Beavers try to get back on track
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The Salem football team has been 5-0 two other times in coach Ron Johnson’s tenure and 11 times over the history of its program.
After a thrilling 33-27 victory over previously-unbeaten Beaver Local on Friday, the Quakers, ranked eighth in the state by the Associated Press, might be thinking about the possibility another five straight.
The Quakers currently sit in the No. 1 spot in Div. III, Region 9 and have a more favorable schedule over the next four games than what was played earlier this season.
Salem will be at Minerva (2-3) on Friday where it will be going for its 12th straight win over the Lions. According to the high school football prediction web site Drew Pasteur’s Fantastic 50, the Quakers are predicted to win by 41 over Minerva, 32 over Marlington, 24 over Howland and 36 by Carrollton in the next four weeks.
Beaver Local (4-1) lands in a pretty good spot this week as it hosts Buckeye 8 member Brooke (W.Va.). The Bruins are 2-1 with a big wins over Lincoln County (W.Va.) and Cambridge and a nine-point loss to Indian Creek. Beaver Local is 2-0 all-time against the Bruins with 35-0 and 26-0 wins in the previous two seasons.
The Beavers are ranked ninth in the Div. IV, Region 15 computer rankings and have three home games left on the schedule with the two away games at Northeast 8 members Hubbard and Lakeview.
East Liverpool (3-2) broke a two-game losing skid with a 41-21 win over St. Clairsville on Friday. The Potters will begin a two-game road swing at Cambridge (0-5). Four of East Liverpool’s last five opponents have records under .500 and two are winless. That’s reflected in the computer rankings as the Potters are 13th in Div. IV, Region 15.
Against the Red Devils, Potter quarterback Ben Myers rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown, while passing for 101 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, James Madison recruit Dre’Keim Abercrombie led the team with 12 solo tackles and also had a 6-yard touchdown reception.
In Mahoning County, West Branch (5-0) looks like it might be shaping up into a team with a long playoff road ahead of it. The Warriors decimated Marlington 42-0 on Friday, outgaining the Dukes 426 to 83.
While the West Branch offense has made a lot of the headlines behind the play of Youngstown State recruit Grady Hirst, the defense has limited opponents to 154 yards of offense per game. Junior Landon Coffee, who is being looked at by Div. I colleges, leads the Warriors with 4 1/2 sacks. Junior Drake Stryffeler is tops on the team in tackles with 22 solo and six assists.
The Warriors host Canfield on Friday.
EOAC
United (4-1, 2-0) is the heavy favorite to win the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference after a 55-7 win over Lisbon on Friday. United’s offensive starters have roughly played just four quarters in running-clock wins over Lisbon and Columbiana.
This week the Eagles will be off after the school could not come up with an opponent to fill the open week left by Leetonia’s EOAC exit.
Columbiana (3-2, 0-1 EOAC) will look to shake off two blowout losses in a row as it heads to Southern (1-4, 1-1 EOAC). In the Clippers were on the losing end of a 34-7 scoreline to unbeaten and state-ranked Woodmore last Friday.
East Palestine (3-2, 1-0 EOAC) led Southern by a point at half last Friday but came roaring back for a 36-12 win. The Bulldogs go to Wellsville (1-4, 0-2 EOAC) to take an improved Tiger team.
Valley Christian (1-4, 1-0 EOAC) knocked off the Tigers 23-7 for its first league win last week. Lisbon (2-3, 0-2 EOAC) will play Valley Christian on Saturday at Mineral Ridge.
NAC
If the goal of Leetonia going to the Northeastern Athletic Conference was more competitive league games, it’s working out so far. The Bears (2-3, 1-1 in the NAC) took Mathews to the limit in a 32-28 loss last Friday.
This Friday the Bears hit the road to Pymatuning Valley (2-3, 1-1 NAC). The Lakers have had losses to Mineral Ridge, LaBrae and Ashtabula St. John this season.
MVAC
It looks like this will be a rebuilding season for Crestview after the Rebels dropped to 1-4 following a 31-27 loss to Ravenna Southeast on Friday in a Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Gray Division game. It was the first win in four tries for the Pirates against the Rebels.
Trevor McElhaney had 80 yards rushing and three touchdowns for the Rebels in the loss. Hayden Davis caught six balls for 102 yards.
Crestview sits in the 24th position in Div. V, Region 17. Four teams with four losses made the playoffs in Region 17 last season. No team with five losses did.
The Rebels host 3-2 Brookfield this Friday. The Warriors have wins over Hubbard, Springfield and Champion this season and only lost to undefeated Toronto by a point.
The Rebels will try to slow down Brookfield senior running back Rico Smith, who averages 14.4 yards per carry. Smith has rushed for 589 yards and eight touchdowns on only 41 carries.