Doing it with 'D': Range wins, 27-0

South Range can win the ICL outright with a victory over Lowellville on Friday.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NORTH LIMA -- For one exciting quarter, this year's South Range-Springfield football game more than lived up to what anyone would expect from an 8-0 team playing a 7-1 squad for a league crown and playoff berths.
Then the magic that has propelled the Raiders to an unbeaten season took over.
A high snap on a punt attempt followed by an interception produced two quick touchdowns that launched South Range to a 27-0 victory that clinched a share of the Inter-County League title.
"Oh man, it's sweet," middle linebacker Greg Snyder said. "Springfield has been our [main] rival for as long as I can remember and they came in here 7-1."
The Raiders (9-0, 6-0 ICL) can win the ICL title outright if they defeat Lowellville next Friday or if Mineral Ridge (7-2, 5-1) loses to Springfield (7-2, 4-2).
"Our goal from a long time ago was to bring home this title," South Range coach Dan Yeagley said. "Now we have a share of it, but next week we have to play Lowellville and they're playing well right now."
The Raiders are ranked No. 3 in this week's Associated Press poll of Ohio's Division V teams. In the computer playoff ratings, South Range was No. 4 in the Region 17 ratings while the Tigers were No. 9.
Breakthrough
Their seesaw battle shifted in the opening moments of the second quarter when the Tigers lined up to punt. A high snap glanced off Andrew Schuler's fingertips into the end zone where Chris Allshouse pounced on it for South Range's first score.
Pat Majernik's extra-point kick gave the Raiders a 7-0 lead with 10:59 to go.
Following the kickoff, Schuler's next pass deflected off his target and was intercepted by Jordan Razo. Four plays later, Davis broke loose for a 22-yard touchdown with 9:14 to go before halftime.
"We're too young of a football team to be bouncing back from some of those mistakes," Springfield coach John Smith said.
Davis said, "What a big jump that was. Until then, it was two good teams going at it, two good defenses stopping each other."
Late in the half, the Raiders drove to the Tigers 4, then settled for a 20-yard field goal by Majernik.
On the Tigers' next offensive play, Schuler was picked off by Joe Novak, setting up Majernik's 25-yard field goal as time expired in the half.
Yeagley wasn't surprised at the scoreless first quarter.
"We both came out throwing a little bit because of the weather -- we didn't know if it was going to get worse as the game went on," Yeagley said.
"They are a well-coached team, a very disciplined team and they came ready to play," Yeagley said. "Momentum change is a great thing in high school [sports]."
Padding the lead
The only score in the second half came early in the fourth quarter when halfback Matt Schlatter burst down the right sideline for a 39-yard touchdown.
"Since the Lowellville game, we've really played some pretty good defense and we did some positive things in the first half," Smith said. "But turnovers ... we talked about holding on to the football, not having penalties and eliminating free runners and unfortunately in the first half those things happened."
The Raiders limited the Tigers to 43 yards rushing on 21 tries. Schuler completed 10 of 23 passes for 104 yards.
Schlatter led the Raiders with 141 yards on 14 carries. Davis gained 131 yards on 20 runs. Quarterback Mike Leskosky completed eight of 18 passes for 122 yards.
"This is the last year of the ICL, so we want the final ICL championship," said Davis, who said he's not shocked that the Raiders are 9-0. "I have confidence, especially the linemen. They make some pretty big holes for the running backs to go."
williams@vindy.com