West Branch defeats Alliance 49-41 in shootout
BELOIT — West Branch and Alliance put on an aerial show fans won’t soon forget here Friday night as the two teams combined to pass for over 800 yards in their Eastern Buckeye Conference football showdown at Clinton Heacock Stadium.
When the smoke cleared and the last pass fell into a receiver’s arms, West Branch emerged with a 49-41 win over the Aviators.
The Warriors are now 7-1 overall and are tied for first in the EBC with Carrollton, which is also 3-0 after defeating Salem 21-7 Friday evening.
Carrollton will play at West Branch next Friday night, with the EBC title awaiting the winner.
Beau Alazaus led the way for West Branch
West Branch quarterback Beau Alazaus threw for 416 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Warriors against Alliance. He tossed two scoring aerials to Gavin Gregory and one to Jeremiah Thomas and Anthony Perry.
“He (Alazaus) was the leader tonight on both sides of the ball with being vocal and I’m just really happy and excited for that kid because he works his bottom off,” said West Branch head football coach Tim Cooper.
“This one and Girard (whom the Warriors defeated in another shootout early in the season) were pretty fun,” said Alazaus.
Brendan Zurbrugg had a strong game for Alliance
Meanwhile, Alliance quarterback Brendan Zurbrugg, a commit to the University of Oklahoma, threw 406 yards and two touchdowns and scored two on the ground for the Aviators (now 4-4 overall and 1-2 in the EBC).
West Branch held quarter leads of 14-0, 21-13 and 42-28 and held off an Alliance rally late to secure the eight-point triumph.
Running back Boston Mulinix added 106 yards on the ground for the Warriors and scored on runs of three and 15 yards for the winners.
West Branch ready to face Carrollton
West Branch turns its attention to Carrollton (5-3 overall and 3-0 in the EBC, which has won four straight games and visits Beloit Friday night).
“I know they (the Carrollton Warriors) are going to try to control the ball against us and we’ve got to try to get three and outs and try to get the ball back and score with our offense,” said Alazaus of the big showdown next week.
“We’re going to enjoy this for 24 hours,” said Cooper of his team, which will then turn its complete attention to Carrollton.
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