PREP FOOTBALL East Liverpool dominates Rayen for 28-6 victory

The Tigers couldn't overcome their large first-half deficit.
By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
WELLSVILLE -- The Rayen School football team fell behind 28-0 in the first half against East Liverpool and dropped a 28-6 decision to the Potters Saturday night.
Turnovers and penalties by the Tigers in that first half helped East Liverpool (4-2) score four touchdowns to open up the 28-point lead.
Rayen (4-2), off to its best start since the 1997 season, tried to get back in the game in the second half but fell short.
"We came out flat," said Rayen coach Brian Shaner. "I don't know what it was. We had a good week of practice.
"I don't know what it was, but that wasn't our defense in the first half."
Setting the tempo
The Potters took it to the Tigers right from the start on a strong running game led by running backs Jason Randolph and Lou Ward and quarterback Joey Wines.
Randolph rushed for 139 yards on 27 carries and scored twice, while Ward and Wines ran hard and tallied one touchdown each.
"We're back in the playoff chase," declared East Liverpool coach Bob Thayer. "We were able to take it right at them in the first half.
"We've been getting better each week and our two losses have been to two good teams," Thayer said.
The Potters' losses came at the hands of Cardinal Mooney and Beaver Local.
Down by 28 points, Rayen began to assert itself offensively in the third quarter behind the running of quarterback Ryan Wallace.
The junior rushed for 143 yards and got the Tigers an early score in the third period with a 54-yard scoring run.
Rayen defense began to subdue the Potters in the second half and it looked like the Tigers might make a game of it down the stretch.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Rayen marched 14 plays to the Potter 7-yard line but fumbled away the football on fourth down, ending any chance at pulling out a victory.
The turnover was one of four the Tigers suffered in the game. Rayen also committed 11 penalties on the night.
"This was a wake-up call for us," Shaner said. "These guys know we have to keep working hard, fix the mistakes and get ready for Alliance next week."
Taking control
The Potters dominated the first half, scoring twice each in the first and second quarters.
On the first possession of the game, East Liverpool drove 59 yards in nine plays before Ward powered over from a yard out. Jimmy Wood kicked the first of his four extra points for a 7-0 lead.
Following a Rayen punt, the Potters scored again on a 40-yard run by Randolph that capped a four-play, 66-yard drive.
Randolph scored in the second quarter on a 15-yard run, and the Potters' final tally came on a 10-yard run by Wines after a seven-play, 49-yard drive.
East Liverpool ran up 203 of its 236 total yards in the first half while holding the Tigers to no first downs before halftime.