MCDONALD: McDonald Blue Devils beat Windham Bombers 56-21
By Jim Flick
McDonald cruised to a 48-6 halftime lead in the 56-21 win over Windham.
McDONALD – The McDonald Blue Devils dominated Friday night’s game from the start, storming out to a 48-6 halftime lead over Windham on the way to a 56-21 victory
After five offensive plays, the Blue Devils (2-0) led 15-0. After two running plays yielded only four yards, McDonald quarterback Nick Accordino completed a short pass to David John, who rambled 54 yards before the Bombers stopped him just short of the end zone. Alex Sampson burst into the end zone on the next play, scoring on a 1-yard run.
After forcing Windham (0-2) to punt, McDonald started a drive on its own 43-yard line that was even quicker. On the first play, running back Nick Cupan rambled 57 yards into the end zone. Will Robison’s second extra point kick made the score 14-0 after the Blue Devils’ offense had run just five plays.
But on the ensuing kickoff, Windham’s Allen Blake put the Bombers’ only first-half points on the scoreboard when he scored a touchdown on an 82-yard return.
Chastened by Blake’s return, McDonald’s starters buckled down and scored five more touchdowns before halftime while keeping Windham out of the end zone. Mike Thomas scored twice for McDonald, on runs of 19 and 36 yards, Cupan scored his second touchdown on a 51-yard run, Sampson waltzed into the end zone a second time from 32 yards out, and Zack Tura scored on a 31-yard run.
While the offense was busy putting points on the board, the Blue Devils’ defense was quietly dominating the Bombers. Windham was able to accumulate only 47 yards of total offense in the first half compared to the 255 yards of total offense accumulated by the McDonald’s first team.
By halftime, Windham had tried three different players at quarterback, but had completed only one pass.
After halftime, McDonald coach Dan Williams kept his starters on the bench. The Blue Devils didn’t add any points to the scoreboard in the third quarter, but Tura scored the game’s final touchdown on a 7-yard run with only 1:27 remaining on the clock. Adrien Tillery scored the game’s final points for the Blue Devils when he ran in a two-point conversion.
Facing McDonald’s second string, Windham’s starters experienced some success in the second half, scoring two touchdowns.
In the third quarter, Clayton Ridenbaugh scored a touchdown for Windham on a 32-yard pass from Jesse Burns. Ridenbaugh caught all three passes the visiting team completed against McDonald, gaining a total of 56 yards.
Dave VanSteenberg scored the Bombers’ final touchdown on a three-yard run in the fourth quarter. VanSteenberg led Windham in rushing, gaining 68 yards in 15 carries.
“Our kids came out and executed,” Williams said, adding his team played a better game than the previous week, when McDonald defeated Youngstown Christian 43-20, because “we played better defense and got more kids involved in the running game.”
Nine players ran the ball for the Blue Devils Friday, gaining 276 yards in 27 carriers. Ironically, the leading ball-carrier for McDonald was Tura, who entered the game late in the second quarter, gaining 80 yards on 11 carries.
When asked to name a key for his team’s success, Williams said simply, “Our speed.”
McDonald’s team speed resulted in many drives that ended quickly. “I love sustained [scoring] drives,” the Blue Devils coach remarked, “but we’ve got some big-gain backs.”
Williams added his team is steadily improving. “The kids are doing what we need to do to improve.”
Subscribe Today
Sign up for our email newsletter to receive daily news.
Want more? Click here to subscribe to either the Print or Digital Editions.
AP News