Eastern's Zach Scowden carries the ball during Saturday's season finale against Southern as the Tornadoes' Zac Beegle attempts a tackle. (Sarah Hawley/photo)

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RACINE, Ohio — Three was the common theme on Saturday evening as the Eastern and Southern football teams faced off in Racine, Ohio.

For the Eagles, it was their third win of the season, and their third straight over Southern.

Also, the victory was by a three touchdown margin, 27-8.

It was also the final game for the three Southern seniors — Ryan Taylor, Dustin Custer and Devin Dillard.

After forcing Southern to punt on the opening drive of the game, the Eastern offense put together a 14 play, six and a half minute scoring drive to take the 7-0 lead. Senior lineman Tyler Cline — in the game at running back — ran the ball in from the two-yard line for the first offensive score of his career, with Max Carnahan adding the extra point kick.

Southern’s next drive ended in an interception by Eastern’s Zach Scowden at the Eastern 45 yard line. On the next play, Joey Scowden completed a pass to Carnahan in the endzone for the Eagles second touchdown of the game. Carnahan added the extra point to give Eastern the 14-0 lead.

Neither team moved the ball inside the opponents 20 yard line during the second quarter of play. Southern’s Paul Ramthun intercepted an Eastern pass near the endzone as time ran out in the second quarter. The Eagles led 14-0 at the half.

The Eagles opened the second half with a 12 play drive, but the drive stalled at the Southern 20 yard line and the Eagles were forced to punt. Southern’s next drive ended in a punt from their own 38 yard line.

Eastern began the next series at the Southern 30 yard line, with Cline scoring his second touchdown of the game on a one yard run. Carnahan added the extra point kick to give Eastern the 21-0 lead.

Following a short Southern possession, Eastern’s Joey Scowden ran the ball in from the 15 yard line on the first play of the drive. The extra point attempt failed, with the Eagles maintaining the 27-0 lead.

Southern’s best drive of the game began with 4:27 on the fourth quarter clock. Southern quarterback Tristen Wolfe completed a 10 yard touchdown pass to Ryan Taylor with 16 seconds remaining in the game. Ryan Billingsley added the two point conversion run.

The Eagles won by the 27-8 final score.

Ethan Nottingham led the Eagles with 103 yards rushing on 19 carries.

Tyler Barton led Southern with 47 rushing yards on 12 carries.

This was the final game for Eastern seniors Tyler Cline and Paul Morrison.

Saturday was also the second time in three years that the Eastern football team defeated Southern and the Eastern volleyball team won the district title on the same day.

Eastern 27, Southern 8

E14-0-13-0 — 27

S0-0-0-8 — 8

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

E — Tyler Cline 2 run (Max Carnahan kick), 3:06

E — Carnahan 27 pass from Joey Scowden (Carnahan kick), 1:11

Third Quarter

E — Cline 1 run (Carnahan kick), 2:15

E — Scowden 15 run (kick failed), :03

Fourth Quarter

S — Ryan Taylor 10 pass from Tristen Wolfe (Ryan Billingsley run), :16

TEAM STATISTICS

First Downs — E: 17, S: 5;

Rushes-yards — E: 47-215, S: 29-111;

Passing yards — E: 58, S: 10;

Total yards — E: 273, S: 121;

Cmp-Att-Int — E: 4-10-1, S: 1-11-1;

Fumbles-lost — E: 2-0, S: 2-0;

Penalties-yards — E: 4-30; S: 7-71.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing — E: Ethan Nottingham 19-103, Joey Scowden 10-50, Zach Scowden 5-35, Chase Cook 6-24, Josh Robinson 2-4, Tyler Cline 3-2, Tyler Morris 1-2, Matthew Durst 1-(-5); S: Tyler Barton 12-47, Trenton Deem 3-37, Paul Ramthun 3-29, Ryan Taylor 2-14, Hunter Johnson 6-0, Tristen Wolfe 3-(-16).

Passing — E: Joey Scowden 4-10-1 58; S: Tristen Wolfe 1-11-1 10.

Receiving — E: Max Carnahan 2-37, Zach Scowden 1-12, Chase Cook 1-9; S: Ryan Taylor 1-10.