Whitaker’s Passing Leads Cleveland

Eddie Whitaker completed eight of 11 passes for 130 yards and three touchdowns to lead Cleveland High over Birmingham, 39-17, in a West Valley League game Friday night at Birmingham.

James Bethea had 109 yards and two touchdowns in 16 carries for Cleveland (5-4, 3-1 in league play). Bethea had scored 10 touchdowns in the previous two games.

Ontae Chaney had two receptions for 75 yards for Cleveland. He scored on a 60-yard pass from Whitaker with 10:14 to play in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.

Birmingham (2-7, 0-4) pulled even, 7-7, on Joseph Hobley’s 99-yard fumble return with 6:14 left in the quarter.

Cleveland’s Matthew Clark returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a 13-7 lead. Clark caught a 35-yard pass from Whitaker for a 27-10 lead in the third quarter.

Birmingham scored its last touchdown on a 71-yard pass play from Joe Harper to John Walker in the third quarter.

Whitaker connected with Chris Barfield on a 13-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter and Bethea’s nine-yard touchdown run closed the scoring.

Harper completed 14 of 26 for 170 yards and one touchdown. He was intercepted twice.