LISBON – Coming into this season, East Palestine’s soccer team had won three games in three years.
The setbacks and setbacks the Bulldog seniors have experienced are starting to pay off.
Bulldog senior quarterback Owen Yuryavsik ran for 279 yards and five touchdowns and threw for 176 yards in a 42-27 win at Lisbon on Friday.
“Honestly, the beatings we suffered were horrible at the time, but looking back now, I’m really grateful because they helped me grow both physically and mentally.” Juryavucic said.
The win snapped a five-game losing streak against the Blue Devils and gave the Bulldogs (3-1, 1-0 Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference) their best start to a season since 2009, when they went 5-0.
At 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, Juryavucic was a tough presence for the undersized and undermanned Blue Devils to handle. As the Bulldogs’ leader, Juryavucic wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I’m not bragging, I just want the ball handed to me.” Juryavucic said.
“As he goes, so we go.” “We’re just trying to be strong,” East Palestine coach Michael Demster said.
Though it’s still early, the Bulldogs are ready to enter the competition as EOAC contenders.
“The goal is to win from here.” Juryavucic said.
The Bulldogs looked like they were going to struggle early in the game when Lisbon’s Aiden Myers recovered an onside kick to score early in the game, then Ashton Hinchcliffe scored on a 14-yard touchdown run to put the Devils ahead.
East Palestine answered back with Juryavucic’s first touchdown, but Lisbon had a chance to seal the game, but fumbled while entering the end zone on its second drive of the game, and East Palestine’s RJ May recovered the ball for a touchback.
“That was really big.” Demster said. “That changed the tide. Football is a game of momentum and that worked in our favor. We were able to keep the momentum going from there.”
By halftime, Juryavusic had 150 yards on 14 carries and three rushing touchdowns as the Bulldogs led 20-7. He also completed 8 of 10 passes for 113 yards by halftime.
Lisbon (1-2, 0-1 league) is still recovering from a respiratory illness that plagued its team and caused the Devils to miss Game 2. Coach Bill Meek said the illness is still present among some players and was recently transmitted to a second group. East Palestine’s size and strength also played a factor as the Devils kept up a tight game in the second half.
“(East Palestine) is a veteran team with big guys and they were playing what they do best and we just couldn’t handle it.” Meek said. “Offensively, we had some tough times trying to get our team on the field. (Demster) told us at the end, ‘You guys are warriors.’ Our kids fought until the end.”
Lisbon, trailing 34-13 at the half, pulled within 34-27 with 5:34 to go on touchdown passes from Grant Miner to Luke Kraft and Brady Lively.
A string of penalties and a very short punt from East Palestine created chances for Lisbon, but they simply didn’t have enough men to stop Juryavčić’s onslaught.
Meek estimated they had six backups on the final drive.
Hinchliffe carried the load for the Devils throughout the game, rushing 14 times for 94 yards and two touchdowns, but by the end of the game he too was feeling the pressure of this season’s East Palestine team.
“That’s the weight room.” Demster said. “We’ve spent the past three offseasons working on lifting and it’s really paid off this season.”
Jurjavcic sealed the victory with a 2-yard touchdown run with 1 minute, 14 seconds left in the game.
East Palestine will look to make a bigger impact in the league next Friday when they take on Valley Christian at Liberty High School.
Lisbon will look to get back on track next Friday when they travel to winless Colombiana.
Game Notes
It was like old times for the Blue Devils on the sideline. Steve “Tater” Chirimos, who was there for the school’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony, once again inspired the Devils just as he did as a player and later as an assistant coach with his father, Jim, the current offensive coordinator.
¯ Brian Clapsaddle, Lisbon’s videographer for 43 years, conducted the honorary coin toss.
EP: 6-14-14-8–42
LIS: 7-0-6-14–27
Scoring
L-Ashton Hinchliffe 14 runs (Ben Webber kick)
E – Owen Yuryavsik 8 runs (failed run)
E-Yurjavčić 2 runs (Yurjavčić run)
L-Hinchliffe 24 runs (failed runs)
E-Jurjavcic 41 run (failed run)
E-RJ May 24th Pass from Yuryavcic (May run)
L – Luke Kraft 28 pass from Grant Minor (run failed)
L – Brady Lively 14 passes from Minor (Hinchliffe run)
E-Yurjavčić 2 runs (Yurjavčić run)
——
Elle
First Down 24 15
Total yards 474 265
Rush yards 37-298 27-165
Passed 176 100
Comp-Attack-Intelligence 12-16-0 10-17-0
Punt 1-10 3-17
Fumble-Lost 1-1 1-1
Penalty Yards 9-50 1-2
——
Individual Leaders
Rushing – East Palestine, Owen Juryavsic 27-279; Lisbon, Ashton Hinchliffe 14-94, Grant Minor 9-70.
PASSES – Owen Djurjavcic, East Palestine 12-16-176-0; Grant Miner, Lisbon 10-17-100-0.
Receiving – Esat Palestine, RJ May 7-95, Lane Knight 1-22, Zach Schnell 1-14, Lisbon, Luke Craft 6-65, Ashton Hinchcliffe 3-25, Brady Lively 1-10.
Fumble Recovery – East Palestine, RJ May, Lisbon, Aiden Myers
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