Special

By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
WARREN -- Special teams are appropriately named. Player contributions are invaluable.
Ask Warren Harding High football coach Thom McDaniels for key players on his special teams unit, and he hesitates.
"That's the true strength of this team," he said. "You can't name one guy."
But it's tempting to delve deeper, and McDaniels, who is preparing his team for Saturday's Division I state championship game against Cincinnati Elder at Canton's Fawcett Stadium, gives in.
Long list
"Thaddeus Walker had a 53-yard punt return to set up our first score," McDaniels recalled from last week's overtime win over Massillon.
"Mario [Manningham] had a big kick return after they [Massillon] scored to go ahead with 1:11 left in the game, and gave us great field position on the tying drive," McDaniels continued.
"Mike Kokal has done a great job all year punting for us."
"Rob Massucci had a big kick return against Massillon the first time we played to set up the winning touchdown."
You know if McDaniels had a roster sitting in front of him -- and he wasn't on a conference call with numerous curious reporters wanting to ask other questions -- he would have continued.
Instead, he said, "I've named several. There's so many I didn't name."
As another reporter started on a new topic, McDaniels respectfully interrupted.
"Joe Spain nailed a 40-yard field goal to beat St. Edward," McDaniels insisted. "There's another guy coming through, too."
Contributors
You get the idea of how important special teams have been for the Raiders, whether it involves returning kickoffs or punts, or containing opponents' return units.
"Everybody goes through special teams and then up to the varsity level," Kokal said. "They're paying their dues, but they don't realize how much they're contributing to the team."
McDaniels, who coached Canton McKinley to the 1997 state title, labels his current special teams unit in Warren as probably the best he's ever coached.
"If given the opportunity this Saturday night," McDaniels said, "hopefully they'll deliver for us."
If they do, nothing will have changed. Harding has survived a challenging playoff schedule with key special teams plays.
"Special teams have been consistent all year," Kokal said. "That's how we've won a lot of big games."
Arguably the biggest came in the regional semifinal against St. Edward when Spain, a junior, kicked the game-winning field goal from about 40 yards with five seconds remaining. The Raiders won 18-16.
Then last week, with Harding trailing Massillon 14-7 with about one minute to play in regulation, Manningham, a sophomore, returned the kickoff 31 yards to the Raiders' 45.
Manningham had returned a kickoff and punt for touchdowns in the teams' first meeting this season.
His latest return allowed Kokal, also the quarterback, enough time to move 50 yards -- following Massillon's 5-yard penalty -- for the game-tying score, force overtime and eventually win the game.
Showing respect
For much of last week's game, Massillon respected Harding's return unit by punting out of bounds.
"They knew we were pretty good back there after what Mario did to them last time," Walker said. "The first time they kicked it to me I just had to prove that I could do it, too."
Walker's return last week came at the game's beginning, sending a message. He hopes he gets another chance.
Asked if Elder is going to kick to the Raiders, Walker said, "I'm praying they do."
richesson@vindy.com