WARREN HARDING VS. ST. IGNATIUS Coaches renew rivalry

By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
It was on Nov. 22, 1997, that Thom McDaniels and Chuck Kyle last stood across the sidelines from each other.
McDaniels, then coach at Canton McKinley, beat Kyle's St. Ignatius Wildcats 20-19 in the Division I state semifinal. One week later, the Bulldogs beat Cincinnati Moeller to cap an undefeated season that gave McKinley a USA Today national championship.
Almost four years to the day, the two coaches will meet again when McDaniel's Warren Harding Raiders play St. Ignatius at 7 p.m. in a Division I regional final at the Akron Rubber Bowl on Saturday.
McDaniels -- the winningest coach in Canton McKinley history (134-42) -- stepped down after that season to become an administrator for Canton City Schools. He took the Warren Harding job in 2000 and this season led the Raiders to their first playoff appearance since 1990.
On the cusp of history: He could become the first coach to ever win Division I state titles with two different teams. Former Warren Harding coach Ed Glass came the closest after winning a title in 1974 and losing in the state championship with North Canton Hoover in 1984.
"This is the reward for getting back into coaching," McDaniels said. "St. Ignatius is the measuring stick for every team and they play the toughest schedule in Ohio. I'm certainly looking forward to it."
Kyle has won eight of the last 13 Division I state titles. The two coaches met seven times in the '90's.
Harding (11-1) won both its state titles (1974 and 1990) at the Rubber Bowl. McDaniels is hoping for similar success.
"Do we have as much talent as Harding's 1990 team? I don't know," McDaniels said. "But we don't have to play them. Do we have as much talent as the '97 McKinley team? I don't know, but we don't have to play them. We're just trying to beat Ignatius."
Senior tailback Maurice Clarett -- fresh off his 404-yard, five-touchdown performance against Lakewood St. Edward -- has 204 carries for 2,099 yards and 29 touchdowns. Mike Phillips, one of two Harding quarterbacks, has 401 yards rushing, 490 yards passing and five touchdowns. Quarterback Mike Kokal has 604 yards through the air with seven touchdowns. Clarett (18 receptions, 283 yards) and Trey Warfield (15, 274), are the main targets, and 11 Raiders have caught passes this season.
Misleading record: The Wildcats enter the game with a somewhat misleading 8-4 record. Only Cincinnati Elder, Harding's lone loss, beat St. Ignatius soundly.
"We're putting points on the board," said Kyle. "There's been comments in various places that our defense is not up to par, but that has a lot to do with the teams that we're playing."
St. Ignatius is averaging 39 points per game, but giving up 25 per game. All four of its losses came to playoff teams and two of those teams, Elder and Cincinnati St. Xavier, are still playing.
"Our kids are used to playing in front of big crowds in tight ball games," said Kyle. "I think that's a plus."
St. Ignatius is led by quarterback Nate Szep, who has completed 177-of-328 passes for 2,875 yards, with 30 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Matt Miller (48 catches, 890 yards, 12 TDs), Tom Christy (32 catches, 547 yards, 4 TDs) and Tony Gonzalez (27 catches, 634 yards, 7 TDs) are the main targets.
Leading rusher John van der Oord, who had 225 carries for 1,264 yards and 18 touchdowns, will not play after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee against Solon last week.
On defense, all-state linebacker John Kerr has 81 tackles and five sacks, while defensive back Matt Waldeck has 31 tackles and six interceptions. While not as dominating as past teams, the Wildcats are finding a way to win -- something Kyle, who won his 200th game last week, does best.
"I'll think about it when I'm old and in a rocking chair," he said of getting his 200th victory. "I'm thinking about the game coming up."
scalzo@vindy.com