East Liverpool’s Dre’Keim Abercrombie pressures Carrollton quarterback Hunter Allison during the Potters’ season-opening win. (The Review/Jimmy Joe Savage)

CARROLLTON — East Liverpool combined an outstanding defensive performance with electrifying plays on special teams to knock off Carrollton 23-12 in their season opener here Friday night at Community Field.

The Potters’ defense held Carrollton to a pair of field goals in the Red Zone in the first half and a single touchdown in the second half while holding the Warriors to 206 yards of total offense.

Meanwhile, East Liverpool’s special teams were outstanding, recovering a fumbled punt that set up a third-quarter score. But the play that sealed the win occurred on an exciting 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by talented sophomore Tamar Tisdale in the closing seconds of the third quarter, which gave the Potters an all-important two score lead at 23-12.

“I looked for the ball and tried to high point it,” smiled Tisdale. “As soon as I got it, I heard my blockers say run this way and I put my head up, and just like my coaches always say, it’s how you use your eyes and I found a hole and put it in third gear.”

“I’m not sure (if it’s a school record) but it’s got to be close,” praised Cusick. “We moved our second row back, we weren’t getting enough depth, so we told them to get a little deeper and create that seam because we know either one of those two (Tisdale or Amir Baker) if they hit a seam they’re dangerous.”

It marked the Potters’ first ever win against Carrollton which had led the series 5-0 heading into Friday night.

“We gave up the big plays, we gave up the kick return and a turnover on special teams,” said Carrollton head coach Storm Hill. “Those were all big things there. There’s a couple indicators there that if you lose margins, then you’re going to lose the football game.”

Carrollton engineered extensive drives deep into East Liverpool territory on its first two drives but the Potters’ defense stiffened on both tries, forcing the Warriors to settle for a pair of field goals of 28 and 26 yards off the toe of veteran kicker Paycen Haven, giving the hosts a 6-0 lead after one quarter.

Cusick said holding the Warriors to just six total points on two drives were key.

“Any time you’ve got a team in the red zone and you hold them to field goals, that’s huge and we did it twice,” praised the East Liverpool head coach. “I just think the unit as a whole (played well), that was huge.”

After East Liverpool was held to negative 6 yards offense on its first two possessions, the Potters began feeding the ball to 5-10, 178-pound senior running back Amir Baker and the momentum of the game began to shift. Baker rushed for 75 yards on 11 carries in the first half and kept the sticks moving for East Liverpool. The Potters capitalized on Baker’s efficient running inside on its third possession when junior quarterback Ben Myers fired a perfect 29-yard scoring aerial to 6-4 wideout Dre’Keim Abercrombie in the right corner of the end zone, tying the game at 6-6 with 6:44 showing before halftime. The PAT boot was blocked.

“Ben made some plays when we needed it,” said Cusick.

Baker had a great night on the ground, leading all rushers with 140 yards on 17 carries and Tisdale added 41 yards on six carries.

“We’ve got a nice combination with Amir and Tamar,” praised Cusick. “Amir really ran hard tonight and we told both backs, listen, we need four yards (per carry) and they ran hard. I’m proud of both of them. I think that’s a great combination we have back there.”

The Potters led in total offense at the break, 126-85 and 260-206 for the game

The Potters took their first lead midway through the third period after East Liverpool hopped on a fumbled Warrior punt at the Carrollton 32. The Potters capitalized when Tisdale scored on a two-yard run around left end. Kicker Camden Wright added the PAT boot and the Potters took a 13-6 lead at the 5:03 mark of the third.

Minutes later, Potters pounced on a Carrollton fumble and with an added penalty on the hosts, the Potters set up at the Carrollton 9. The Potters capitalized again as Wright booted a 30-yard field goal and East Liverpool led, 16-6 at the 3:37 mark of the third.

But the Warriors came back and scored on the same series when quarterback Hunter Allison scramble eight yards around right end. The PAT run failed and the Potters held a 16-12 advantage.

But the Potters responded on the ensuing kickoff when Tisdale cradled in the return and set sail for a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Wright added the PAT and the Potters led 23-12 with :05 left in the third quarter.

“All I knew is I saw green and just tried to get there and when I got in there I was just so happy,” added Tisdale.

“Give East Liverpool credit, they played well for four quarters and props to them,” said Hill.

Game notes

• Carrollton leads the all-time series with the Potters, 5-1.

• The Potters will host Indian Creek in their Buckeye 8 North opener next Friday evening at Patterson Field.

• Carrollton will travel to Edison next Friday night to face the Wildcats.

EL: 0-6-17-0–23

CA: 6-0-6-0 –12

SCORING

CA–Paycen Haven, 28. field goal, 3:13 1st

CA–Paycen Haven, 26 field goal, :31 1st

EL–Dre’Keim Abercrombie, 29 pass from Ben Myers, 6:44 2nd (kick failed)

EL–Tamar Tisdale, 2 run, 5:03 3rd (Camden Wright kick)

EL–Camden Wright, 30 field goal, 3:37 3rd

CA–Hunter Allison, 8 run, :23 3rd (run failed)

EL–Tamar Tisdale, 98 kickoff return, :05 3rd (Camden Wright kick)

——

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING–Carrollton, Isaac Husted 4-40, Hayden Thomas 2-7, Levi Kiko 13-42, Hunter Allison 5-13; East Liverpool, Amir Baker 17-140, Ben Myers 7-16, Tamar Tisdale 5-41

PASSING–Carrollton, Hunter Allison, 10-26-112-0-0; East Liverpool, Ben Myers 4-13-38-0-0

RECEIVING–Carrollton, Jayven Johnson 1-16, Isaac Husted 3-58, John Bajornas 2-20, Jayden Murphy 2-6; East Liverpool, Dre’ Keim Abercrombie 1-29