STRONG FINISH; BEAVERS SPEED PAST LEOPARDS

EAST LIVERPOOL, OH- Led by seniors Ethan Lewis, Jacob Kane, & Daniel With, the Beaver Local Beavers were victorious on Senior Night on Friday with a 44-22 win over Liberty.

After both teams were stopped on fourth down on their opening possessions, the Beavers were faced with third & 8 on their own 34. Senior QB Ethan Lewis threw a short screen pass to Senior running back Jacob Kane & Kane zig-zagged through the Liberty defense 66 yards for a touchdown. A good 2 point conversion made the score 8-0 Beavers for the only score in the first quarter.

The Beavers erupted for 28 points in the second quarter. In the first minute of the second quarter Senior running back Daniel Wirth rumbled up the middle 34 yards for a touchdown to make the score 15-0. Then the Beavers attempted an onside kick which was successful as kicked Chase Flati recovered his own kick at the 50-yard line. Less than a minute later Jacob Kane scored again, this time on a 21-yard touchdown run to make the score 22-0. Then with Liberty driving near midfield with just under 3 minutes left in the first half, Beavers defensive lineman Payne Allen recovered a fumble & the Beavers went to work again. Lewis found tight end Nate Sprouse for a 9-yard touchdown catch with 45 seconds left in the first half to make the score 29-0. Then on the ensuing kickoff, the Beavers kicked it short & Joe Monte recovered on the Liberty 30. The Beavers once again took advantage of a great special teams play as they drove quickly to score again. Lewis threw his third touchdown pass as he found Logan Krulik from 5 yards out to make the score 36-0 with 18 seconds left in the first half. But Liberty did not give up. On the last play of the first half, Liberty QB Daveyon Williamson scored on a 78 yard run on the final play of the first half & scored on a 2 point conversion to make the score 36-8 Beavers at halftime.

During the third quarter, the Liberty Leopards continued to battle back. On the first possession for the Leopards in the third quarter, Liberty put together a nice drive that ended with a 28-yard touchdown run by Jaime Melton. A failed 2 point conversion made the score 36-14. On the Beavers next possession Kane fumbled & Carter Coman recovered on his own 49. On the very next play, Williamson threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Jahmel Wallace. A good 2 point conversion made the score 36-22 with 4:22 left in the third quarter.

With the home fans feeling uneasy, the Beavers finally gave their crowd something to cheer about as Kane capped a long drive with a 7 yard TD run, his second rushing TD & third of the game. A 2 point conversion was good as kicker Chase Flati threw the 2 point pass to holder Ethan Lewis for the final points of the game.

Also of note, the Beavers on a number of occasions looked towards the sidelines before a play in an effort to draw the Leopards offsides. It worked 5 times during the game.

Liberty finished the season 3-7. QB Daveyon Williamson was 4-11 for 60 yards & a touchdown while running for 165 yards on 9 carries. Jaime Melton had 69 yards on 14 carries while Chris Carpenter had 60 yards on 10 carries. Jahmel Wallace had a 51-yard touchdown reception.

The Beavers finish the 2019 campaign with a 5-5 record. Ethan Lewis saved his best for last as he went 14-21 for 221 yards & 3 touchdowns. Jacob Kane had 69 yards rushing on 18 carries & 2 touchdowns & added 4 catches for 118 yards with a receiving touchdown. Daniel Wirth ran for 106 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown & also kicked an extra point after the Beavers last touchdown of the first half. Logan Krulik & Nate Sprouse each had a touchdown reception.

Don’t worry Beavers fans the 2020 season kicked off in 301 days on August 28, 2020 as the Beavers start next season at LaBrae.

*Story contributed by YSN’s Jason Hannum