Golden Eagles comfortable on EOAC perch
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Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference favorites United come into its key league battle at East Palestine on Friday well rested after a week off. The Eagles are 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the EOAC after running clock wins of Columbiana and Lisbon.
East Palestine (4-2, 3-0 EOAC) shook off an 0-2 start to the season to get into a groove. The Bulldogs are led by junior quarterback Clark Rutledge who has already passed for 1,443 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. Senior R.J. May has caught 27 ball for 495 yards and eight touchdowns. Defensively the Bulldogs have got 52 tackles including 12 tackles for a loss from senior Peyton Rutledge.
Last season East Palestine kept up with United early before the Eagles pulled away for a 63-24 win. Lots of the same contributors are back for the Eagles including quarterback Tom Brown, running back M’Kyan Haynes and wide receiver Kota Shasteen.
This game could just about seal the deal on a league title for United who is riding a 20-game league winning streak. Drew Pasteur’s Fantastic 50 has the Eagles beating East Palestine by 36 and being favored to beat Valley Christian, Wellsville and Southern by 44 points or more.
On the playoff front, United is ranked seventh in Div. VI, Region 21, while East Palestine is 16th. If East Palestine is to return to the playoffs it will likely have to beat United to pump up its chances.
Lisbon (3-3, 1-2 EOAC) bounced back on Saturday with a 28-14 win over Valley Christian. The Devils travel to Wellsville (1-5, 0-3 EOAC) on Friday to try to build some momentum heading into a favorable three-game stretch. Lisbon sits 19th in Div. VI, Region 21 and will need to win out to have any chance at the playoffs in one of the toughest regions in the state. Wellsville enters the game having put up seven points in each of its last two games.
Columbiana (4-2, 1-1 EOAC) bounced back from back-to-back losses to handle Southern 52-6 last week. The Clippers get a struggling Valley Christian (1-5, 1-1 EOAC) this Friday.
Southern Local (1-5, 1-2 EOAC) gets the Saturday assignment this week as it heads to Steubenville to play Catholic Central (3-3).
BUCKEYE 8
After going 4-0 to start the season, Beaver Local finds itself at the crossroads after back-to-back losses. Missing several key players last week, the Brooke Bruins were able to upset the Beavers 33-20. Hubbard lost two of three to start the season but it’s now even at 3-3. Beaver Local beat the Eagles last season 39-31 in overtime for its first win over Hubbard in three tries. Beaver Local is 10th in Div. IV, Region 15 and will need at least seven wins to think about the playoffs.
East Liverpool (4-2) has quietly bounced back with back-to-back wins over St. Clairsville and Cambridge. Last week in the 28-14 win over the Bobcats, Xavier Lara had a huge day with 25 carries for 238 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Ben Myers completed nine of 20 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. James Madison recruit Dre’Keim Abercrombie added three catches for 61 yards and a touchdown.
The Potters head to Edison (2-4) Friday. The Wildcats have won three out of the last five meetings including a 34-20 win last season at Patterson Field. East Liverpool is 13th in the Div. IV, Region 15 field.
EBC
Salem, ranked 10th in the latest Associated Press Div.III state poll, improved to 6-0 for the first time since 2015 with a 38-14 win over Minerva last Friday. Zander Kinsey led the attack with 128 yards, while Brandon Kana added 76 more. Quarterback Adrian Gelonese was 8 for 11 for 130 yards. Bairon Exline caught eight passes for 116 yards.
The Quakers are first in the Div. III, Region 9 computer rankings and are one of only two teams in the region with a perfect record. Salem hosts Marlington (2-4, 1-3 EBC) on Friday. Salem has won four out of the last five against the Dukes.
West Branch (5-1, 2-0 EBC) suffered its first loss of the season with a 24-14 loss to 2-4 Canfield last Friday. West Branch fell to seventh in the Div. IV, Region 13 computer ratings as it only has beat one team with a winning record so far. The earliest Branch can play another team with a winning record will be the ninth week and that’s if Alliance can pick up some wins. West Branch is at Carrollton (1-5, 0-2) on Friday.
MVAC
Crestview’s hopes to return to the playoffs for the fourth straight season seem over as the team dropped to 1-5 after a 34-6 loss to Brookfield last Friday. The Rebels were led by Trevor McElhaney’s 100 yards rushing with a touchdown in that one. Crestview will be at Newton Falls (2-4) on Friday. The Tigers have never beaten Crestview in six MVAC meetings.
NAC
Leetonia (2-4, 1-2 in Northeastern Athletic Conference) dropped a 41-7 decision to Pymatuning Valley last Friday. The Bears have another tough task ahead as it heads to Div. VI Grand Valley (4-2) on Friday. It’s the first meeting between the two schools.
WEST VIRGINIA
Oak Glen (2-3) made short work of winless Buckeye Local last week, 41-14. This week the Bears will travel two hours and 10 minutes to play at St. Marys (1-3). Oak Glen is 23rd out of 32 schools in the West Virginia Class AA rankings.