PREP FOOTBALL Harding rips McKinley, 45-21

Warren's second half rally was spurred by Richard Davis.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
WARREN -- The sight had to scare any Warren Harding High football fan.
Richard Davis lay on a sideline trainer's table, his head covered with a white towel, his right ankle wrapped in a splint.
The Warren Harding High senior had gained 3 yards on a second-quarter run Saturday against Canton McKinley and struggled to his feet.
Davis was carried off the field by teammates with seven minutes remaining in the first half, and his return appeared doubtful.
There isn't much doubt in Warren right now.
Success story
Davis returned to the second-half lineup, running for his second touchdown of the game, as the Raiders pounded McKinley 45-21 at Mollenkopf Stadium.
"It was good for him to get the injury taped, get it treated and then come back," Harding coach Thom McDaniels said.
"We don't think it's serious," he added. "Once we got ahead, we felt like it was all right to take him out."
Davis' return to the lineup (he carried 12 times for 55 yards for the game) was only part of Harding's second-half revival.
The Raiders pulled away from McKinley by scoring 21 third-quarter points and hounding Bulldogs quarterback Mike Shaffer.
"It was probably the best second half we've played," McDaniels said. "When we had to put the game away and finish it, we did. That's what pleases us."
While Shaffer found himself on the run, Harding senior quarterback Alex Engram found himself in a rhythm. The first-year starter completed 11-of-15 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns.
Saturday's game also marked the return of McKinley first-year coach Brian Cross, a Warren Western Reserve and Youngstown State graduate.
Cross coached at Grove City High from 1987-2002 before being selected from among 45 candidates to lead the Bulldogs.
"For me, it was a special night," Cross said. "But it's not a special night when you get your butt kicked like this."
On the mark
Engram set the tone by completing his first five passes, including a 31-yard touchdown strike to senior Joe Phinisee that put the Raiders ahead 14-0 in the second quarter.
McKinley cut the gap on the possession following Davis' injury and Joe Spain's missed 41-yard field goal attempt, when Antwon Hight caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Shaffer.
Engram orchestrated a precise drive with one minute remaining in the half, highlighted by a 26-yard pass to senior Jonte' Stroud to McKinley's 3. Spain kicked a 20-yard field goal as time expired to put Harding ahead 17-7.
The Raiders (8-0) continued their recent success against McKinley, McDaniels' former team, by winning their fourth straight game in the series.
"They're very talented, very well-coached and they're very tough kids," Cross said of the Raiders, "and they're on a roll right now."
richesson@vindy.com