Harding victim of Strongsville's rally

The Raiders blew a 21-13 lead to fall to a 1-2 record.
By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
WARREN -- The Warren Harding Raiders find themselves in unfamiliar territory following a 28-21 loss to visiting Strongsville Saturday night.
Strongsville's Nick Bendzuck caught a 9-yard touchdown pass with 1:54 remaining and the Mustangs added a two-point conversion play, as they rallied from eight points down to their first win of the season and Harding its second consecutive loss of the season.
The Raiders (1-2) find themselves on the wrong side of the won-loss column for the first time in many seasons, and the post-game locker room reflected the mood of the team.
"There's no point in rubbing salt in the wounds because I think everybody hurts this week," said Harding coach Thom McDaniels. "Everybody didn't hurt a week ago.
"We have to convince [the team] that the effort was admirable but our level of execution has to get better."
Harding dropped a close decision last week to Akron Buchtel.
Offense inconsistent
Against Strongsville (1-2), Harding's offense was inconsistent and the failure to get off a clean punt from its own end zone with four minutes remaining in the game led to the game winning score for the Mustangs.
The punt attempt was partially blocked by Kane Smith and Mike Bruvarny, and the Mustangs took over the football on the Harding 19-yard line.
After five running plays put the ball at the 9-yard line, Strongsville quarterback Blaine Hamilton found Bendzuck in the end zone for the game winning touchdown.
"Our kids were making plays," said veteran Mustang coach Russ Jaques. "Our kids scratched and clawed for four quarters and this is just an unbelievable win for us."
Coach's view
According to McDaniels, the game was lost on the line of scrimmage.
"The cardinal rule in high school football is to win the war of the line of scrimmage," McDaniels said. "And it looks like they may have won that war."
Strongsville turned loose sophomore running back Eric Stoyanoff behind a huge offensive line, and he responded by rushing for 189 yards on 30 carries and 2 touchdowns.
Harding trailed 13-7 in the first half despite scoring first in the game on a 23-yard scoring pass from Avery Qualis to Chris Rucker.
With the Mustangs seemingly in control of the game late in the half, Qualis lobbed a 44-yard pass to Jay Provitt for a go-ahead score right before halftime.
Harding also recovered the second half kickoff and marched 23 yards in 7 plays, scoring on a 2-yard Dan Herron run to open up a 21-13 lead.
Herron rushed for 118 yards on 21 carries.
Defense stiffens
But the Mustang defense stiffened the rest of the way and Strongsville then took over the game by scoring the final 15 points.
A 25-yard touchdown on a reverse to Anthony Gallas cut the Harding lead to 21-20 with 2:34 left in the third quarter.
"It's a very disappointing loss," McDaniels said. "What we learn from this is that with the type of teams we play you not only have to play hard, you have to play well."
One player who did a nice job for Harding was Qualis. The sophomore quarterback connected on 10 of 20 passes for 141 yards and two scores.
"This game teaches you to deal with difficult situations and adversity," McDaniels said about the upcoming matchup with Cardinal Mooney next week. "That's the way it is and we accept that."