By john ROZUM

sports@vindy.com

BERLIN CENTER

After a series of lightning sightings in the area, the Western Reserve-East Palestine game was called during halftime, which gave the Blue Devils the 28-6 victory over the Bulldogs.

Western Reserve is now 3-0, and East Palestine fell to 1-2, but Blue Devils head coach Andy Hake is remaining humble.

“I have great coaches who coach these guys very hard, and the kids accept it. We are a violent bunch, we talk about it, and the kids love it.”

And despite rushing for over 200 yards, the Blue Devils found their hands full after the first series, which East Palestine began when Western Reserve fumbled the opening kickoff.

“We were down 6-0 and out kids accepted it,” Hake said. “Our defense is tremendous, and they [East Palestine] had some great players. Jake Dicello is one of the fastest players we’ll see all year, and Derek Smith is a hard runner.”

However, right after the Bulldogs went up early in the game, it was all Western Reserve thereafter.

First, the Blue Devils answered right back to erase the 6-0 deficit on an 11-play, 66-yard drive that included five first downs, and took over five minutes.

“I thought we could wear on them, and by the middle of the second quarter we started to a little bit,” Hake said. “We really throw the ball good, but we were committed to running the early on.”

And the continuous pounding of the football did take its’ toll on the Bulldogs defense, because Western Reserve’s offensive line had the size advantage.

Speaking of his offensive line, Hake added, “The line did a great job of getting off the ball and moving their feet.”

Senior offensive linemen for the Blue Devils, Zach Adams, Aaron Halls, Charlie Klingensmith, and Sam Steininger have a frame of over 6-feet tall, and have an average weight of 287 pounds.

Include running backs Donnie Bolton and Tommy Marlowe, who combined for 201 yards on 26 carries, including three TDs, and it was difficult for the opposing defensive linemen and linebackers to match Western Reserve’s size, strength, and quickness in the trenches.

As for East Palestine, freshman quarterback Luke Cope had a strong showing, going 5-for-10 for 50 yards, including one TD.

He also connected on his first two passes which gave the Bulldogs the opening lead.

“Luke Cope played a tremendous game, “said Hake of the Bulldogs’ freshman. “And they’re a quality team, and they’re going to win some games. Hopefully we [Western Reserve] can just keep it rolling.”