Harding's defense opens door to victory

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 that destination.
Harding's defense held Mentor scoreless in the second half for a 14-7 victory in a Division I, Region I final Saturday at Fawcett Stadium.
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 in the game to preserve the win.
Junior defensive back Mike Phillips recovered Mentor's hook-and-ladder attempt, and the Raiders ran out the clock.
Harding will play in a state semifinal next Saturday. Its opponent and game site will be determined today by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, although it's expected the opponent will be a familiar one -- Massillon, who the Raiders defeated 31-27 in Week 9.
Drive stalled
Prior to Phillips' fumble recovery, Mentor was at Harding's 42-yard line when its drive stalled as junior quarterback Thom Abbott threw incomplete on four straight downs.
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.
Junior Anthony Hoke, as he did often, hounded Abbott, sacking him twice on the possession.
Davis delivers
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 169 yards.
After throwing six straight incomplete passes, Phillips, also the quarterback, made the plays to put Harding ahead at halftime.
Two plays after throwing 36 yards to senior Danny Stella, Phillips' screen to Davis went 29 yards for a touchdown with 45 seconds remaining in the half.
Davis caught the ball on the right and sped untouched along the sideline, in front of jubilant Harding fans. Junior Joe Spain's second extra point of the first half gave the Raiders a 14-7 lead at the break.
Sophomore Mario Manningham's 31-yard punt return in the first quarter put Harding on Mentor's 21, in position for its first touchdown.
Kokal finds the goal
It took the Raiders just two plays to reach the end zone. Kokal sprinted 14 yards to the right corner with 6:50 remaining in the opening quarter.
Mentor tied the score when junior Ron Cordaro ran for an 8-yard touchdown with five minutes left in the half.
The Cardinals seemed to secure the momentum when Harding senior Rob Massucci fumbled the ensuing kickoff return. But Mentor senior Jeremy Sargent was short on a 48-yard field goal try.
Harding had 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