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EAST LIVERPOOL -- The Brooke football team has had a couple of tough weeks, dropping hard-fought battles with St. Clairsville and John Marshall by a combined three points
Brooke had been off to a 4-1 start, and now looks to bounce back and get back in the win column to stay above the .500 mark.
Doing so will not be an easy task as the Bruins head north to East Liverpool to take on a Potters team that is on the cusp of the playoffs in Ohio.
The opening kick at Patterson Field Friday night is set for 7 p.m.
The game has big implications for both sides.
For East Liverpool, who enters the game with a 7-2 mark, they need a win to ensure they make a playoff return.
The Potters enter the game at No. 8 in the Ohio Division IV, Region 15 standings, in position to host a first round game if they are able to stay there.
However, the Potters have not clinched a playoff spot and, according to Joe Eitel's projecgtions, can fall out of the playoffs altogether if they lose to the Bruins. A victory over Brooke, however, would clinch a playoff spot. They can finish as high as fifth in the region, according to Eitel.
For the Bruins, they have slipped to No. 13 in the Class AAA rankings this week and need to get back in the win column to stay in the top 16 and work their way back toward the top eight to potentially host a playoff game.
They have match ups with Elkins and Weir High after this week's showdown with the Potters.
East Liverpool is led by senior quarterback Ben Myers, who has thrown for 1,412 yards and 15 touchdowns while completing 58.2 percent of his passes. He's also rushed for another 505 yards and six scores as he nears a 2,000-yard season of total offense.
Xavier Lara, another senior, has already passed the 1,000-yard rushing mark with 1,040 and nine scores, averaging 7.1 yards per carry.
Dre'Keim Abercrombie, also a senior, has a team-high 33 catches for 485 yards and six TDs. Meshach Harris has 446 yards and four scores on 25 grabs.
Abercrombie is also a key piece of the defense for the Potters with 62 total tackles, a eye-popping 26 tackles for loss and 15 sacks. Leelan Price has a team-high 63 tackles and four TFLs.
The Bruins are led by sophomore QB Kamden Sperringer, who has 1,1169 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and six picks while completing 55.5 percent of his passes. He's also rushed for two more TDs.
His top targets are Grant Yost (21 catches, 245 yards, two touchdowns), Bryden Horstin (17 catches, 337 yards and three TDs) and Michael Gibson (15 catches, 182 yards, four TDs).
Cole Bolen leads the rushing attack with 397 yards, an average of 6.8 yards per carry and six touchdowns.
Yost (56 tackles, 12 TFL, two sacks) and Bolen (51 tackles, 12 TFL, one sack) lead the defense.