Whitehall-Yearling ends Chaney's year

The Cowboys couldn't hold a 15-3 halftime lead and lost 18-15.
By TODD BELL
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
WHITEHALL -- After driving nearly three hours to play in Friday night's Division II regional quarterfinal, it came down to just 1 yard for Chaney High.
Whitehall-Yearling's Dre Ratliff carried that 1 yard for the game-winning score on fourth down with just 1 minute, 48 seconds remaining in the game, capping a 17-play, 88-yard drive as the Rams rallied from a 15-3 halftime deficit for an 18-15 victory.
"That was a championship drive," said Chaney coach Ron Berdis. "They drove the ball down the field and scored when they needed to score and we just ran out of mirrors.
"We were playing pretty good defense and getting a good push up front, but they were able to execute down the field and milk the clock and that's how people become champions."
Turnover costly
Chaney (9-2) began the game with an uncharacteristic fumble on its second possession. Four plays later, Whitehall-Yearling's Alex Setser kicked a 42-yard field goal to put the Rams (10-1) ahead 3-0.
But the Cowboys dominated the rest of the first half. Mike Hall scampered 32 yards on the ensuing possession to put Chaney up 7-3. Hall finished with a game-high 85 yards rushing on 13 carries.
Then, with just 1:29 remaining in the half, Justin Hood found Mike Rosa for a 6-yard touchdown pass. The Cowboys added a two-point conversion to take what appeared to be a commanding halftime lead.
"We gave them their three points," said Berdis. "The only thing they did in the first half is what we gave them. To go up 15-3 at halftime and I thought control the game offensively and defensively, we felt pretty good about going into the second half."
Chaney held Whitehall-Yearling to just 8 yards of total offense, while holding the ball 15:28 of the first half.
Game changes
The momentum swung on the first possession of the third quarter. Whitehall-Yearling marched 67 yards in just five plays. Allen Smith scored from 3 yards out to pull the Rams to 15-10. The key play was a 42-yard catch and run by fullback Kaz Bailey.
Bailey caught two passes for 53 yards and added 17 yards rushing, all in the second half.
Whitehall-Yearling's dramatic touchdown drive was set up following a well-placed punt by Chaney's Rick Hlinka, pinning the Rams at their 12 with 9:19 remaining.
The drive's biggest play came on the initial set of downs when Ram quarterback David Wess hit Matt Angle for a 21-yard pick-up on third down. That was the longest play of the drive as the Rams methodically moved the ball inside the 5-yard line.
The Chaney defense stood tall on the first three downs, but Ratliff would not be denied on fourth down.
Ratliff, formerly of Youngstown, is the youngest son of Chuck Ratliff of Youngstown, a Cardinal Mooney High graduate and a former All-Steel Valley Confernce football player.