West Branch win keeps hopes alive

The Warriors may get a Division III Region 11 playoff date.
BELOIT -- Sophomore quarterback Steve McNeely completed 5-of-9 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns as West Branch High kept its playoff hopes alive with a 19-7 Northeastern Buckeye Conference victory over Marlington Friday night.
Dustin Woolf had seven carries for 42 yards for the Warriors (5-5, 3-4). Patrick Stecker added a 54-yard touchdown reception, a 92-yard kickoff return for a TD and two interceptions. Eric Balputnis had two catches for 50 yards and a TD.
Jimmy Jones carried 12 times for 26 yards and a TD for Marlington (6-4, 3-4), which took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter.
Southeast 42,Crestwood 14
RAVENNA -- Joe Knopick completed 7 of 15 passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns as Southeast won the Portage Trail Conference title outright.
Knopick also had 16 carries for 30 yards and a touchdown for the Pirates (9-1, 7-0), who clinched a playoff berth with the victory. Frank Locher had two receptions for 47 yards and Micah Herndon had two receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown. Southeast entered the game No. 8 in the Division III Region 9 computer ratings.
Crestwood is 6-4, 5-2.
Erie (Pa.) Prep 27,Warren Harding 24
WARREN -- Harding (3-7) jumped out to an early 10-0 lead and was in front 24-7 after three quarters.
Erie Prep won the game when John Carr threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to Javon Rowan to cap a 20-point fourth quarter.
Harding rushed 44 times for 240 yards and hit on 7-for-8 passes for 93 yards.
Harding had more total yards, 333-295.
Mathews 26, Py. Valley 14
ANDOVER -- Nick Ocheltree scored two touchdowns, powering Mathews past Pymatuning Valley in an East Suburban Conference game.
Ocheltree scored on runs of 3 and 55 yards, and finished with 107 yards on 14 carries for the Mustangs (7-3, 6-1 ESC). Mathews can earn a share of the league crown if Youngstown Christian beats Ledgemont tonight.
Lucas Buckner and Chris Joseph scored on runs of 2 and 25 yards, respectively, for Mathews.
Beaver Local 31, Edison 6
CALCUTTA -- Jimmy Bowersock passed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season and Beaver Local moved closer to a playoff berth by beating Edison.
Bowersock scored on a 61-yard run in the first period to give him 1,092 yards on the season. He finished with 113 yards on nine carries for the Beavers (8-2), who must now wait till Sunday to learn if they made the playoffs.
Bobby Flint completed 6-of-9 passes for 76 yards and two touchdowns, and Rodney Kale had three catches for 57 yards, including a 31-yard scoring strike, for Beaver Local.