TRI-COUNTY LEAGUE East Palestine wins title, eyes playoffs

Leetonia kept its playoff hopes alive and eliminated Lisbon's in a 49-19 win.
EAST PALESTINE -- The East Palestine High football team rushed out to a 22-0 lead in the first quarter en route to a 50-19 victory over Southern Friday in Tri-County League action.
The Bulldogs (8-1) clinched the TCL crown with a 6-0 record. They are this week's number six team in Division IV, Region13 of the playoff computer ratings.
J.D. Powers led East Palestine with 180 yards rushing on 13 carries, scoring on runs of 63 and 21 yards. Bulldogs quarterback Smitty Kendrew connected on 6-of-12 passes for 147 yards and three TDs, two of them to Patt Brennen covering 55 and 38 yards.
East Palestine defender Chris Clark intercepted two Southern (2-7, 2-4) passes returning them for 20 yards.
Nate Jones rushed for 155 yards on 30 carries, including a 3-yard TD run, for the Indians.
Leetonia 49, Lisbon 19
LEETONIA -- The Bears, ranked eighth in Division VI, Region 21 of the computer rankings, all but eliminated the Blue Devils' playoff hopes.
Lisbon (6-3, 4-2) is number eight in Div. V, Region 17 computer ratings.
Leetonia (6-3, 4-2) were sparked by Joe Jenkins, who rushed for 152 yards on 15 carries, which included TD runs of 80 and 3 yards.
Bears quarterback Matt Custer scored on a 20-yard run and he hit on 6-of-12 passes for 72 yards including TD strikes of 11 and 12 yards to Freddie Gray, who also tallied on a 56-yard run.
Josh Grafton led the Blue Devils with 80 yards rushing on 17 carries, including a 21-yard TD run.
Lisbon's Kevin West returned a punt 87 yards for a TD and Caleb Crowl returned a fumble 48 yards for a score.
Columbiana 14, United 7
HANOVERTON -- Adam Fast ran 14 times for 89 yards and added a 15-yard touchdown sprint for the Clippers (7-2, 4-2). With the game knotted at 7 at the break, Fast threw a 10-yard scoring pass to Dean Stokes to round out the scoring.
For United (6-3, 3-3), Mitch Phillis hit on 10 of 23 passes for 128 yards including a 35-yard scoring aerial to Corey Manfull in the first quarter.
Manfull caught six passes for 113 yards.
Crestview 28, Sebring 6
COLUMBIANA -- The Rebels climbed out of the cellar in the TCL with their victory over winless Sebring.
The Rebels (1-8, 1-5) rushed for 275 yards, led by Dave Myers with 102 yards and a touchdown. Eric Gustafson, Keith Baker and Dave Parker also rushed for touchdowns.
Sebring (0-8, 0-6) had the lead when it scored first when Josh Brooks picked up a fumble and ran 30 yards for a score. Sebring finished with just 81 total yards, 77 of them rushing.