Local Sports

Quakers live up to their record

SALEM -- Salem vs. East Liverpool stands as one of Ohio's longest and most evenly-contested high school football rivalries, dating back to 1904 when Theodore Roosevelt was in the White House.

But, in more modern times, it's been all Salem. 

And the Quakers' mastery of the Potters continued Friday night at Sebo Stadium, as the hosts rolled to a 52-21 running clock win over their Columbiana County rival.

The Quakers now lead the all-time series with the Potters, 51-49-2, including wins in the last three straight meetings and 12 of the past 13 games.

"We wanted to get off to a great start because we thought it was really important to get off to a great start and kind of take their heart early, and I thought we did that," said Salem head coach Ron Johnson. 

"They (the Quakers) are what I thought they were," said East Liverpool head coach Paul Cusick. "They're just a solid bunch of good football players and they played hard and didn't make too many mistakes."

Salem emerged from the contest at 3-0. They have defeated Poland, Canfield and East Liverpool to open the season. The Quakers are off to its best start since the 2022 campaign when they also began the season at 3-0. 

"Like I said, I want to be 1-0 (every week) and that's next week," said Johnson. "We've got to start on that tonight."

East Liverpool, which opened the campaign with triumphs over Carrollton and Indian Creek, is now 2-1.

The Quakers went up 14-0 after just their first five offensive plays of the game on a 42-yard run by Salem running back Brandon Kana, who rushed for 103 of Salem's 288 yards offense in the opening 24 minutes and finished with a game-high 161 yards and three touchdowns.

"It's huge (to win the rivalry)," said Kana. "I just run hard and do what I can for the team. It's exciting, we won and that's all that matters. Everyone played great. We knew we had this in the bag."

"He (Kana) did well," said Johnson. "He took care of the football and gave us a chance. He came to the sidelines and said, hey, here's what I'm seeing, so we tweaked a couple things in the second half and it made a difference."

Salem added a quick second score on an 89-yard sprint to the end zone by Bairon Exline, who was one of two Salem quarterbacks to play in the game. With Ronin Sutter's second PAT boot, the Quakers took a 14-0 lead with 7:05 showing in the first quarter.

The Quakers increased their lead to 21-0 early in the second quarter when they marched 50 yards to find the end zone on a three-yard scoring bolt by Kana. Sutter added the PAT kick with 10:48 showing before halftime.

"We did a lot of things very well, I think we scored every way possible -- offense, defense and special teams," praised Johnson. 

East Liverpool, which had just 25 yards offense in the first quarter, began to get its passing game in gear in the second quarter and the Potters sliced into the Salem lead at 21-7 when quarterback Ben Myers, who threw for 145 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, hit receiver Meshach Harris, who leaped to pull in a seven-yard scoring aerial with 6:57 showing in the second quarter. Camden Wright booted the PAT kick.

Salem answered the score when Kana scored his third rushing touchdown of the game, capping a 61-yard drive with a two-yard scoring run over the right side. Sutter added the PAT kick and Salem took a 28-7 lead with 5:38 showing before the break.

But East Liverpool again answered the Potters' score when Myers hit receiver Tyler Kirby with a 17-yard scoring pass with 3:18 left in the quarter. Wright closed the first-half scoring with his PAT boot as the Potters pulled within 14 points (28-14) of the Quakers.

Salem held a 288-181 lead in total offense at halftime.  

East Liverpool took the second-half kickoff and pulled within 28-21 of the Quakers when Leeland Price leaped to pull in a four-yard scoring toss from Myers. Wright added the PAT and the visitors pulled within 28-21 with 8:06 showing on the third-quarter clock.

But Salem came right back when Exline hauled in the East Liverpool kick and raced 90 yards to score. Sutter added the PAT boot and Salem went back up by 14 points at 35-21 with 7:52 left in the third quarter.

"But we gave them a little bit of life but Bairon answered the bell with a kickoff return and got it the momentum right back," said Johnson. "Then got a turnover and then on our first or second snap go down and score again."

The Quakers then recovered an East Liverpool fumble at the Potters' 46 and capitalized two plays later when Zavier Kinsey scored from one yard out. Sutter added the PAT and Salem led 42-21 with 6:34 left in the third quarter.

"Our mistakes were big ones, we've just got to fix them," said Cusick. "Our kids kept battling but ultimately it wasn't enough, so back to the drawing board and get ready for a big one next week (with Beaver Local)."

Salem's Zavier Kinsey recovered an East Liverpool fumble moments later and again the Quakers capitalized on a 32-yard field goal by Sutter, giving Salem a 45-21 lead with 5:01 left in the third frame.

The Potters committed a third straight turnover when Salem's Braydon Van Dyne picked off a Myers pass and zipped 32 yards to the end zone. Sutter added the PAT and Salem took a 52-21 lead at the 3:51 mark of the third quarter, starting a running clock.


GAME NOTES

Salem kicks off Eastern Buckeye Conference action next Friday night when the Alliance Aviators visit Sebo Stadium.

East Liverpool is also involved in league play next Friday when the Potters host arch-rival Beaver Local in a Buckeye 8 contest.




SCORING

EL: 0-14- 7-0--21

S:  14-14-24-0--52

SCORING

S--Brandon Kana, 42 run (Ronin Sutter kick)

S--Bairon Exline, 89 run (Ronin Sutter kick)

S--Brandon Kana, 3 run, (Ronin Sutter kick)

E--Meshach Harris, 7 pass from Ben Myers Camden Wright kick)

Brandon Kana, 2 run (Ronin Sutter kick)

E--Tyler Kirby, 17 pass from Ben Myers (Camden Wright kick)

E--Leeland Price, 4 pass from Ben Myers (Camden Wright kick)

S--Bairon Exline, 90 kickoff return (Ronin Sutter kick)

S--Zavier Kinsey, 1 run (Ronin Sutter kick)

S--Ronin Sutter, 32 field goal

S -- Braydon Van Dyne, 32 interception return (Ronin Sutter kick)

TEAM STATS

East Liverpool

First downs: 18; Total yards: 340; Rushes-yards: 26-103; Passing: 237; Comp-Att-Int. 21-26-247-3-1; Punts 3-44; Fumbles-Lost 2-2; Penalties-Yards 7-65.

Salem

First downs: 20, Total yards 358, Rushes-yards 34-325, Passing 33 Comp-Att-Int. 4-6-33-0-0, Punts 2-35, Fumbles-Lost 0, Penalties-Yards 6-67.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING--East Liverpool, Ben Myers, 7-8, Xavier Lara 13-88, Meshach Harris 1-7; Salem, Brandon Kana 16-161, Adrian Gelonese 1-4, Bairon Exline, 6-139, Chase Golech 1-1.

PASSING--East Liverpool, Ben Myers, 21-26-247-3-0; Salem, Adrian Gelonese, 4-6-33-0-0.

RECEIVING--East Liverpool, Dre'Keim Abercrombie 9-93, Meshach Harris 5-51, Tyler Kirby, 3-68, Leeland Price, 1-4, Braylon Beagle, 1-12; Salem, Owen Davidson 1-17, Chase Golech, 1-8.

INTERCEPTIONS--Salem, Braydon Van Dyne.