Local Sports

Opening act for East Liverpool

EAST LIVERPOOL -- East Liverpool's mastery of season-opening football games continued here Friday night as the Potters ushered in the 2026 campaign with a 19-10 win over the Carrollton Warriors at Patterson Field.

With the triumph, East Liverpool is 8-2 in season openers in the past 10 years.

"I'm very pleased with the win, just frustrated with the (overall offensive) execution," stated third-year East Liverpool head coach Paul Cusick.

The Potters were led by running back Xavier Lara, who rushed for a game-high 132 yards and a touchdown.

"It's feels great," said Lara of the season-opening win. "For myself (the goals), I want to break the rushing record."

"He (Lara) runs hard," praised Cusick. "We made some big plays."

After spotting the Warriors a first-quarter touchdown, the East Liverpool defense held the Warriors to just three points over the final three quarters.

"We have some things we need to work out," said third-year Carrollton head coach Storm Hill.

Cusick said he will take the win but knows the Potters' offense can operate at a higher level.

"It was a little frustrating tonight because we just stumbled around on offense," he stated of his Potters, who had several additional chances to score in the second half. "We just made some bad plays, but I told the kids you can be frustrated, but we'll fix it. We had so many opportunities."

Friday's victory also marked the Potters' second consecutive win over the Warriors. They bested Carrollton 23-12 last season at Community Field.

Run-dominant Carrollton took the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards while chewing up 10:16 of the first quarter clock to take a 7-0 lead. The march was capped off by a two-yard run up the middle by running back Ryan Barnett. Standout kicker Paycen Havens added the PAT boot to make it 7-0 with just 1:44 left on the first-quarter clock.

But East Liverpool gradually started to build momentum in the second quarter. The Potters drove 50 yards to find the end zone on a 15-yard scamper around left end by quarterback Ben Myers. Veteran kicker Camden Wright added the PAT boot and the hosts tied things up at 7-7 at the 5:43 mark of the second quarter.

After stopping Carrollton on downs, the Potters' offense struck again. Meshach Harris returned a CHS punt 26 yards to the Warriors' 14. One play later, Lara bolted 14 yards over the right side to give the hosts a 13-7 lead with 2:55 showing before halftime.

"That was pretty fun," said Lara. "That was my first touchdown of the season. I got it started off good -- I loved it."

But Carrollton closed the gap just before the break after East Liverpool's defense stiffened and stopped the Warriors' offense. That stand was highlighted by sacks recorded by Leeland Price and Maleek Goatley. It forced the Warriors to attempt a long field goal and Havens answered with a successful 40-yard kick to pull the visitors within three at 13-10 just 21 seconds before halftime. The score remained that way at half.

East Liverpool stretched its lead late in the third quarter when the Potters drove deep into Warrior territory and scored on an eight-yard pass from Ben Myers to Meshach Harris in the right corner of the end zone. The PAT run failed and the Potters took a 19-10 lead with 3:48 left in the quarter.

The Potters then pinned the Warriors deep in their own territory throughout the second half as the East Liverpool defense made play after play.

"That (field position) was a big factor," said Hill. "We got backed up and I think our defense did a good job considering where we were at on the field. We fought through that and caused a turnover and made multiple plays there, so I'm proud in that aspect of it, but a loss is still a loss and that's on me."

"Kudos to Carrollton because they kept playing," said Cusick. "Their kids kept playing hard and stuffing us and making plays, so we've got to be able to execute a little but better offensively, but I'm really proud of how our defense stepped up. We need our defense to do that until we grow up offensively, and we've got to get to that point."

NOTES

• The Potters open Buckeye 8 action next Friday night when they travel to Kettlewell Memorial Stadium in Wintersville to play the Indian Creek Redskins (1-0), who opened their season Thursday night with a 49-36 win over the Cambridge Bobcats.

"It will be exciting because that's a little bit of a rivalry game," said Cusick of the matchup with Indian Creek. "Both schools will be pumped up for it, so hopefully we get our things fixed and get after it."

• Carrollton also plays next Friday night when the Warriors host the Edison Wildcats.

• Carrollton leads the all-time series with East Liverpool, 5-2.

CA:7-3-0-0 -- 10

EL:0-13-6-0 -- 19

SCORING

C -- Ryan Barnett 2 run (Paycen Havens kick)

EL -- Ben Myers 15 run (Camden Wright kick)

EL -- Xavier Lara 14 run (Kick blocked)

C -- Paycen Havens 40 FG

EL -- Meshach Harris 8 from Ben Myers (run failed

TEAM STATS

Carrollton

First downs: 15; Total yards: 210; Rushes-yards: 30-99; Passing: 111; Comp-Att-Int. 8-17-99; Punts 4-34; Fumbles-Lost 0-1; Penalties-Yards 4-35

East Liverpool

First downs: 19, Total yards 235, Rushes-yards 32-188, Passing Comp-Att-Int. 6-11-47, Punts 2-38, Fumbles-Lost 3, Penalties-Yards 6-50

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING–Carrollton, Levi Kiko 12-37, Ja'Seon Gerber 13-31, Ryan Barnett 1-5, Jaden Murphy 1-1, Brody Gonda 3-2 ; East Liverpool, Ben Myers, 11-36, Xavier Lara, 19-132, Meshach Harris 3-28.

PASSING–Carrollton, Ja'Seon Gerber 5-6-6-62-0, Brody Gonda 3-11-39-0-1; East Liverpool, Ben Myers 6-10-47-1-1.

RECEIVING--Carrollton, Levi Kiko 3-37, Jaden Murphy 3-22, Brayden Swearingon 3-60; East Liverpool, Dre'Keim Abercrombie 2-19, Meshach Harris 2-8, Braden Duke 1-12

INTERCEPTIONS--Ben Myers

FUMBLE RECOVERIES -- Nolan Dietrich