DIV. I FOOTBALL Raiders survive opener

Warren Harding turned the tables on St. Ignatius 24-17.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
WARREN -- Coincidence or poetic justice?
One year ago, Cleveland St. Ignatius running back Carter Welo recovered his own fumble to convert a key fourth down in a Division I regional final win over Warren Harding.
It was the biggest play of the game.
On Saturday at Warren Harding High, the Raiders led 24-17 with four minutes left when Welo fumbled on the Raiders' 1-yard line and Harding senior defensive back Rob Massucci recovered.
It was the biggest play of the game.
Harding, the No. 1 team in the state, held on to win 24-17 over the defending state champions in a Division I regional quarterfinal.
"If you coach long enough, the ball will bounce for you," Harding coach Thom McDaniels said. "It bounced against us last year and this year it bounced for us."
Face Lakewood St. Edward next
Raider senior running back Richard Davis rushed 18 times for 100 yards and a touchdown to lead the Raiders (11-0), who will play Lakewood St. Edward in next Saturday's regional semifinal at a site to be determined.
"The enjoyment is over now," Harding senior Danny Stella, who had a key fourth-quarter interception, said. "We have to get ready for St. Ed's.
"We think our regional is the toughest in the state. But that's how we like it. We want to play the best teams."
Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle, whose team beat St. Edward 25-2 in Week 8, said the Raiders are capable of winning their first state title since 1990.
"Warren Harding is a great football team," Kyle, who lost in the first round of the playoffs for the first time in 13 years, said. "We've played just about everybody this year. Warren Harding has the experience, the skill and the coaching staff to go all the way."
Wildcats score first
Ignatius took a 3-0 lead to open the game, but Harding scored 17 unanswered points -- on a field goal by Joe Spain, a 1-yard run by Mike Kokal and a 27-yard score by Davis -- to take a 17-3 halftime lead.
After Ignatius' opening score, Harding's defense took over, forcing the Wildcats (7-4) to go three plays and out on five of their next six possessions.
The Wildcats' offense gained less in the first half than a marathon runner on a salad diet. Ignatius ran 14 times for just 8 yards in the first half. Quarterback Brian Hoyer missed nine straight passes at one point, despite having senior wideout and Ohio State recruit Tony Gonzalez open deep a couple times.
"They're not out of any game and they proved that against Massillon when they were getting killed for most of the game and came back to win," McDaniels said. "I told the team at halftime that there are still 24 minutes left."
The Wildcats scored on their second possession of the second half, driving 76 yards in eight plays, capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Hoyer to wideout Dan Kralik.
Key interception
Stella came up with his interception on the Wildcats' next possession, snagging Hoyer's pass at the 30 and returning it to the 2. Stephon Alexander scored on the next play to end the scoring.
"That was the [pass] play that was killing us all game," Stella said.
Hoyer completed 13 of 36 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns. Kralik caught nine passes for 110 yards.
Kokal finished 7 of 10 for 125 yards. Sophomore wideout Mario Manningham had three receptions for 75 yards.
Much was made this week of the field being unplayable, but the turf held up, thanks to a week-long combination of helicopters, drying agent, tarps, heaters and cash from Harding boosters.
But there was enough money left over to pay for the post-touchdown fireworks.
And, as it turned out, the post-game fireworks.
scalzo@vindy.com