Raiders' win over Fitch just perfect

Warren Hardingpolished off a 10-0 campaign with a 10-0 victory.
By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
WARREN -- Warren Harding coach Thom McDaniels doesn't like to talk about himself, but he did this week to make a point to his Raiders.
McDaniel-coached teams have only gone undefeated twice in 29 seasons (1981, 1997) prior to this year. He told the Raiders this to let them know how hard a task it is to accomplish.
Harding responded by turning back a determined Austintown Fitch team 10-0 Friday night at Mollenkopf Stadium to record a perfect 10-0 season.
The win gave Harding its first undefeated season since 1990, the first year of consolidation between Harding and Western Reserve. The Raiders also captured the Steel Valley Conference championship (4-0) and will host a Division I playoff game next week.
The Raiders are currently the state's No. 1 team in the Associated Press poll and are ranked 14th in the nation by the USA Today.
"We've tracked how hard it is to go undefeated," McDaniels said. "Going into this weekend there were 36 undefeated teams in Ohio, including six in Division I. I don't know how many are left, but I know there is one."
Good effort
The Falcons on the other hand tried valiantly to upset the Raiders. The loss ends Fitch's playoff hopes despite ending the campaign with the school's best record (6-4, 2-2) since 1994.
The Falcons were 10th in Region 1.
"We worked really hard and we prepared and we knew this would be a war," Fitch coach Carl Pelini said. "That field was the worst I have ever coached on and when you are a triple-option team, you rely on downhill speed. Even when the seams were open we couldn't get any traction."
Neither team could get much going due to the inclement weather, although Harding took advantage of two Falcon defensive lapses to help put 10 points on the board.
Pulling ahead
In both instances Warren tailback Richard Davis broke free for big gains. Davis' 53-yard run on his first carry didn't result in a score due to a fumble three plays later, but it did give Harding the field position it needed to eventually get a 30-yard field goal by Joe Spain in the second period.
In the third quarter, Davis broke free for 69 yards to the Fitch 18, and two plays later the Raiders scored.
Quarterback Mike Kokal connected with Davis on a 13-yard scoring play. Davis finished with 143 yards rushing on 14 carries.
Harding's balanced offensive attack was more successful in the mud as the Raiders outgained Fitch 237-71. With the successful regular season behind them, the Raiders are prepared for the task ahead.
"I think we are well-prepared for the postseason," McDaniels said. "We've seen every kind of defense, offense and weather conditions.
"We've played 10 regular season games and the quality of the competition has prepared us as well as we can be prepared to this point."