Maxwell leads South Range to 19-3 win over Crestview

The quarterback scored two touchdowns as the Raiders posted their first victory.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NORTH LIMA -- Ryan Maxwell was determined to keep the South Range High football team from starting 0-2.
The junior quarterback rushed for two touchdowns and connected on 8 of 13 pass attempts for 87 yards Friday as the Raiders rolled up 263 total offensive yards en route to a 19-3 victory over Crestview.
"We know that Ryan Maxwell has speed and once he gets into the open he can make things happen for us," South Range coach Dan Yeagley said. "I was pleased with our effort tonight on both sides of the football. Crestview is a good team and they had an excellent game plan. We were really lucky to keep them out of the end zone."
The Raiders (1-1) got on the board first when Tony Darkadakis scored on a 2-yard run with 3:23 remaining in the opening period. Jon Styer added the placement and South Range led 7-0 after the first period.
Junior Scott Raschilla of the Rebels booted a 34-yard field goal with 6:39 remaining in the second quarter to cut the Raider lead to 7-3.
First touchdown dash
Maxwell then broke loose on a 68-yard touchdown scamper just 55 seconds later as the Raiders increased their lead to 13-3.
"We made some mistakes tonight that need to be corrected, but these are characteristics of a young team," Crestview coach Paul Cusick said. "We didn't run crisp routes, and our special teams play was costly for us tonight.
"I thought we got better on both sides of the football against the Raiders, but our biggest problem was long-yardage situations," he said. "That has to be eliminated if we expect to improve."
After holding the Rebels on the next series of downs, South Range put together a six-play, 60-yard drive in just 1:55, culminated by a Maxwell 9-yard run as the Raiders took a 19-3 lead into intermission.
"This was a typical Crestview-South Range football game," Yeagley said. "It was a hard-nosed football game with plenty of crisp hitting on both sides. I cannot tell you how pleased I was with our overall effort."
Neither team could penetrate the goal line in the second half as the Rebels fell to 0-2, matching their loss total of a season ago just two games into the season.
Potent ground game
South Range rushed for three touchdowns and posted 176 yards on the ground (32 carries). Maxwell was the leading rusher for the Raiders with 92 yards on 10 carries. He was 8 of 13 through the air for 87 yards and an interception.
Crestview rushed for 57 yards (22 carries) and Troy Duwe connected on 15 of 34 aerials for 98 yards as the Rebels were held to just 155 total offensive yards and a field goal.
Darkadakis had 36 yards on 10 carries and the other rushing touchdown for South Range, which also held a 13-9 first down advantage over the Rebels.