FINDING ROOM — Weir High’s Malachi Stromile finds room to run against East Liverpool Friday night at Jimmy Carey Stadium. -- Jimmy Joe Savage

WEIRTON — After being deadlocked at halftime and trailing in the third quarter, East Liverpool came back and pulled away from Weir High in the second half for a 41-28 win at Jimmy Carey Stadium.

The win moves the Potters to 3-5, while the Red Riders fell to 1-7.

A stout Potters ground attack led the way as East Liverpool rushed for 553 yards and six scores.

East Liverpool’s Devin Toothman ran for 324 yards and three scores on 27 carries, while Cam Irvine ran the ball 19 times for 194 yards and three more six-pointers.

For the Red Riders, Malachi Stromile went 5 of 11 passing for 169 yards and two scores, Carson Yobaggy hauling in four passes for 170 yards and the six-pointers.

Stromile ran for 15 yards and another score, factoring into all four Rider scores, and Corey Lyons added 87 yards on 18 carries.

Irvine and Toothman scored the game’s first two touchdowns for a 14-0 East Liverpool lead, Irvine crossing the plain from 1-yard out and Toothman breaking a 57-yarder.

Stromile ran for an 8-yard score in the first, then through for a 28-yard score to Yobaggy to knot the game at 14-14 in the second.

Toothman put the Potters back on top with a 50-yard run, then Stromile and Yobaggy connected for a 66-yard touchdown pass and run to knot the game at 21-21 at halftime.

Stromile put the Riders on top with a 20-yard strike to Yobaggy, but that would be the last Weir lead as East Liverpool would come charging back.

Toothman knotted the game back up with a 9-yard run in the third quarter, then Irvine scored on runs of 45 and 4 yards in the fourth quarter to give the potters the 41-28 win.

The Red Riders will look to bounce back against rival Brooke next week at home.