WARREN Harding trounces South in opener

Senior running back Richard Davis had four touchdowns for the Raiders.
By JAMIE TRINA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
WARREN -- As the sky blackened over Mollenkopf Stadium, the Warren G. Harding Raiders made sure that it remained lit up with bombs and fireworks during their 69-0 romp of the Cleveland South Flyers.
"I don't think we got off to a good beginning," Harding coach Thom McDaniels said. "We gained our composure as the game went on."
Harding capitalized on its first possession of the game on a drive centered on the running of senior running back Richard Davis.
Davis gained 47 of the 67 yards, capping the drive with a four-yard scamper into the end zone.
Davis finished with 115 yards and four touchdowns on 11 carries.
"I had wide-open holes. It was a good job by the offensive line," Davis said.
"Coming into this, Richard was our most improved," McDaniels said. "Him having a great outing doesn't surprise me."
Taking control
After a Cleveland South drive failed, and a botched snap on the punt went over the punter's head, Harding took over on its own 16. Davis then scored from 21 yards out giving the Raiders a 14-0 lead with 7:27 left in the first.
Harding's final touchdown of the first quarter came by way of a 47-yard punt return by junior Mario Manningham.
Alex Engram, a senior transfer from Texas, made his Raider debut on Friday. The highly touted quarter back threw his first touchdown pass of the season from 20 yards out to senior Joe Phinisee.
Engram completed the night 6-of-9 for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
"There was no question about his ability to throw the ball. He was anxious to have a good showing," McDaniels said.
After both teams agreed to eight-minute quarters for the second half, Harding came out with a 49-0 lead.
Cleveland's first possession of the second half resulted in a Kevin Starling fumble. The Raiders recovered on their own 17-yard line.
Two runs later, Davis was galloping into the end zone again.
A 93-yard run by junior Jon Richardson with 1:27 to play in the third increased Harding's lead to 62-0.
The woes continued for Cleveland South all the way up until the last play of the game when senior Steve Sharpe dropped a wide open pass in the right corner of the end zone.
"They (Cleveland) got some kids with some speed, and that are tough," McDaniels said.
Harding out gained their opponents 559-162.
"Our focus is always on ourselves. We go do our things, and fundamentals as well as we can," McDaniels said.