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Email: "Crestview-East Palestine: Part II"
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COLUMBIANA — With a rematch, there might be a tendency to over analyze the last game in the series, but East Palestine and Crestview kept their heads firmly in the present in preparing for tonight’s Division V playoff football game at Crestview High School. “You have to worry about the here and now and not a couple weeks ago,” Crestview coach Paul Cusick said. “You know this is win or go home,” East Palestine coach Jeff Sharkey said. “It’s a different mentality than the last few weeks when you knew you would play the next week regardless of what happened.” East Palestine, which arguably entered the 35-14 regular-season loss as a favorite, will be the underdog this time around. “This time they’re the clear favorite and we’re not,” Sharkey said. “This time we’re going to have to play better. They out-hit us, out-blocked us, out-tackled us, so we’re going to have to turn the tables.” With a two-game losing skid haunting them, it remains to be seen if the Bulldogs will be able to figure out how to right the ship in time for this one. Crestview is the outright Inter-Tri County League upper tier champion and definitely played like it in the season finale victory over Springfield. Carter Hill has been the key to the Rebel offense with his legs as he has racked up 1,064 yards on 160 carries. He also has scored 14 touchdowns. But what has the Rebels feeling good is Hill’s performance in the pocket. “We’re throwing the ball better now,” Cusick said. “In the middle of the season we were in a throwing slump — not running good routes, not throwing good balls, not making good reads. I think we got those things straightened out now” Hill has responded to the challenge by completing 73 of 140 passes for 1,193 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. On the other end of the field, East Palestine’s offense has centered around quarterback Shane Peterson. His feet are his main weapon as he is also a 1,000-yard rusher, but any number of receivers – most notably Austin Cope – can make him a credible passing threat, too.

 

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