Team

Western Reserve

Record	Div.	Conf.
8/3	Div. VII	Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference

Team

Lowellville

Record	Div.	Conf.
4/6	Div. VII	Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference

By BRANDON JUDEH

sports@vindy.com

BERLIN CENTER

The Western Reserve football offense continued to dominate as the Blue Devils rolled to a 46-6 victory over Lowellville in an Inter Tri-County League game on Friday night.

Blue Devils senior running back Donnie Bolton dominated the ground game by rushing 22 times for 228 yards and two touchdowns. Bolton capped off his night in the fourth quarter when he ran for a 26-yard gain. This run was extra special for him, as it made him the school’s all-time single season rushing leader only five games into the season.

“It feels good to break the record, but I owe it all to my offensive line,” said Bolton. “We are best friends, we do everything together and hang out every weekend and I know that they are out there blocking for me,” said Bolton.

Bolton now has nearly 1,100 yards rushing at the halfway point of the season.

Western Reserve’s defense proved that they are as dominate as their offense by holding the Rockets to just six points. The Rockets’ only score came on an 11-yard run by fullback Eric Inskeep.

Though the Blue Devils offense came out a little flat in the first quarter, coach Andy Hake said he talked to his team and made some adjustments and his kids responded well.

“We played sloppy in the beginning of the game then things started to pick up in the second quarter,” he said. “Then at halftime we got on them a little bit and told them we need to be consistent. Lowellville came out here and did a great job against us though.”

Western Reserve started things off at the end of the first quarter with a 20-yard touchdown pass from senior Jeff Clegg to Thomas Benyo. Clegg finished the game with 185 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Clegg’s second touchdown pass sealed the deal for the Blue Devils (5-0) when he connected with Tim Cooper for a 10-yard touchdown in the third quarter that gave them a commanding 33-6 lead and helped preserve their shot at an undefeated season and yet another trip to the playoffs.

“It feels good to be 5-0, but we still have a lot of work to do, but I think we will be in good shape the rest of the way, we are going to do OK,” said Hake.

Though there were many positive things happening on the field, things came to a halt in the third quarter. Rockets running back, Geno Moore was carted off the field after a neck injury; there was no immediate word on his condition.

Though the season is only five games deep, Bolton feels the Blue Devils are on the right path.

“This was a big win, we worked really hard this week and it’s a big accomplishment to start out 5-0,” he said.