EAST LIVERPOOL — With a crucial game looming on the horizon, the East Liverpool Potters took great lengths not to let their attention stray from winless Buckeye Local this week.

“I learned a lot from Larry Kehres when I played at Mount Union, and he taught me how crank up practices to keep guys’ focus sharp,” East Liverpool coach Josh Ludwig said. “So, we went extra hard this week. We focused all week on making ourselves better and eliminating a lot of the mistakes we made against Edison last week. We have the ultimate goal to continue to win and possibly play in Week 11.”

The focus was right where it needed to be Friday, as the Potters scored touchdowns on seven of their eight first-half possessions to rout the Panthers, 48-16, on a chilly homecoming night at Patterson Field.

The Potters improve to 5-3 overall and set up a showdown at home against Weir High next week that could go a long way to determining their playoff fate.

“We just wanted to make sure we stayed sharp this week,” East Liverpool lineman Kaz Zubay said. “We had a great week of practice with a lot of live reps, and I thought we took care of business tonight.”

The Panthers fall to 0-7 overall and have now lost 40 straight games. Their last victory came against the Potters on Oct. 17, 2014, a 22-12 win at East Liverpool.

Second-year coach Roger Herbert praised his team for retaining a positive attitude despite the adversity.

“The streak is one thing we don’t talk about,” Herbert said. “The media does, but we don’t. Our kids come ready to work hard every day. You would never know if we were 7-0 or 0-7, and that’s a testament to them. It makes it easier for us as a coaching staff that they’ve been so willing to learn and to come out and play. I have a lot of pride in these guys and in our program.”

The Potters overwhelmed the Panthers from the early going. Derek Carter needed just six carries to finish with 127 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He got the Potters on the board on their second drive when he scored from 26 yards out after it looked like he was hemmed in several times.

Carter struck again two drives later when he exploded through the Buckeye defense untouched for a 71-yard touchdown.

Cory Weyand complimented Carter with 127 rushing yards and two touchdowns on nine carries, including a 49-yard touchdown scamper late in the second quarter.

Quarterback Peyton Reed did his part, going 6 for 8 for 97 yards, two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. He hit receiver Timmy Neal in stride for a 43-yard score late in the first quarter and found Neal again for a 16-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter.

The Potters held a 299-8 edge in rushing yards and out-gained the Panthers 415-169 overall.

“We have a lot of guys that were very dedicated in the offseason and put in the work after everyone else left,” Zubay said. “That’s led to us playing like this on Friday nights.”

Quarterback Seth Richardson led the Panthers, going 15 for 20 for 169 yards and two touchdowns. He found receiver Shayne Christian for a 57-yard score shortly before halftime.

“I thought we saw a little bit of movement in the offensive side. Seth threw the ball well in spurts,” Herbert said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t play very well defensively. Hats off to East Liverpool, they’re a fine football team with big physical kids. They’re probably going to the playoffs.”

The Potters can now turn their attention to one of the biggest games of the season.

“It’s going to be insane,” Zubay said. “It’s a big game, and everyone is going to be excited.”

“We’ll start breaking Weir down immediately,” Ludwig said. “We’re going to try to come out and make our fans proud at Patterson Field next Friday night.”

GAME NOTES

Ø The Panthers are the eighth team in Ohio history to drop at least 40 games in a row. They have lost 48 of their last 50 games overall.

BUCKEYE 0 8 8 0 — 16

EAST LIVERPOOL 13 28 7 0 — 48

EL –Derek Carter 26 run (kick failed)

EL –Timmy Neal 43 pass from Peyton Reed (Dominik Vallera kick)

EL–Derek Carter 71 run (Vallera kick)

EL–Timmy Neal 16 pass from Peyton Reed (Vallera kick)

EL–Cory Weyand 49 run (Vallera kick)

BL–Shayne Christian 57 pass from Seth Richardson (Jack Reese pass from Richardson)

EL–Peyton Reed 7 run (Vallera kick)

EL–Cory Weyand 1 run (Vallera kick)

BL–Gino Barber 21 pass from Seth Richardson (Charles Smith run)

BL EL

First downs 8 9

Total Yards 169 415

Rushes-yards 28-8 28-299

Passing 161 116

Comp-Att-Int 15-20-1 7-10-0

Punts 7-28 1-27

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties-Yards 5-40 6-80

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING–Buckeye, Charles Smith 5-10, Jack Reese 5-7; East Liverpool, Derek Carter, 6-127, Cory Weyand, 9-124.

PASSING–Buckeye, Seth Richardson 15-20-169-1; Peyton Reed, 6-8-97-0, Nate Davis 1-2-19-0.

RECEIVING–Buckeye, Shayne Christian 5-87, Gino Barber 3-60; East Liverpool, Timmy Neal 3-67, Noah Wheaton 2-25, Landon Bailey 1-19.

INTERCEPTIONS–East Liverpool, Antoine Moman.