South Range rolls to 7th win

The Raiders scored five unanswered touchdowns in a 33-6 win over McDonald.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NORTH LIMA -- It's hard to find flaws when you examine a high school football team as strong as South Range.
But junior running back Ben Johnston, who scored four touchdowns Friday, has discovered one with his Raiders.
"We have a problem with starting out slow," Johnston said after the unbeaten Raiders rallied for five unanswered touchdowns in a 33-6 victory over McDonald. "We always seem to come out better for the second quarter. We get down -- it's almost like we get mood swings."
The mood is sky high after the Raiders (7-0, 4-0 Inter-County League) overcame a second-quarter 6-0 deficit for a win that keeps them tied with Mineral Ridge atop the standings.
"[This] was a big game, [but] it was overlooked as a big game," said Johnston, who rushed for 111 yards on 14 carries. "McDonald is always a good team."
The loss drops the Blue Devils (3-4, 3-1) into third place.
"Our kids came in believing they could win this thing, so to jump out early and get a lead on them was nice," McDonald coach Dan Williams said. "We battled all night long, but we didn't get the breaks. And they are very good."
Led only 14-6 at halftime
Although the Raiders rushed for 190 yards in the first half, the Blue Devils trailed by only 14-6 at halftime.
South Range, which is ranked eighth in this week's Associated Press poll of Ohio's Division V schools and No. 3 in Region 21 of the computer ratings, put the game away with two scoring drives in the third quarter.
South Range coach Dan Yeagley said the eight-point halftime lead meant "our defense had to play better. We've relied on our defense all year and they stepped it up a notch."
The Raiders limited the Blue Devils to 53 yards rushing and 107 passing. Mike Dickson caught four Bobby Ovesny passes for 88 yards
"We've been fortunate the ball has bounced our way a couple of times," Yeagley said. "McDonald has a [good] team. Fortunately, we played great defense."
Yeagley cited the play of Russell Dawson, Tony Darkadakis and Matt Novak for making key plays that held the Blue Devils to a minus-10 yards on McDonald's first two possessions of the third quarter.
The Raiders' offense rushed for 350 yards on 47 carries and passed for another 130 yards.
"We have a great backfield, but you can't take [anything] away from that offensive line," Yeagley said. "They did a super job."
Father returns from Iraq
Yeagley said the game was especially big for Dawson, the middle linebacker/offensive guard, whose father returned home Thursday after serving with the U.S. armed forces in Iraq.
"Dr. Dawson made the sacrifice of leaving his family to serve our country," Yeagley said. "We tell our kids how important it is to be part of a big group team, and that's what he did with his dedication. It's a great homecoming having his dad here."
Dawson, who once believed his father would miss his entire senior season, said, "It feels so good to have him here. It just worked out right."
In the first quarter, the Blue Devils hung tough after the Raiders failed to get off an early field goal attempt.
"The first quarter, we did a few things wrong that messed us up," Dawson said.
In the second quarter, McDonald's Derek Gergley picked off a pass by Raiders quarterback Ryan Maxwell at midfield and raced 38 yards to set up Tyler Stanley's 3-yard touchdown run.
Raiders take lead
The Raiders responded with a 63-yard scoring march, capped by a 1-yard plunge by Johnston. Pat Majernik's conversion kick put the Raiders ahead for keeps.
Late in the half, South Range put together another 63-yard drive, this time finished by Johnston's 33-yard run.
In the fourth quarter, Darkadakis carried the ball 10 times, including a 3-yard touchdown, to finish with 156 yards on 23 carries.
"There's nothing better than when you can drive it down their throats, and there's nothing they can do about it," Dawson said.
williams@vindy.com