By Thomas Burton
Correspondent
Berlin Center - What a classic ITCL football game! Both Western Reserve and Leetonia bounced back from losses in previous weeks to produce what could be the game of the year! The game showcased the leagues top two quarterbacks and they did not dissapoint.
Leetonia jumped out to a quick first quarter lead of 13-0 after a Paul Arditi fumble and a 60-yd touchdown return by Josh Selway. Western Reserve was able to tie the game in the second quarter but Leetonia bounced back to grab the lead 20-13 with minutes remaining in the second quarter. With a few seconds remaining in the half, Leetonia quarterback Josh Selway threw up a hail mary with no time remaining and after a WR defender tipped the ball Leetonia came down with the ball in the endzone for a 26-13 lead at half.
The second half was dominated by Western Reserve's WR Justin Lude. Lude had over 100 yards and scored three touchdowns for the Blue Devils. Lude was helped by great plays by Shane Ewing as he was on target through the air all night long. Although Lude may have been flashy, Leetonia's Josh Selway remained steady all night long. Selway tore up the Devils not only on the ground but through the air as well. He also made various defensive plays which changed the tone of the entire game.
Reserve jumped up to a 27-26 fourth quarter lead and seemed to have all the momentum but Josh Selway and company marched right down the field and scored with 2:30 remaining in the 4th to make it a 34-27 Leetonia lead. Reserve responded with a quick score of their own after a long pass from Ewing to reciever Clayton Hull. Ewing then ran it in himself from 35 yds out to make it a 34-34 ball game.
Although Ewing had done everything he could, Selway was not to be denied. Selway recieved the ball with only a 1:30 on the clock and after a 40 yd pass which got the Bears down to the 5 yd-line of Reserve, it came down to one play. With two seconds left on the clock Leetonia made the gutsy call to pass on a field goal attempt and a play from the one yard-line. Selway kept the ball and scored with 0:00 left on the clock.
Selway had a part in all six Leetonia touchdowns whether it was through the air, ground, or defensively. Ewing totaled 4 touchdowns (3 pass, 1 run) and Justin Lude also totaled 3 touchdowns.
McDonald - In what was a tremendous high school football game, the Blue Devils outlasted the Southern Indians in triple overtime 21-20. Indians stand-out kicker David Ramsey pushed the ball wide right following an Indians score in the third session to give the Devils a very hard fought victory.
The game was marred by injuries to both of the Devils top running backs Alex Sampson, and Nick Cupan. They're status was not known yet following the game. However, the injuries provided senior Devon Colburn the opportunity to lead the offensive firepower the Devils needed to pull out the win. Colburn would carry the ball 18 times for 75 yards, and a 13-yard touchdown run in the third overtime.
Both teams would fail to score in the first two extra sessions, including a blotched field goal attempt by Southern, and 35-yard attempt by Mike Thomas of the Devils hitting the left upright in the first overtime. The second would see the Indians turn the ball over on down at the half-yard line, while the Devils would fumble. That would set the stage for the dramatic third overtime period.
With Leetonia winning a big game against Western Reserve 40-34, and McDonald outlasting Southern 21-20, the Bears will now have the opportunity to play for first in the Lower Tier next week. The Devils now stand at 5-0 in the league, while the Bears rest at 4-1.
In a battle between first place teams in the Upper Tier, South Range jumped out to an early lead, and hung on to top the United Eagles 38-21. Crestview snapped a brief two-game losing streak to Mineral Ridge by downing the Rams 35-0. And Columbiana kept pace with the league leaders by beating Lisbon 57-6.
In other games from around the league, Wellsville knocked off the Lowellville Rockets 29-0, while East Palestine improved the record by beating backyard rival Springfield 27-14. In a game between two teams looking for their first league victory, Jackson-Milton prevailed with a hard fought 28-13 win over the Sebring Trojans.
Next week is set for another round of critical games in the ITCL when Columbiana visits South Range, and McDonald travels to Leetonia. With week #9 just around the corner, we will have a better image of who from the ITCL will be playing in week #11.