POTTERS TAKE BACK TURKEY BOWL FROM TIGERS

WELLSVILLE, OH- Just two miles of Ohio St. Rt. 7 separate Wellsville and East Liverpool’s communities, and while the bus ride for tonight’s game was a short one, the time in between football games between the two schools was large. 1964 was the last time these southern Columbiana County neighbors faced off on the gridiron. That year the top-rated show on television was The Munsters, I Want to Hold Your Hand was the No. 1 song on the charts, and the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the New York Yankees for a World Series title.   

In what used to be called the Turkey Bowl – because the two teams always faced off on Thanksgiving Day – the Potters came away with a 48-15 win at Nicholson Stadium on Senior Night for the Tigers. The Potters got things started off quickly in the first quarter with a 42-yard touchdown pass from Nick Woodyard to Timmy Neal. The Tigers responded with a six-minute drive of their own that saw quarterback Troy Carter take it in from the 1-yard line to tie things up. East Liverpool would score the next three touchdowns before Jason Tice hit pay dirt from two yards out to make the score 27-15 with 49 seconds to go in the first half. On the Potter’s next drive, Draven Crow forced a fumble giving the Tigers a first and goal inside the 10-yard line. Unfortunately, the Tigers couldn’t capitalize and went into the half with a 12-point deficit. 

The second half was all East Liverpool as the Potters scored three more touchdowns in the third quarter to cap off scoring for the night. The Potters all-time leading rusher Derek Carter had a night to remember as he gained 319 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries. Woodyard had 107 yards and a touchdown on the ground as well. For the Tigers, Jason Tice had 45 yards and a touchdown out of the backfield, and Troy Carter went 14/27 with 130 yards through the air. 

Both teams finish the year at 5-5 and out of playoff contention. 

*Story contributed by YSN’s Gary Althiser