PAUL BROWN TIGER STADIUM Harding routs Massillon to go 9-0

Alex Engram threw three TD passes, two to Pete Sparks, to key the Raiders.
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MASSILLON -- The Warren Harding High football team left Saturday's game happy, but it didn't leave completely healthy.
Despite several injuries -- including what looks like a severe leg injury to senior Delbert Ferguson -- the Raiders dropped Massillon Washington 31-15 at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
"We really wanted to mix it up, but we had four injuries and that forced us to go a little more conservative," Harding coach Thom McDaniels said. "Once that happened, we were happy just to get out of town with a W."
Harding quarterback Alex Engram ran for 89 yards and threw for 141 yards as the Raiders, ranked second in the state in Division I behind Cleveland St. Ignatius, improved to 9-0.
The Raiders were ranked third in the Region I computer ratings behind Ignatius and Mentor.
"Right now, we're not thinking about our record," said Engram, who suffered a mild injury in his non-throwing shoulder. "We've got Fitch next week and that's what we're focusing on.
"We want to go 15-0, but like we always tell anybody, you have to play it one game at a time. We want to play championship football from week to week."
Big lead early
Harding, which beat Massillon in two close games last season, opened a 24-7 lead early in the first half and put it away midway through the fourth quarter with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Engram to Jonte Stroud.
It was a fitting finish for Engram, who completed 10 of 14 passes, including three touchdowns. Senior wideout Pete Sparks -- who left the game with an ankle injury -- caught two of the touchdown passes.
"This team is not about one person," Engram said. "We've got 11 on the field and it takes 11 to get it done."
Ferguson had 12 carries for 57 yards, but had to be helped off the field late in the third quarter and was eventually carted out on a stretcher and was taken to a hospital via an ambulance.
McDaniels did not know the severity of the injury.
Joe Phinisee had two interceptions as the Raiders forced six Massillon turnovers, including five interceptions off sophomore starter Quentin Paulik.
Few yards
Harding's defense also held the Tigers to just 6 yards rushing.
"You always try to pressure a guy who's inexperienced," McDaniels said. "I think [Paulik] more than met the test. He did some good things."
Despite the interceptions, Paulik finished 23 of 42 for 310 yards and two touchdowns. Massillon (4-5) has lost to Ignatius, Lakewood St. Edward, Harding and Dayton Chaminade-Julienne -- the defending Div. II state champions, who are now in Div. III.
"We're playing this schedule for a reason and it will pay off for us in the end," said Massillon coach Rick Shepas, a Mooney graduate who formerly coached at Poland.
Still, it's a far cry from last season, in which the Tigers nearly beat Harding twice, including an overtime loss to the Raiders in the state semifinal.
"I thought the Tigers were the best football team we played last year," McDaniels said. "No disrespect to [Cincinnati] Elder, who beat us."
Saturday's game was the first meeting between the teams at Massillon since 1989. A controversial Harding home win the year before provoked then-Massillon coach Lee Owens to declare that he would never schedule the Raiders again.
McDaniels, of course, is no stranger to Massillon, facing the Tigers every season while coaching at Canton McKinley from 1982-1997.
"This is a great place to come and play," McDaniels said. "This is high school football at its best."