By JACOB RUFFO

sports@vindy.com

lOWELLVILLE

In a marathon of a game, the slimmest of margins decided a battle of winless teams.

In overtime, Leetonia edged Lowellville 33-32 for the Bears’ first win in a contest that took 3:13 to play.

Two fumbles and two interceptions in the fourth quarter cost the Rockets in their Homecoming Game. The Rockets had the lead for all but 40 seconds of the fourth quarter.

The Bears forced overtime by scoring a touchdown and two-point conversion for a 26-26 tie.

Neither team scored consecutive times until overtime, and a few big plays decided the outcome. The game ended after Lowellville failed to convert on a two-point conversion on their first possession in overtime. “I’m proud of my kids, I’m proud of the way they fought,” Lowellville head coach Doug Velasquez said.

In overtime, the Bears (1-4) scored first when Tanner Barr ran the ball in from the 2. Douglas Rhodes kicked the extra-point for a 33-26 lead.

The Rockets responded with Achali Minch’s 5-yard touchdown run. The Rockets then went for the win with a conversion run but Evan Stevens was stopped in the backfield.

The Bears led 9-6 at halftime.

“During halftime, we just told them this is their game,” Velasquez said. “This is going to define what kind of football team we have.

“They really went out there and fought.”

The Rockets took charge in the third quarter when big play after big play produced a lead.

The first play of the second half was a 62-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Jake Rotz to running back Achili Minch.

Minch caught the ball on a short slant route at around the 50 yard line. Dodging defenders, he carried the ball into the end zone.

Later, an interception by Matt Hvisdak, one of two, gave the Rockets the ball back in great field position. Stevens scored from the 3.

Leetonia blocked two extra-point field goal attempts. Lowellville committed 14 penalties for 170 yards.

“There was a lack of discipline, but you know we will learn from it.” Velasquez said. “There are some tough lessons to be learned here.”

Stevens had 19 carries for 94 yards and two touchdowns. He also had two catches for 9 yards.

“The second half felt good, it felt like their defense was spreading out more and it was easier to find the holes,” Stevens said.

Late in the fourth quarter, Jake Rotz was replaced by junior Dylan Sallaz.

“He was replaced for throwing his helmet down on the field after an interception,” Velasquez said. “This is the discipline we are going to need to learn from to become a good football team.”

Barr led the Bears with 130 yards on 16 carries. He scored a 7-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Thodes kicked a 35-yard field goal a second before halftime.

Bears quarterback Brock Simpson threw touchdown passes to Devin Champney (37 yards) and Derrick Grossen (15 yards). Barr scored the conversion points that forced overtime.

Stevens rushed for 94 yards on 19 carries for the Rockets.