STAMBAUGH STADIUM Chaney dedicates City Series win to injured senior

Chris Eskew was wounded in a shooting accident last weekend.
By BOB ROTH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- The West Side won again.
The Chaney High football team limited The Rayen School to three first downs and 87 total yards in a 27-6 City Series victory Thursday at Stambaugh Stadium.
The win clinched a tie for the league title -- the Cowboys fifth straight and 12th in the last 13 years. Chaney can win the title outright with a win at Canton Timken next week.
Chaney dedicated the victory to senior Chris Eskew, who was wounded in a shooting incident last weekend.
"This was an emotional game for us with the kids dedicating the game to Chris and with his injury on our minds all week," said Chaney coach Ron Berdis. "I thought we really came together for this game."
Junior Dan Balog, who replaced Eskew at fullback, carried four times for 48 yards.
"I just had to do my best playing for Chris," Eskew said.
Added senior Jim Sullivan, who filled in at linebacker, "It's unfortunate that Chris wasn't here tonight and I am glad I could do what I did playing for him."
Scoring from four
Chaney (7-1, 2-0 City Series), which was ranked fourth in the Division II, Region 7 computer ratings, got touchdowns from four different players.
The Cowboys took an 8-0 lead midway through the first quarter on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Justin Hood to Joe Loto. Loto added a conversion pass to Mike Rosa.
"I had good protection and Joe Loto did the rest," said Hood, who has thrown for four touchdowns this season. Minutes later, Hood added a 12-yard touchdown run -- his ninth of the season -- and Mike Hall (27-yard run) and Lamar Sykes (2-yard run) added second half touchdowns as the Cowboys pulled away.
"Tonight we played together as a team with the line stepping up and our backs running hard," Hood said.
Compliments to blockers
Hall ran 16 times for 91 yards and scored his seventh touchdown of the season.
"When I had the ball there were 10 people blocking and all I did was find the seam," he said.
Chaney outgained the Tigers 303-87, with 215 coming on the ground.
Rayen (2-6, 1-1) got a 95-yard touchdown run from Phil Morgan midway through the second quarter for its lone score. Morgan finished with 89 yards on 12 carries after a few late losses.
"Our kids played their hearts out, but Chaney's defense has had us figured out for three seasons and it was no different tonight," said Rayen coach Brian Shaner. "They are well-coached and very disciplined. They don't seem to be doing a lot, but what they do is done to near perfection."