Big plays early power Harding past Boardman for sixth victory

The Raiders built a 26-7 lead after the first period, en route to a 43-14 win.
By JAMIE TRINA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
WARREN -- As a blustery cold wind blew debris across Mollenkopf Stadium, a golden gust of Warren Harding High football players penetrated Boardman's line of Spartans.
Friday, Harding showed Boardman why they stand undefeated through six games in a 43-14 victory.
The Raiders came out on the first play with guns blazing. On a quick pass to his left, quarterback Alex Engram connected with wide receiver Mario Manningham. Two broken tackles and 61 yards later, Manningham put the Raiders ahead, 6-0.
After Boardman's first possession ended in a punt, Engram and Manningham staged a sequel.
Again on the first play from scrimmage, Engram found Manningham on a post route for a 62-yard touchdown. Manningham pulled the ball in from his fingertips to put the Raiders up by 12.
"It's just a post pattern, a single receiver route," Harding coach Thom McDaniels said. "It's an attempt to hit a home run and we did."
Great performance
Manningham finished with five receptions for 141 yards and three touchdowns.
"Manningham is something special," Boardman (1-6) coach Garry Smith said. "We just couldn't contain Manningham, that's all. He's real good."
After Harding running back Richard Davis fumbled, the Spartans capitalized with a nine-play, 36-yard drive. On fourth down, Spartans quarterback Josh Susany hit Mike O'Bruba for a touchdown that cut Harding's lead to 12-7.
The Raiders struck back quickly as junior Jon Richardson shot through the Spartan defenders for a 97-yard kickoff return.
A 24-yard gallop into the end zone by Engram ended the Raiders' big-play first quarter, and gave Harding a 26-7 cushion.
Joe Spain added a 25-yard field goal before Engram and Manningham connected again from 8 yards out before the first half expired for a 36-7 advantage.
Drive fizzles
In the third quarter, Boardman moved the ball 49 yards on 16 plays, but gave up possession when a fourth-down play failed.
Offense ground to a halt in the third quarter when both teams combined for 32 total yards, eight possession changes and two turnovers.
"[Our players] sensed that we weren't sharp, and that we made a lot a lot of mental mistakes," McDaniels said.
Davis scored the Raiders' final touchdown from 15 yards out, capping off a nine-play drive.
Boardman responded when Susany hit running back Brad Beck while he was streaking down the right sideline for a 77-yard touchdown pass.
"I think our kids didn't quit, and that's the biggest thing," Smith said. "We gave them what we could."
Engram completed 11 of 18 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns. Susany completed six of 22 attempts for 117 yards.