregory 58 pass reception from Hirst (Clemens kick)

WB — Drake Stryffeler 4 pass from Hirst (Clemens kick)

WB–Gavin Gregory 52 pass from Hirst (Clemens kick)

WB–Stryffeler 86 run (Clemens kick)

MI–Nathaniel Linkous 3 run (kick failed)

Crestview 28, Brookfield 12

BROOKFIELD — Crestview got a workout in its 28-12 win over Brookfield on Friday.

The Warriors scored first in the second quarter and the Rebels only held a one-point halftime advantage.

Crestview is 6-0 and 3-0 in the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference. The Rebels host Newton Falls on Friday. Brookfield is 2-4 and 1-2 in the league.

The Rebels outgained the Warriors 401-193.

Jake Noling had 84 yards and a touchdown on the ground, while he threw for 114 yards and a touchdown through the air.

Mikey Proctor had 14 carries for 88 yards and Wyatt Hart had five carries for 83 yards and a touchdown. Trevor McElhaney added a rushing touchdown and Kyle Booth three catches for 28 yards and touchdown along with an interception. Caidyn McElhaney had a 70-yard catch.

C: 0-7-14-7–28

B: 0-6-6-0–12

SCORING

B–Hammond 14 run (kick failed)

C–Jake Noling 4 run (Novak kick)

C–Kyle Booth 14 pass from Noling (Novak kick)

C–Trevor McElhaney 1 run (Novak kick)

B–Hammond 7 run (kick failed)

C–Wyatt Hart 65 run (Novak kick)