East wins sixth straight, tops Beavers

The Panthers outscored Beaver Local 14-0 in the second half.

By CHUCK HOUSTEAU

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

LISBON — The East High Panthers are just starting to get “Battle-tested.”

The Panthers (6-1) rolled to their sixth win in a row behind an outstanding effort by quarterback Sal Battles to turn back Beaver Local, 27-13, on the road Friday night.

Battles threw a 63-yard touchdown pass in the first half to Jeff Purdie and then took over the game in the second half by scoring one touchdown and rushing for 87 of his game-high 88 yards.

If it wasn’t for five errant snaps from center that resulted in 41 negative yards, Battles would have rushed for 129 yards.

“Sal Battles took over,” said Beaver Local coach Rich Wright. “He’s a great football player. I don’t know how many yards he had but he led them on a great game-winning drive.”

With the teams deadlocked at 13-13 at halftime, the Panthers came out determined to show that their five previous wins were not a fluke.

“Not a lot of people thought we could come in here and win,” said East coach Brian Shaner. “But in a close game like this, I know I can turn it over to Battles.

“He might run harder than any back in the state. He is a premier player who does whatever he has to do win. He’s a pleasure to watch.”

The Beavers weren’t enjoying watching Battles or trying to tackle the 210-pound quarterback who will run past defenders or through them.

In the third quarter following an errant punt snap that allowed East to take over the football at their own 40-yard line, Battles went to work.

After a run for no gain, Battles rambled around left end for 35 yards down to the Beaver Local 25.

Battles then gained 8 more yards but a penalty pushed the Panthers back to the 22.

Battles then tallied the go-ahead touchdown on a 22-yard sprint.

An interception by Luis Chiarrez that was returned 20 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter put the game away.

“I wanted it,” Battles said. “I was tired but the line came through and made holes for me and I was able to make things happen.

“I tried with all my might to hit the holes and do whatever I could to make things happen.”

Battles made things happen with his arm early in the contest when he found Jeff Purdie racing down the sideline and hit the senior receiver in stride on a perfect 63-yard scoring play.

The Beavers recovered on their next possession and drove to a score when quarterback Ethane Russell tallied on a 1-yard run.

Beaver Local took the lead in the second quarter when Russell returned a punt 38 yards for a go-ahead score with just 1:30 left in the half.

But a 70-yard kick return by Purdie but the Panthers in scoring position at the Beaver Local 25 and East capitalized with a score by Gary Thornton with just 25.8 seconds remaining in the half.

“That was a big play,” Shaner said. “It gave us momentum heading into the second half.”