Sports

Boston Mulinix, West Branch run past Salem, 49-0

By Mike Brown
West Branch players warm up prior to Friday night’s rivalry game at Salem.
West Branch players warm up prior to Friday night’s rivalry game at Salem. Mike Brown/Mahoning Matters

SALEM — West Branch running back Boston Mulinix rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Warriors to a 49-0 Eastern Buckeye Conference win over Salem at Sebo Stadium Friday night.

“Absolutely (it feels great to win the title),” said West Branch head football coach Tim Cooper. “Our kids work hard in the offseason and this is our expectation and we’ve got a great group of guys. I’m proud of them.”

What the win means for West Branch

West Branch leads the all-time series with the Quakers, 30-22.

With the triumph, West Branch won the outright EBC title. The Warriors are 9-1 overall and finished 5-0 in the EBC.

The Warriors also claimed the new Totem-Bell traveling trophy introduced in this year’s contest.

Salem finishes with a record of 1-9 and battled through the loss of many starters to injuries during the campaign.

How West Branch scored

Mulinix scored on touchdown runs of 36, 30 and 19 yards in the game as West Branch raced out to a 28-0 lead after one quarter, increased the advantage to 35-0 at halftime and played with a running clock throughout the second half.

“That’s one of our goals every year is to win the EBC,” said Mulinix, who is closing in on 1,000 yards rushing for the season.

The Warriors also scored touchdowns on a 92-yard pass from 6-6 quarterback Beau Alazaus to receiver Joey Jackson, a five-yard scoring run by Garin Harlan, a 25-yard interception return by Jackson and on a 40-yard punt return by Jeremiah Thomas.

West Branch racked up 417 yards of offense against the Quakers to Salem’s 142.

Alazaus threw for 191 yards and one touchdown in the contest.

Salem quarterback Cletis Monroy led the Quakers with 60 yards rushing and 62 yards passing.

West Branch will now await word from the OHSAA as to who will be its first-round playoff opponent when the official pairings are released Sunday. The Warriors are guaranteed to finish in the top four teams in Division IV Region 13. The Warriors will host a playoff game Friday at 7 p.m. in Clinton Heacock Stadium.

“We’re excited for the postseason,” closed Cooper.

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