EAST CANTON — Coming off a dramatic 7-6 home win over Malvern, the East Canton Hornets took an 8-2 record into head coach John “Spider” Miller’s first OHSAA playoff game since 2021.

East Canton seeks its first playoff win since 2018 against Lisbon, lost a a similar rival game to Columbiana last Friday, 52-35, to complete a 6-4 regular season.

Please look in throughout the evening for live updates, which will be capped by a game summary with analysis and comments from key people.

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East Canton outplaying Lisbon on both sides of the ball

Already up 7-0, East Canton forced a three-and-out and took over on the Lisbon 40 after a punt.

Head coach John “Spider” Miller is quick to point out the Hornets have a strong receiving corps, not just a one-man show in Aydan Stephens. QB Owen McCroskey proved the point with a sideline pass to senior James Stubblefield that turned into a 30-yard catch and run.

That set up a four-yard TD run up the gut by Dillon Anderson.

East Canton led 14-0 with just seven minutes gone in the game.

Lisbon opens with big play, but East Canton bounces right back

Lisbon opened the game with a wide-open, 40-yard completion to its star senior, Ashton Hinchcliffe, but after getting fooled by a well-game-planned play, East Canton’s defense forced the visitor to run out of downs.

The Hornets took over on their own 35, got a long run from Dillon Anderson, and scored on a 35-yard strike over the middle from Owen McCroskley to Aydan Stephens.

It’s 7-0 with 7:44 left in the first quarter.

Cool breeze flapping flags as East Canton, Lisbon QBs calibrate

The teams warmed up in a cool stiff breeze that effected warmup passes.

The arms of East Canton’s senior quarterback, Owen McCroskey, and Lisbon’s standout junior QB, Grant Minor.

Bill Meek Jr. is in just his second year as Lisbon’s head coach, but he has decades of experience as an assistant. His 85-year-old father, Bill Meek Sr., likewise spent his adult life coaching and was in the house Friday as a Lisbon assistant.

East Canton Hornets football scores, schedule Fri., Aug. 22, Chippewa | WIN 38-0 | RecapFri., Aug. 29, Wellsville | WIN 49-0 |RecapFri., Sept. 5, at Sandy Valley | WIN 47-27 | Recap | StoryFri., Sept. 12, at St. Thomas Aquinas | WIN 37-0 | RecapFri., Sept. 19, at Ridgewood | Loss 35-0 | RecapFri., Sept. 26, at Newcomerstown | Loss 40-12 | RecapFri., Oct. 3, Strasburg | WON 14-3 | RecapFri., Oct. 10, Tusc. Central Catholic | WIN 42-0 | RecapFri., Oct. 17, at Buckeye Trail | WIN 35-6 | RecapFri., Oct. 24, Malvern | WIN 7-6 | StoryDIVISION VII PLAYOFFSFri., Oct. 31, Lisbon David AndersonNo. 9 Norwalk St. Paul (5-5) at No. 8 Warren JFK (5-5)No. 1 McDonald (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9No. 10 Lisbon Anderson (6-4) at No. 7 East Canton (8-2)No. 2 Fairport Harding (10-0), hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10No. 11 Berlin Center Western Reserve (4-6) at No. 6 East Palestine (7-3)No. 3 Mogadore (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11No. 12 Ashtabula St. John (5-5) at No. 5 Malvern (6-4)No. 4 Monroeville (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12

Reach Steve at steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com

The Canton Repository sports department can be contacted via email at sports@cantonrep.com.