WARREN Harding QB Kokal headed to Miami

The Warren Harding senior will be a RedHawk.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
WARREN -- Two years ago, Mike Kokal joined a football program on the rise.
Next fall, he'll join another.
The Warren Harding High quarterback, who transferred from Warren JFK after his sophomore year, verbally committed to play football at Miami of Ohio next fall.
"Their program is definitely on the rise," Kokal, a first-team all-Ohio selection as a punter, said. "They have a great group of guys and the team is top notch."
Kokal completed 93 of 176 passes for 1,276 yards for the Raiders, who advanced to the Division I state final, losing to Cincinnati Elder.
He was a first team all-county selection as a quarterback, splitting time with Harding senior Mike Phillips.
"I didn't know if I would have the same opportunities I had at Kennedy, but under the direction of [Harding coach] Thom McDaniels and my teammates, things turned out well," Kokal, who also considered Toledo, said. "I couldn't imagine a better situation."
Good qualities
Kokal carries a 3.5 grade point average and is in National Honor Society. He plans to major in a business field.
"I'm excited and it's nice to get all of this over and done with," he said. "Hopefully the calls will stop, too. We'll see."
McDaniels credits Kokal's unselfishness as a key ingredient in Harding's playoff run the past two seasons.
"[Kokal] and his family and Mike Phillips and his family were wonderful through the whole thing," McDaniels said. "Without them, we wouldn't have gone 14-1 and been runner-up at state."
And McDaniels expects Kokal's success to continue.
"Anybody who saw him play knows what he can do," McDaniels said. "He was an integral part of our success."
scalzo@vindy.com