CANTON Harding wallops McKinley

Next up for the unbeaten Raiders is a visit from Massillon.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CANTON -- The Warren Harding High football team is halfway through its tour of Stark County's biggest rivals.
After dismantling Canton McKinley 38-7 Saturday at Fawcett Stadium, Harding is ready to begin preparations for next weekend's game against Massillon at Mollenkopf Stadium.
The Raiders (8-0) will enter that game unbeaten and as the state's top-ranked team in the Division I poll. They solidified that spot Saturday night in coach Thom McDaniels' backyard.
McDaniels beat his former school, which he coached for 16 years and led to a state title in 1997. Now, he's hoping to take Harding to the top.
"My heart goes out to the McKinley coaches," McDaniels said. "They work hard, and they're my friends. There's no great thrill with coming away with a win. I'm glad we're 8-0, but I'm not glad it comes at their expense."
Davis gets 150
Junior Richard Davis ran for 150 yards and three touchdowns as the Raiders scored 31 unanswered points and outgained McKinley in total yardage, 435-103.
"He came through with some nice runs for us, and we mixed some passes in," McDaniels said. "That's what we're supposed to do."
Davis' touchdown runs were back-breakers for McKinley (2-6). He scored on runs of 64, 3 and 80 yards, respectively.
"The big plays just killed us," McKinley coach John Miller said. "And we didn't have any. That's the story of our season."
Davis' 80-yarder with 7 minutes, 20 seconds remaining in the third quarter, which helped put Harding ahead 28-7, sent the Raiders to their eighth straight win.
The run was a result of McKinley's miscommunication.
Trailing 21-7, McKinley took the second-half kickoff and drove 47 yards in nine plays to the Raiders' 33. But on fourth-and-7, the Bulldogs punted.
"We were supposed to fake it," said Miller, whose sideline signals were never seen by McKinley's punter.
Payday
Davis made McKinley pay on Harding's first play following the punt. He broke free down the right sideline and escaped two McKinley defenders around the 30 before running into the end zone.
"I cut outside and saw the opening," Davis said. "One [defender] cut in, one fell down, and I just kept on going."
After Davis' third touchdown, the Harding defense throttled McKinley, forcing three-and-outs on the Bulldogs' next two possessions.
"We were so close on breaking some runs," Miller said. "But they converged so fast."
McKinley sophomore quarterback Mike Shaffer was hounded throughout by Harding's quick defense, which also contained Bulldog sophomore standout Ryan Brinson to 85 yards on 23 carries.
Harding played without senior tight end/safety Prescott Burgess, who continues to recover from a shoulder injury.
richesson@vindy.com