Edison Local - October 5, 2018
Anyone who has been around the Upper Ohio Valley football scene at the high school level for very long knows that Edison Local is not the nicest place to play. For starters, there is not an easy way to get there; secondly, the field surface is deplorable and thirdly, they consistently field a hard-nosed team that never quits.
Such was the case in this one as the two teams squared off on a soggy playing surface bordered by muddy sidelines some of which featured puddles of algae infested standing water.
Regardless of the conditions, the East Liverpool Potters and their big fullback, Jalen Moman, came to play, and play they did, as Coach Josh Ludwig’s team continuously attacked the center of the Edison line for 298 yards on 40 carries..
For Moman, it would be a record night, scoring 30 points on 17 carries. Only two other players have scored 30 points on the ground for the Potters in a game – Henry Pack vs. Wellsville in 1945 and Willie Leavell vs. Salem in 2008.
Moman opened his assault on the Edison defense at 7:41 in the first quarter, scoring from the one. Following a five-yard TD sprint by Derek Carter with 6:28 remaining in the first half that put Potters up 14-0, the Wildcats got on the board with a spectacular 60-yard TD run by Kaleb Waggoner to make it 14-7 at 6:07.
Moman took over at this point, scoring from the ten on the fifth play of the second half to make it 21-7, but the Cats refused to roll over and play dead. Quarterback Anthony Sinicropi found Noah Woods from 13 yards out and Carter Montgomery booted the extra point to bring Coach Shane O’Brien and his team to within seven at 21-14.
With time running out in the third quarter, Moman put his team up 28-14, but again, the host team came back. After an altercation at mid-field sparked by a Timmy Neal interception for the Blue and White, Peyton Reed was forced to punt, setting Edison back to their own 29 with 10:07 left before the final whistle. Nine plays later, the Black and Silver were in the promised land on a six-yard run by Sinicropi. The conversion kick was blocked, making the score 28-20.
A pair of fourth quarter scoring runs of one and seven yards by Moman with 6:42 and 4:16 left to play put the icing on the cake for the Potters.
Dominik Vallera was six for six on extra points to make the final 42-20.
COACH’S CORNER:
“The field conditions were sloppy,” East Liverpool coach, Josh Ludwig said. “Defensively, there are some things we have to fix. Edison is a good team. They are much improved and played hard. I am most proud of our offensive line. They controlled the line of scrimmage.“With three games remaining on our schedule, we are at 4-3 and have a shot at the playoffs. We will wait and see where this puts us,” said a happy Ludwig, following the game.
DIGGER’S DUGOUT:
For some reason, Edison has reversed sides for home seating, placing their fans and players on the dryer side.A shuttle bus arrangement was provided because of limited parking because of the wet conditions.
Joann Stagani serves as the school’s AD, assisted by ELHS grad Todd Smith. Another Potter alum, Alfred Johnson, is a member of the football coaching staff.
The field is named for Wilbur Cartwright, long-time sports figure in Jefferson County throughout the 30s and 40s.
On his way to five rushing TDs Moman ended the night with 17 carries good for 177 yards. As a team, the Potters amassed 298 on the ground while quarterback Peyton Reed connected on an amazing ten of eleven passes for an additional 85 stripes making for a grand total of 383 yards.
Noah Wheaton’s interception, at 5:56 in the fourth quarter, was the icing on the cake and his fourth of the season. In the single-season pass interception category, Steve Mayo picked-off six in 1998 to join the ranks of Gene Bell Jr. Pat McNicol, Don Williams and Jeff Wright twice (1996 and 1997). Mike Potts with seven in 1989 is the leader.
Wright with 15 is the career leader by a wide margin.