Regional crown has eluded Range

The Raiders' senior talent makes for a potent team.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NORTH LIMA -- If South Range's offensive line continues to open big holes for senior halfback Matt Schlatter and senior fullback Kris Davis to run through, the Raiders will have a good chance of advancing to a state semifinal for the first time in school history.
Davis and Schlatter, capitalizing on massive holes in the line, combined for seven touchdowns and 331 rushing yards to power South Range's 49-32 win over Crestview last Friday night in a Division V regional semifinal
The win advanced the Raiders (12-0) to a regional final Friday night against West Salem Northwestern (10-2) at 7:30 p.m. at Canton Central Catholic's Lowell Klinefelter Stadium. Northwestern advanced by ousting Warren JFK, 28-13, in another regional semifinal last Friday.
South Range (12-0) has been unable to win a regional championship in three previous trips. But the Raiders now have an opportunity to end that slump if center Chris Johnson, guards Greg Snyder and Chris Allshouse, tackles Alex Grantz and Mike Geffert and tight end Joey Leson, all seniors, can continue to plow away the defense.
The successful formula
Coach Dan Yeagley credits the offensive line's blocking success to the players' strength, experience and an intelligence that helps them to understand that blocking is a science that requires a plan, timing and teamwork for it to work.
"Our offensive line does a great job and it's all done by timing and laid out [according to plan] and a series of progressions as to who they have to block according to the defensive alignment," said Yeagley. "It requires intelligent linemen and luckily we have intelligent linemen."
The coach said demands are great on offensive linemen because not only do they have to execute the play called in the huddle, they have to be able to change the blocking plan if necessary.
"We usually don't change the call at the line of scrimmage, but if [the defense changes] the defensive alignment and the defense lines up differently, then Johnson makes the call as to how [the defense] is going to get blocked," said Yeagley.
"They have to listen and be aware all the time as to what's going on. It's a sophisticated [plan] and not just a smash right at them [strategy]."
Yeagley said the backs also have to be listening for any changes in blocking assignments.
"They have to know where the holes are going to be and they have to follow the play in order to get through," said the coach, noting that Schlatter and Davis also block for each other and work well as a team.
"They have to work together and if they don't the offense just isn't going to work."
Potent backfield
Davis scored four touchdowns against Crestview and rushed for 147 yards in 18 carries, while Schlatter scored three TDs and rushed for 184 yards in 14 attempts. Leskosky was 6-for-12 passing for 97 yards, while senior placekicker Pat Majernik was a perfect 7-for-7 in extra-point kicks.
Schlatter, Davis and Leskosky all have over 1,000 yards of offense this season. Schlatter has rushed for 1,360 yards in 115 carries and 21 TDs, while Davis has 1,055 yards in 169 carries and 21 TDs.
In addition, Leskosky has thrown for 1,225 yards on 75-for-132 and eight TDs. His top receivers are David Rach (17 catches for 307 yards), Joe Leson (14-195-3 TDs), Joe Novak (11-214-2) and Tom DeChellis (10-243-2). Majernik is 56-for-59 in extra-point kicks and 3-for-4 in field goals.
The result: The Raiders have scored 452 points for an average of 37.7 points per game.
Potent defense
But South Range still has another potent weapon -- a defense that has limited opponents to only 58 points or 8.6 points an outing.
The Raiders use from three to five linebackers -- inside linebackers Greg Snyder linebacker, Chris Allshouse and Kris Davis and outside linebackers David Rach and Tom DeChellis -- and all rank among the defensive leaders.
"Those five linebackers are phenomenal. They do a great job for us," said Yeagley.
kovach@vindy.com