Harding advances to state semifinals

By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CANTON -- It's been over a decade since the Warren Harding High football team won a state championship. Now, the Raiders are two wins away from their ultimate goal.
"It goes through everybody's mind. We're close," Harding senior quarterback and defensive back Mike Phillips said. "But Coach [Thom McDaniels] never lets us look ahead. When you look ahead, that's when you fall off."
Harding's defense held Mentor scoreless in the second half for a 14-7 victory in a Division I, Region 1 final Saturday at Fawcett Stadium.
"Our defense is probably the best phase of our game," McDaniels said. "I'm an offensive guy, and yet you have to give the defense credit for being better than the other two phases of the game."
Mentor ran its high-powered, no-huddle offense out of a spread formation. That didn't faze the Raiders' defense, which came up with its final stop with 11 seconds remaining to preserve the win.
Phillips recovered Mentor's hook-and-ladder attempt, and the Raiders ran out the clock.
"I had a chance to recover a fumble," Phillips said, smiling. "I was just glad the game was over."
Semifinal opponent to be named
Warren Harding will play in a state semifinal next Saturday. Its opponent and game site will be determined today by the OHSAA, although it's expected to be Massillon.
Prior to Phillips' fumble recovery, Mentor was at Harding's 42-yard line when its drive stalled. Cardinals junior quarterback Thom Abbott threw incomplete on four straight downs.
"We knew they made their living on the Abbott boy," McDaniels said. "We knew we had to pressure him somehow, someway. We used everything we had."
The Raiders' defense was strong throughout, including a third-quarter stretch that kept them in command.
After Mentor senior Simas Tetarunas blocked senior Mike Kokal's punt with three minutes remaining in the quarter, Harding's defense forced the Cardinals to punt.
Seven sacks of QB
Junior defensive end Anthony Hoke, as he did often, hounded Abbott, sacking him twice on the possession. Hoke and junior end Andre Boomer had three sacks each as the Raiders finished with seven.
"He's an excellent pass rusher. He leads our team in sacks," McDaniels said of Hoke. "Even when we were in the vicinity, [Abbott] was aware of our presence."
To control the clock and nurse its 14-7 lead, Harding went often to junior running back Richard Davis in the second half. He carried 19 times for 113 yards in the half and finished with 27 carries for 168 yards.
"We generated more offense in the second half running the football," McDaniels said.
Harding took the lead for good when Phillips' screen to Davis went 29 yards for a touchdown with 45 seconds remaining in the first half. Junior Joe Spain's second extra point of the half gave the Raiders a 14-7 lead at the break.
First touchdown
Kokal sprinted 14 yards to the right corner with 6:50 remaining in the opening quarter for the Raiders' first touchdown.
Mentor tied the score when junior Ron Cordaro ran for an 8-yard touchdown with five minutes left in the half.
Harding advanced to the regional final after a dramatic 18-16 victory last week over Lakewood St. Edward in Parma. Spain kicked a 39-yard field goal in the waning seconds to keep the Raiders' season alive.
Harding won state championships in 1990 and 1974. The Raiders are ready to add to that list.
richesson@vindy.com