United quarterback Parker Newburn sprints by Valley Christian’s Jaylen Robinson during Saturday’s EOAC victory. (Special to the Journal/Lowell Spencer)

LIBERTY — In a key battle between the Eagles for first place in the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference, it was the United version that captured the hard-hitting, physical affair with a dominating 45-14 victory on Saturday night.

United improves to 8-1 overall on the season and 6-0 in the EOAC. It also means that they can clinch an outright league title next week with a victory. This marks the fifth time in the past seven years that United has either won or shared the league championship.

“Our five seniors have a done great job all year for us,” United coach D.J. Ogilvie said. “I don’t think people expected us to be the league champs this year except the guys in our locker room.”

“Every year it’s always that you guys graduated a bunch and you’re not going to be as good, and we just have to prove ourselves every year,” senior quarterback Parker Newburn said. “We had to really step up because there are so few of us (seniors), but I think we have done a good job of impacting the team and helping the younger guys when we can.”

Valley Christian drops to 6-3 and 4-2 in the league. They will now have to focus on getting back on track for the upcoming Division VI playoffs as they have been eliminated from getting a share of the league title. Southern is 5-1 in the EOAC and needs for United to lose to East Palestine this Friday to gain a title share.

United, Valley and Southern have already clinched playoff spots with first-round games scheduled for Nov. 1.

Saturday’s contest featured an old-fashioned slugfest by United as it turned what was a 14-14 tie early in the second quarter and scored 31 unanswered points to run away with the victory. United held a 24-14 advantage at halftime and then outscored Valley Christian 21-0 in the second half.

“We work in the weight room all year around,” Newburn said. “That is when it comes into play.”

“Our offensive line is big and physical and we have running backs who run hard, so that was the formula — Keep the ball away from them and use our guys up front and our tough runners,” Ogilvie said.

United had five runners with more than 50 yards apiece.

United scored on eight of its nine possessions with Parker Newburn leading the way with 95 yards rushing and two touchdowns. He also added one key pass completion on a fourth-down conversion for 19 yards in the second quarter.

“Parker has been unbelievable all year,” Ogilvie said. “Last year he was our leading receiver, and then we asked him to be the quarterback on offense and he unselfishly put the team first. I can’t say enough about Parker then that he has been fabulous all year and just a great kid and a great leader on our football team.”

Newburn’s first touchdown came on their opening possession when he scored on a 2-yard run at the 8:14 mark of the frame. Thomas Brown added a 26-yard run on the second play of the second quarter to conclude United’s second drive.

However, Valley Christian answered both of those scoring drives with two scores of its own. A 45-yard run by Ahmire Dixon at the 4:54 mark of the first quarter made it a 7-6 game in favor of United. Dixon then caught an 8-yard pass and a two-point conversion with 10:18 remaining in the first half to knot the game at 14-14.

United took over the contest from that point as they scored on a 17-yard run by Braden Schwartz with 5:29 left in the first half to go up 21-14. Kicker Zac Figley added a 29-yard field goal with just 18 seconds remaining in the quarter to stake United to a 24-14 halftime advantage.

Newburn added his second touchdown on United’s first possession of the second half when he reached the endzone on a 4-yard run. Fullback M’Kyan Haynes added a 19-yard scamper early in the fourth quarter to stretch their lead out to 38-14. Then Schwartz added his second touchdown on the night with just 5:42 remaining in the game to activate the running clock and reach the final score.

“Next week, East Palestine is going to be loaded up and ready to win the game,” Ogilvie said. “They have done a great job all year. Coach Demster has done a great job turning them around. And we want to be outright champs. We expect East Palestine to give us their best and we will need to be at our best.”

The United Eagles will wrap up the regular season next when they travel to East Palestine with a chance to clinch the EOAC title outright. Valley Christian will also play Friday at Columbiana.

UNITED: 7-17-7-14–45

VALLEY: 6- 8-0- 0–14

SCORING

UN – Parker Newburn 2 run (Zac Figley kick)

VC – Ahmire Dixon 45 run (kick failed)

UN – Thomas Brown 26 run (Figley kick)

VC – Dixon 8 pass from Deion Miller (Ja’Sean Lindsey run)

UN – Braden Schwartz 17 run (Figley kick)

UN – Figley 29 field goal

UN – Newburn 4 run (Figley kick)

UN – M’Kyan Haynes 19 run (Figley kick)

UN – Schwartz 14 run (Figley kick)

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UN VC

First downs 21 8

Total Yards 355 148

Rushes-yards 60-336 20-79

Passing 19 69

Comp-Att-Int, 1-1-0 6-15-1

Punts-Avg. 0-0 3-20.3

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0

Penalties-Yards 7-45 11-102

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INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING–United, Parker Newburn 21-95, M’Kyan Haynes 11-77, Braden Schwartz 10-60, Kollyn Wells 11-53, Thomas Brown 7-51; Valley, Ja’Sean Lindsey 17-75, Deion Miller 2-(minus 7).

PASSING–United; Parker Newburn 1-1-19-0-0; Valley, Deion Miller 6-15-69-1-1.

RECEIVING–United, Quentin Taylor 1-9; Valley, Ahmire Dixon 4-30, Geordan Traylor 1-28, Alfred Coward 1-11

INTERCEPTIONS-United, Newburn.

FUMBLE RECOVERIES- Valley, Lyndale Riley.