Quakers put unbeaten mark on line
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Four area schools are unbeaten heading into the fourth week of the season.
The Salem Quakers outlasted East Liverpool 52-21 on Friday and sit in fourth place in the Div. III, Region 9 computer rankings.
The Quakers will face their second of three Div. III teams on their schedule when they host Alliance on Friday. Salem is looking for its first 4-0 start since 2021.
Beaver Local overcame an early deficit against St. Clairsville to earn a 35-21 win over the Red Devils. Peyton Cowdery scored two rushing touchdowns in the win, while sophomore quarterback hit Zaiven Riley and Nolan Irving for touchdown passes. A.J. Bowser added a rushing touchdown.
The Beavers, who are fifth in Div. IV, Region 15, will try to extend their unbeaten mark to start the season as they travel to rival East Liverpool. The Potters (2-1) are tied for eighth in Div. IV, Region 15.
Columbiana has its first unbeaten three-game stretch to start the season since 2011, but will face its toughest league test when it travels to defending Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference champion United 2-1 on Friday.
The Clippers got to 3-0 by knocking off Western Reserve 38-37 in overtime last Friday. Danny Mangiarelli’s overtime touchdown coupled with a batted ball by John Parks on Reserve’s two-point try lifted the Clippers to the 3-0 mark.
Columbiana is currently fourth behind South Range, Wickliffe and Mineral Ridge in the Div. VI, Region 21 computer rankings. United is eighth after defeating Crestview 31-14 on Friday to avoid a disappointing 1-2 start.
West Branch (3-0) is making its case as one of the better teams around as it has scored at least 30 points in each win while holding opponents under 10, but the three opponents who West Branch has beaten so far have zero wins between them.
In the 34-8 win over Struthers, Grady Hirst passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns. He also had a 98-yard touchdown run. Gavin Marshall caught three passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns.
This week West Branch will travel to 3-0 Eastern Buckeye Conference member Howland. Howland has wins against Niles, Hubbard and Cleveland Shaw to start the season.
EOAC
It’s doubtful any team in the EOAC had a better bus ride home than Wellsville on Friday. The Tigers broke a 17-game losing streak with a miracle 35-28 win over Leetonia on a touchdown pass from Zachary Banks to Jeron Jackson with 11.4 seconds to go.
Now the Tigers (1-2) will head to Southern (0-3) on Friday to see if they can turn one win into two.
There was good news for the Indians last Friday as they managed to score their first points of the season in a 36-34 loss to Bridgeport. In that one, Logan Mettenberger had 28 carries for 227 yards and three touchdowns. He also had a 72-yard kick return for a touchdown along with a fumble recovery and 15 tackles. Chase Utt added 11 carries for 68 yards, while Jaylin Pitts had 47 yards rushing and a touchdown.
East Palestine handed head coach Rick Shepas his first high school win as a head coach since 2004 with a 43-26 win over Malvern last Friday. The Bulldogs (1-2) had 410 yards of total offense in the win with Clark Rutledge completing 21 of 36 passes for 240 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 73 yards rushing. RJ May caught seven passes for 106 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown.
East Palestine will be at Lisbon on Friday for the league opener for both schools. Lisbon (2-1) was a 50-19 winner over Waterloo last Friday. Grant Minor was 13 of 18 for three touchdowns in the Devil win. Wyatt Newbold caught five passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
Valley Christian (0-3) will be the odd man out this week with the Eagles playing a non-league game at Warren JFK.
The EOAC is a collective 9-12 so far.
NAC
Leetonia (1-2) will host Middlefield Cardinal for its first league game in the Northeastern Athletic Conference. Cardinal has not scored a point in three straight losses to start the season.
MVAC
Crestview (1-2) didn’t get any breaks with its early schedule this season. The defending league champs will host 3-0 Liberty on Friday. This isn’t a typical 3-0 for a Div. V team though. The Leopards beat Boardman 27-14 last week.
WEST VIRGINIA
Oak Glen will make the two-hour and 40 minute trip to Lost Creek, West Virginia to take on South Harrison on Friday. Oak Glen (1-1) dropped a 49-14 decision to River last Friday. The Hawks are also 1-1.