Oak Glen - September 21, 2018

There is an aged expression that "The faintest note is mightier than the most powerful memory". If this is true, then the ELHS  Homecoming game for 2107 left an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of Potter faithful with a 52-14 victory on this beautiful night for football at Patterson Field.

Led by a dynamic trio of backs, all underclass men, the Josh Ludwig coached team launched a 384-yard avalanche on the Golden Bears, despite a William Straight TD at 6:17 in the initial quarter. After Collin Willams' conversion it appeared to be all downhill for the visiting Bears.

Following the ensuing kickoff, Lane Kopras ripped off an 11-yard run to mid-field from where Jalen Momen took it 48 stripes, then two yards and then one yard to pay dirt. He scored the two-point conversion, and the Blue and White never looked back.

The next EL drive took a few plays longer, following a six-down Oak Glen effort, but with the same  result, a 16-yard TD pass from Payton Reed to Noah Wheaton with 6:36 on the clock and  another Momen two-point plunge to make it 16-7. 

All three EL backs played a big part in the drive, Momen, Kopras and Derek Carter, but the Bears of Coach Ted Arneault, Jr. and his team wouldn't go away as they came back with a six-play, 65-yard drive that would see Nick Chaney find Sach Taylor from 22 yards out, and when Williams booted the extra point, it was 14-16.

Not to panic; Levi Turner took the kickoff back to the five, and following a five-yard delay penalty and a Kopras run, Momen scored and Carter made it 24-14 with a two- point conversion.
As the game moved into the third quarter, following homecoming ceremonies, Carter sprinted 65 yards on the first play, and the rout was on 30-14. The conversion failed, however, Momen came right at 8:11 followed by a Kopras two-pointer and it was 38-14.

Carter and Cory Weyand, with runs of 23 and 35 yards runs respectively, capped off the scoring on a moving clock with a pair of Dominik Vallera conversions.

COACH’S CORNER:

"We did a good job of executing our game plan with our entire multiple threats in the backfield," Coach Josh Ludwig said after the game.
"All of our running backs did exceptionally well, especially Moman, Carter and Korpas, not to forget the rest of the cast," Ludwig emphasized. "And  how about that catch by Wheaton?"

DIGGER'S DUGOUT:

The Homecoming Court for 2017 consisted of Tessa Love, Paige Olson, Emily Brerton, Allyson Betteridge, Hannah Newlin, Hannah George and Chelsea Reynolds. The queen chosen randomly was Hannah Newlin. 

Game officials were Daniel LaRue and Brandon Reese of Wintersville, Jim Kuczynski of Bloomingdale, Michael Newton of Wellsburg and Calvin Platt-Wicker of Steubenville.