United quarterback Tom Brown scrambles against Lisbon's Devin Kelly on Friday. (Morning Journal/Ron Firth)

LISBON — It was a special win for the United football team in more ways than one on Friday against rival Lisbon.

The Golden Eagles used a 65-yard kickoff return by Sydney Casto at the end of the half to gain some separation but had to fend off a second half charge by Lisbon fueled by two onside kick recoveries to win 34-14.

United has won 13 Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference games in a row with its last loss coming in 2023 with a one-point loss to Lisbon.

The Golden Eagles 4-1, 2-0 in the EOAC) have also won 19 out of the last 22 games against the Devils. Lisbon is 2-3 and 0-2 in the EOAC.

Like last week against Columbiana when a fumble return for a touchdown turned the game on its head, the Eagles got a similar momentum shifting play from Casto after a Grant Minor rushing touchdown had Lisbon back in the game at 20-7 with 52 seconds left in the half.

A personal foul penalty after the touchdown — one of many in the game — moved Lisbon back 15 yards on the ensuing kickoff. That’s when the senior Casto kicked it into high gear.

“We knew it was going to be a big change (after the touchdown),” Casto said. “We didn’t know what they were going to kick. They lined up like they were going to kick an onside. I caught it and saw a gap. I had great blocks, especially by Kota Shasteen and just saw the end zone and ran.”

That allowed the Eagles to go into the break up 27-7 and getting the ball to start the second half.

Or so they thought.

Wanting to avoid any more explosive plays on special teams and to keep United’s offense off the field, freshman Lisbon kicker Baylen Jackson got involved as he placed his first onside kick of the game perfectly for a recovery to start the second half.

Minor, who took a huge hit to end the first half that required him to be helped off the field, showed why he is a rising quarterback star in the EOAC as he completed all seven of his passes on a drive that ended in him scoring a 6-yard touchdown with 5:53 left in the third quarter.

Immediately after that Jackson did it again as Ashton Hinchliffe came up with an even better placed onside kick.

“That little kid who is a freshman had never kicked a ball until May of this year,” Lisbon coach Bill Meek said. “He makes every extra point and works the entire practice on the things he needs to work on. He just kicks them so well. It wasn’t that we had this great scheme, he just kicks them so well that they bounce where they are supposed to.”

Ogilvie said that his team might have not been ready for the first one, but that the hands team was in on the second one.

Minor’s magic didn’t continue on that drive as he tossed an interception to Kadin Schonauer that went back for an Eagle touchdown but was called back due to a penalty on the play.

Casto later sealed the game for the Eagles with an interception of Minor in the fourth quarter.

“I just keep training to get better every day,” Casto said. “I just try to help our team as much as I can.”

After the win against Columbiana, United coach D.J. Ogilvie said the Eagles had to clean up the penalties. That’s something that didn’t happen in the chippy rivalry game. United was flagged 10 times for 128 yards, while Lisbon was flagged 12 times for 96 yards.

“I am extremely proud of how hard our kids play and how physical they are, but I am extremely disappointed in the things we do that are not smart,” Ogilvie said. “I’ve been nice. We’ve run. We’ve benched. I don’t know what else to do now.”

The Eagles rushed for 262 yards as a team with M’Kyan Haynes rushing for 42 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Tom Brown scooted for 75 yards on 10 carries with a game-icing 5-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Quentin Taylor had seven carries for 67 yards including a 27-yard touchdown run.

The Devils were playing their first home game since Oct. 18 of last season. Minor ended up completing 27 of 43 passes for 151 yards. He also rushed for 47 yards and two touchdowns.

“That shows he is a pretty tough kid,” Ogilvie said about Minor’s gutsy performance in a very physical game.

Game notes

• Lisbon has seen the two top EOAC contenders in United and East Palestine, so who does Meek think has the advantage?

“I won’t say who I am rooting for, but I’m a Bulldog,” the East Palestine High School graduate said.

• United is scheduled to play at Leetonia on Friday. The Bears went into Friday’s Columbiana game with 14 or 15 healthy players. Last week they ended up with 12 players.

Ogilvie said he has not heard any warnings about the Bears not being able to play in a game where the Eagles will have a significant size and numbers advantage.

• The United players all gave Lisbon assistant coach and former Golden Eagle head football coach Mike Ward a big group hug after the win.

• Lisbon hosts Valley Christian next Friday.

U: 14-13-0-7–34

L: 0- 7-7-0–14

SCORING

U — M’Kyan Haynes 4 run (Liam Jones kick)

U –Quentin Taylor 27 run (Jones kick)

U–Haynes 12 run (pass failed)

L–Grant Minor 3 run (Baylen Jackson kick)

U–Sydney Casto 65 kick return (Jones kick)

L–Minor 6 run (Jackson kick)

U–Tom Brown 5 run (Jones kick)

——

U L

First downs 16 18

Total Yards 292 246

Rushes-yards 38-262 24-94

Passing 30 151

Comp-Att-Int 1-2-0 27-44-2

Punts-Avg. 0 2-40

Fumbles-Lost 4-2 0-0

Penalties-Yards 10-128 12-96

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INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING–United, M’Kyan Haynes 8-42, Tom Brown 10-75, Quentin Taylor 7-67, Braden Schwartz 10-57; Lisbon, Ashton Hinchliffe 7-48, Grant Minor 16-47.

PASSING–United, Tom Brown 1-2-30-0; Lisbon, Grant Minor 27-43-151-2, Nick Peruchetti 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING–United, Quentin Taylor 1-30; Lisbon, Zylar Mundy 8-45, Wyatt Newbold 6-33, Ashton Hinchliffe 6-26, Cooper Terdina 5-25, Brady Lively 1-13, Jett Vrable 1-9.

INTERCEPTIONS–United, Kadin Schonauer, Sydney Casto.