EAST LIVERPOOL, OH- The Beaver Local Beavers football team had its best performance of the season so far on Homecoming Friday Night as they defeated Edison 61-20. It was, however the Wildcats that scored first. On their opening possession, Edison drove all the way down to the Beaver Local 7 yard line thanks to accurate passing by freshman quarterback Gage Cline. The opening drive would end on a 24-yard field goal by Carter Montgomery giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Beaver Local’s Caleb White would return the ball from his own 13 to the Edison 48. The Beavers would drive 48 yards on 6 plays, all of it on the ground, capped off by a Devon Salsberry 2 yard touchdown run giving Beavers a 7-3 lead with 6:30 left in the first quarter. It’s a lead the Beavers would never relinquish. On Edison’s next possession Beavers defensive back Dylan Moore would intercept a Gage Cline pass & return it 55 yards for a touchdown, making the score 14-3 Beavers after one quarter.
In the second quarter, the Beavers would add 28 more points on both offense & defense. Beavers running back Jacob Kane would end a long touchdown drive with a 3-yard run to make the score 21-3 with 8:30 left in the first half. On the Wildcats next, offensive play Cline would throw his second interception that would be returned for a touchdown as Ethan Lewis would return his interception 65 yards for a score making it 28-3 Beavers with 8:11 left. On the Beavers, next possession the Beavers would take to the air after starting the game running the ball. Ethan Lewis would throw a 5-yard pass to Dorian Jackson for a touchdown, 35-3 Beaver Local. After recovering a squib kick on the Edison 35 yard line the Beavers would score another touchdown as Tanner Johnston would score from 4 yards out to take a 42-3 lead. The Wildcats would not give up, They would put together a long drive of their own at the end of the first half that would end in Carter Montgomery’s second field goal of the game from 35 yards away to make the score 42-6 Beavers at halftime.
Most of the second half was played on a running clock since Beaver Local lead by over 30 points most of the second half but the Wildcats continued to fight. On their first possession of the second half, the Wildcats would score as Gage Cline ran up the middle for a 2-yard touchdown to make the score 42-13. But on the Beaver next possession, Tanner Johnston would break his biggest run of the night as he ran 65 yards for a touchdown to make the score 49-13. Cline would lead Edison to their final score of the night as he threw a 45-yard touchdown to Izack McGlurg to make the score 49-20 after three-quarters of play.
Both teams would use their reserves all through the fourth quarter as the Beavers would score 2 more touchdowns. Blake Lucas score from 13 yards out & a short time later Joe Monte would break free from 53 yards away to end the scoring at 61-20.
The Edison Wildcats are now 0-5 & will travel to Oak Glen next Friday. Gage Cline was 14-30 for 201 yards with a touchdown pass & touchdown run with 2 interceptions. Vinnie Marcino had 7 carries for 38 yards. Izack McGlurg had 3 receptions for 79 yards & a touchdown while Logan Hanchin added 3 receptions for 40 yards.
For the Beavers, Ethan Lewis was 4-5 for 74 yards & a touchdown as well as returning an interception 65 yards for a touchdown while playing defense. Tanner Johnston added 8 carries for 121 yards with 2 touchdowns, Jacob Kane had 6 carries for 64 yards & a touchdown. & Joe Monte had 5 carries for 65 yards & a touchdown. Dorian Jackson had 3 receptions for 61 yards & a touchdown. Dylan Moore returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown.
Beaver Local improves their record to 3-2 & will travel to Bellaire next Saturday. Catch all the action with Michael McKenzie on
ysnlive.com/beaverlocal as the Beavers play the next 3 weeks at Bellaire, Buckeye Local & Indian Creek before returning home again Martins Ferry on October 25.
*Story contributed by YSN’s Jason Hannum
