TOUGH RUNNING — Weir QB Lucas McCallister attempts to break a tackle with East Liverpool’s Xaviar Lara and Michael Harty trying to bring him down. - Jimmy Joe Savage

WEIRTON — East Liverpool fought through a sluggish offensive start early to amass more than 500 yards of total offense in a 45-7 route of Weir on Friday on the Red Riders’ home turf.

The two teams played to a 0-0 tie after the first quarter after the Potters (5-4) squandered a perfect scoring opportunity on their opening drive, turning it over on downs at the Weir 21.

Liverpool’s second drive? A three-and-out, far from the start the visitors were looking for as part of an effort to bolster their Division IV postseason hopes.

The Potters nearly squandered another red zone opportunity to start the second. Facing a 2nd-and-goal from the 9-yard-line, the Potters were whistled for a false start, backing the ball up to the 14. Jaymin Haney picked up three yards, setting up a 3rd-and-goal from the 11.

Quarterback Gavin Wright escaped pressure and rolled right, firing to a sliding Blake Adkins near the right corner of the end zone for six.

That started a string of seven straight scoring possessions for the Potters, mixing the run and passing game with equal success.

Wright too overcame a sluggish start, at one point misfiring on four straight passes, but he completed his final 12 in throwing for 234 yards and three scores.

Two of those touchdowns came to 6-foot-4 tight end D’Shawn Kirby.

On both plays, Wright appeared to hand the ball to Haney before pulling out and hitting Kirby on a seemingly innocent short go route.

The problem for Weir is both times Kirby was wide open and he was able to streak down the field for 24 and 32 yards, respectively.

The Potters second touchdown of the first half came on a Wright QB run to the right side in the second quarter.

Their next score came on a toss to Haney, who took the ball heading to the far sideline, picked his spot and turned on the Jets, going untouched down the visitor’s sideline.

The Red Riders (1-6) trailed by only 13 at the half, but given their offensive struggles, even that narrow of a lead seemed safe.

Weir couldn’t get its rushing attack going, and the passing game didn’t fair better. The Potters sizable defensive front was stuffing the line of scrimmage and getting pressure on obvious passing downs, forcing Weir quarterback Lucas McAllister to throw on the run, or throw the ball before routes were able to properly develop because of pressure.

Weir managed only 36 yards through the air on 8-of-21 passing. The run game wasn’t much more productive, accounting for 56 yards.

Fifty-three of that total belonged to McAllister, who scored Weir’s lone touchdown on a 1-yard blast in the third quarter that was set up a nice return from Daniel Howland that gave Weir excellent field position at the Potters’ 45-yard line.

A 20-yard plus McAllister designed run put the ball inside the five after the return, and two plays later, Weir finally got on the board.

That was Weir’s only sustained drive as they finished with just seven first downs to Liverpool’s 19.

The visitors started subbing liberally following Kirby’s second score.

Xavier Lara and Ben Reuter followed with scoring runs of 23 and 56 yards, respectively, as East Liverpool rumbled for 288 yards collectively.

The Potters entered the Region 15 postseason race Friday at No. 10. This win, followed by a winnable game next week against winless Oak Glen might be enough to propel East liverpool into the Top 8, giving the team a first-round home game in Week 11.

Weir, meanwhile, hosts Albert Gallatian on Friday.

East Liverpool 45, Weir 7

East Liverpool 0 13 12 20 – 45

Weir 0 0 7 0 – 7

E – Adkins 11 pass from Wright (Miller kick)

E – Wright 2 run (kick fails)

E – Haney 43 run (pass fails)

E – Kirby 24 pass from Wright (kick fails)

W – McAllister 1 run (Howard kick)

E – Kirby 32 pass from Wright (Miller kick)

E – Lara 23 run (Miller kick)

E – Reuter 56 run (kick blocked)

Rushing: East Liverpool 29-288-4td (Haney 14-102-td, Wright 4-40-td, Lara 5-54-td, Reuter 1-56-td, Adkins 1-20, Myers 1-19, Carnes 2-2, Team 1-(-5)); Weir 15-56-td (Scott 2-13, McAllister 11-53-td, Masters 1-(-2), Team 1-(-8)).

Passing: East Liverpool 12-16-234-3td-0x (all by Wright); Weir 8-21-36-0td-0x (all by McAllister).

Receiving: East Liverpool 12-234-3td (Adkins 5-83-td, Kirby 3-63-2td; Conrad 3-60, Jones 1-26); Weir 8-36 (Howland 3-16, Scott 1-8, Davidson 1-7, Bonner 2-4).

First Downs: East Liverpool 19; Weir 7

Penalties: East Liverpool 10-75; Weir 5-40

Fumbles: East Liverpool 1-0; Weir 0-0