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The three largest schools in Columbiana County kicked off the season on Friday with victories.
That’s the first time Salem, East Liverpool and Beaver Local all won their openers since 2019.
Beaver Local showed off its speed and what coach Mike McKenzie calls his strongest team since he arrived at Beaver Local in 2017 with a 35-14 win over Crestview.
The Beavers will travel just over the stateline to take on Western Beaver on Friday in the first meeting between those schools since 1995. Beaver Local has not played a Pennsylvania team since that meeting.
This season, the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League is deeming this the first week of the season whereas in the past it was classified as a Week Zero game where teams had the options of scheduling a scrimmage or a regular season out of league game. The WPIAL’s league slate doesn’t officially start until what would be the third week in Ohio. Perhaps the loosening of rules could see more of our Pennsylvania neighbors come over the border to play in the near future.
Salem delivered one of the best wins in coach Ron Johnson’s 15-year tenure as the Quaker leader with a 21-17 win over a Poland team which is expected to challenge for the Northeast 8 title this season.
For the first time since 2007 the Quakers will take on Canfield Friday at Sebo Stadium. The Cardinals, an old regular rival of Salem in the Metro Athletic Conference and Mahoning Valley Conference days, have won 17 straight in the series. Salem’s last win came in 1990 in a rivalry that has been played 38 times.
East Liverpool handled its business with a 19-10 win over Carrollton. The Potters travel to Indian Creek to take on a Redskins team that put up 49 points in a win over Cambridge. East Liverpool is looking for its first win over Creek since 2023.
Since East Liverpool, Beaver Local and Salem all play each other, we will likely know who is the best on the block after the fifth week of the season.
EOAC
Columbiana finally won a season opener on Friday.
The Clippers held off a late rally by Lowellville to preserve a 27-24 victory for the school’s first opening night win since 2016.
Danny Mangiarelli had 116 yards rushing and a touchdown for the Clippers, while Jensen Nordquist added 56 yards rushing and two touchdowns. John Parks also caught a 45-yard touchdown from Hayes McCoy.
Defending champion United also looked sharp in its 42-7 win over an improving Minerva program. The Golden Eagles will welcome Mineral Ridge with its 70-deep roster on Friday. The Rams, led by former Western Reserve and Valley Christian coach Andy Hake, smoked Pymatuning Valley 42-7 in their opener with a run-heavy offense.
Lisbon, who beat Leetonia 14-0 in the Spaghetti Bowl, will play at Lowellville on Friday.
Wellsville, Southern and East Palestine took sizable knocks to open the season. The Tigers, who lost to Newton Falls 56-13, will look to right the ship at St. Thomas Aquinas. Southern, fresh off a 33-0 loss to Toronto, has a trip to Shadyside up next. Speaking of Shadyside, East Palestine found itself on the losing side of a 49-13 decision against those Tigers. The Bulldogs might have a better time of it on Friday at a Harrison Central team that lost its opener 43-0 to Claymont.
BEARS, REBELS LOOK TO REBOUND
Leetonia was competitive in the Spaghetti Bowl loss but now must cross its fingers that there is some level of competition on Friday against Vanlue.
The smallest program in the state, Vanlue comes into the game with around 13 or 14 players. The school district had a meeting before the start of the season to see if it was willing to go ahead with a season with that few numbers. The Wildcats decided to give it a go but were defeated 62-8 in the opener by Toledo Ottawa Hills.
Last season the Bears traveled to Vanlue to play a Thursday opener and the game was never in doubt as the Bears were often not touched running into the end zone in the 47-0 win.
Crestview showed grit at times in the loss to Beaver Local and will have a chance to grow further when it hosts Lakeview on Friday. The Bulldogs (0-1) haven’t a winning season in nine years.
WARRIORS ROLL
West Branch totaled 333 yards of offense in a 37-6 win over St. Clairsville on Friday. Warrior quarterback Grady Hirst, a Youngstown State commit, had 123 yards and two touchdowns on the ground while passing for 87 yards. Damon Edwards had 46 yards on the ground and two touchdown as well.
West Branch will travel to New Philadelphia on Friday to take on a Quaker team that dropped a 20-10 decision to Louisville in the opener.