LISBON, OH — You don’t play a rivalry 113 times without building up a little bad blood.
Thursday night, Lisbon made sure the latest helping of the Spaghetti Bowl was served in blue.
The Blue Devils used a nasty defensive effort, a big night from Grant Minor, and just enough offense to blank Leetonia 14-0 in the 113th meeting between the longtime rivals.
It was old-school football from the jump — field position, defense and making the other guy earn every inch.
After a scoreless opening quarter, Lisbon finally broke through early in the second.
Minor capped the drive by pounding it in from one yard out with 11:35 remaining, and Baylen Jackson split the uprights to give the Blue Devils a 7-0 advantage.
That was all the scoring either side could muster until the fourth.
Leetonia’s defense kept the Bears within striking distance, but Lisbon’s defense was throwing haymakers of its own. The Blue Devils held Leetonia off the scoreboard, consistently won the money downs and kept the Bears from finding any rhythm offensively.
Then Minor delivered the dagger.
With 7:50 left in the fourth, Minor dropped back and connected with Wyatt Newbold for a 22-yard touchdown, stretching the lead to two scores. Jackson knocked through his second PAT, and Lisbon had the Spaghetti Bowl locked down at 14-0.
Minor was the engine for the Blue Devils.
The Lisbon quarterback went 11-of-20 through the air for 98 yards and a touchdown while also carrying 13 times for 62 yards and a score.
Cooper Terdina gave Lisbon another weapon, rushing four times for 18 yards and leading the receiving corps with five catches for 37 yards. Nick Peruchetti caught two balls for 20 yards, while Newbold finished with two grabs for 20 yards and the fourth-quarter touchdown.
Zylar Mundy added a 12-yard reception and Brady Lively hauled in a nine-yard catch.
Lisbon finished with 183 yards of total offense, including 85 on the ground and 98 through the air. The Blue Devils moved the sticks 12 times and controlled the ball for 23:25.
But the headline belonged to the defense.
Lisbon brought the heat all night, piling up four sacks and eight tackles for loss while holding Leetonia out of the end zone.
Devin Kelly was everywhere, stacking up nine total tackles, 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. Newbold and Terdina each finished with eight tackles, with Terdina adding a sack and two tackles for loss.
Jett Vrable chipped in six tackles and forced a fumble, while Elijah Brown recorded five stops and broke up two passes. Aiden Davis and Lively also got home in the pass rush as Lisbon made life miserable in the backfield.
Leetonia quarterback Dylan Johns battled through the pressure, completing 13-of-24 passes for 65 yards while also leading the Bears on the ground with 42 yards on 14 carries.
Brayden Gainey was Johns’ top target with six catches for 27 yards. Jason King added four receptions for 15 yards, Dylan Brown grabbed two for 12, and Grayden Henderson added a seven-yard reception.
On defense, DJ Bosak paced Leetonia with 5.5 tackles. Johns added four stops, King had 3.5, and Gainey and Brown each finished with three.
The Bears had chances to flip the script but couldn’t find the finish. Leetonia went just 2-of-14 on third down and 0-for-4 on fourth down, allowing Lisbon to keep the game played on its terms.
And in a rivalry this old, style points don’t mean squat.
You win. You grab the bragging rights. You enjoy the Bowl.
Meeting No. 113 belongs to Lisbon..