ICL FOOTBALL League race will be much clearer after contenders play Friday

Teams with 3-0 records are McDonald, South Range and Mineral Ridge.
By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
MCDONALD -- The murky Inter-County League football race should become much clearer Friday night when two games involving the top four contenders are played.
A pair of teams with 3-0 ICL records will clash Friday when McDonald plays at South Range. Also, Mineral Ridge (3-0) is scheduled at Lowellville (2-1).
McDonald (3-3) lost its first three games, but has reeled off three straight league victories since.
Approach
"We opened with some tough games early on," McDonald coach Dan Williams said. "But then the kids said 'Let's make this a new season; let's make this a seven-game season.' "
After opening with losses to Champion, Windham and Liberty, the Blue Devils were ready for ICL play.
"We learned a lot about our kids and our team," Williams said of the slow start.
McDonald runs the Winged-T offense and has three backs each with about 50 carries.
Fullback Andrew Presco leads the way with about 390 rushing yards while Mike Dickson had about 375 and Tyler Stanley more than 300 yards.
McDonald quarterback Bob Ovesny has passed for more than 500 yards, hitting Dickson alone for 10 completions and 260 yards.
Williams feels the key to McDonald winning is the Blue Devils controlling the South Range quarterback. Some of that responsibility will fall on junior middle linebacker Ryan Ronghi who has emerged as a leader.
South Range (6-0) has rolled over six opponents, outscoring them 157-45 along the way. The Raiders are ranked eighth by the Associated Press and are third in the regional computer playoff ratings.
Pulled together
"It's amazing how the kids have pulled together," South Range coach Dan Yeagley said. "All our skill kids are back along with some of our linemen [from 2002]".
Quarterback Ryan Maxwell makes things go for the Raiders.
Maxwell has run 65 times for 357 yards and six touchdowns and he's hit on 36 of 64 passes for 591 yards and five touchdowns.
Running back Ben Johnston has accumulated 543 yards on 88 carries and six scores and has pulled in 11 balls for 217 yards and a TD.
Another valuable offensive threat has been Tony Darkadakis with 63 carries, 397 yards and two touchdowns.
South Range won at McDonald last year, 24-0.