EP BUSTS THROUGH FOR REFLECTIVE WIN
EAST PALESTINE, OH- You’ve been able to see the progression all season, and on Friday the East Palestine Bulldogs were able to reflect on more than just their new chrome helmets, as East Palestine secured their first win of the season by defeating Wellsville with a score of 40-22.
The victory marked a significant milestone for East Palestine, who now stands at 1-6 for the season with a conference record of 1-3 in the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference. On the other side, Wellsville fell to a matching 1-6 record for the season, with a similar 1-3 conference record.
The game kicked off with East Palestine taking the lead as Owen Jurjavcic powered through with a 3-yard touchdown run, putting them ahead 7-0 with 2:53 remaining in the first quarter.
Wellsville responded with a touchdown of their own, as Clayten Kersey executed a 1-yard touchdown keeper with 10 minutes left in the second quarter, narrowing the score to 7-6.
Richie Dowling then added to the excitement, breaking free for a 24-yard touchdown run with 2:42 left in the second quarter, giving Wellsville a 14-7 lead.
However, East Palestine wasn’t ready to concede. Jesse Lipp’s 2-yard touchdown run with just 28 seconds left in the half leveled the game at 14, setting the stage for a competitive second half.
East Palestine surged ahead in the third quarter when R.J. May caught an 18-yard pass from Jurjavcic, pushing them into a 20-14 lead with 6:55 left on the clock.
Unfortunately, the game took a somber turn when Wellsville’s Clayten Kersey suffered an injury during a sideline run and collision, leading to a temporary pause in the game. Kersey was stretchered off the field, and our thoughts go out to him for a full and speedy recovery.
Despite the setback, East Palestine continued to extend their lead. Jurjavcic added another touchdown to his tally with a 9-yard rushing touchdown at 1:25 left in the third quarter, increasing their advantage to 27-14.
As the game entered the final quarter, East Palestine’s Noah McKay powered through the middle with a 16-yard touchdown run, widening the gap to 33-14 with 10:36 left in the contest.
Jesse Lipp sealed the victory for East Palestine with a 4-yard scamper into the end zone at the 6:21 mark, bringing the score to 40-14.
Wellsville fought valiantly to the end, with Richie Dowling contributing one last touchdown for his team, an 18-yard run with 2:37 left, closing the score gap to 40-22.
With this hard-fought win under their belt, East Palestine looks ahead to their next challenge, as they prepare to host Columbiana next Friday. Meanwhile, Wellsville will be gearing up to face United in their upcoming matchup.
