McDonald and Western Reserve are both 6-0 for Friday’s showdown.

By JOE SCALZO

Vindicator sports staff

Stop what you’re doing. Put down the coffee mug, the raspberry Pop Tart or the 730-calorie Enormous Omelet Sandwich from Burger King.

Because we have the scoop on McDonald’s secret to beating Western Reserve in Friday’s matchup of unbeaten Inter Tri-County League rivals.

Ready?

McDonald’s plan is to control the ball on offense and therefore keep Reserve’s offense off the field.

“I’m sure it is,” said Reserve coach Mike Kopachy, chuckling.

OK, so maybe you weren’t breathlessly awaiting that little tidbit. Fact is, a few years ago, a Week Seven matchup between McDonald and Western Reserve was more blah than hoorah.

But the advent of the ITCL — in this case Tier Two — has made it possible for both sets of Blue Devils to carry 6-0 records against each other for the first time since 1989.

Even better, it’s made it possible for this game to mean something most years.

“That’s what’s nice,” said McDonald coach Dan Williams. “Week in and week out, you’re playing good competition and there’s parity.

“It’s definitely more interesting than it used to be.”

The 1989 season is significant to this rivalry for two reasons.

First, it’s the last time Reserve beat McDonald, winning 13-7 in Week 7. (McDonald then returned the favor in the second round of the playoffs, winning 13-7 before falling to Minster in the Div. V state final.)

Second, it was Reserve’s only league championship season before it won the Tier Two title two years ago. (McDonald actually had a chance to share that 2006 crown but lost to Jackson-Milton in four overtimes in Week 10.)

“We’re coming into the game as definite underdogs,” said Kopachy. “History isn’t on our side, but it’s like I tell the kids, history doesn’t line up on Friday night.”

McDonald, which shared last year’s league title with Leetonia, has made the playoffs the last two seasons and is trying to become the first team in school history to make three straight postseason appearances.

“The kids are aware of that,” said McDonald coach Dan Williams, who played on the school’s only other back-to-back playoff teams in 1986-87. “It’s something we’ve never accomplished, but it’s not our first goal. Our first goal is to win a league championship.”

McDonald used to be an area power, routinely winning or sharing Inter-County League titles — 17 in all, from 1952-1998 — while making the playoffs eight times from 1983-2000. But the ICL’s balance of power shifted to schools such as South Range, Mineral Ridge and Springfield. McDonald could no longer consistently compete for league crowns. Western Reserve had even less success. The ITCL has changed that.

“It’s a competitive situation for all teams,” Kopachy said. “I think it’s mission accomplished so far [for the ITCL].”

Both schools enter Friday’s game with explosive offenses. McDonald, which is ranked seventh in the Div. VI AP poll, is averaging 49 points per game and has beaten every opponent by at least 22 points. Western Reserve, ranked 11th, is averaging 39 points per game.

That’s where the similarities end.

After McDonald lost record-breaking quarterback Matt Krumpak to graduation, Williams shifted to a run-first offense that has piled up 2,240 yards on the ground, compared to 338 in the air.

“I don’t know that we can stop them,” said Kopachy. “We’re just hoping to slow them down a little bit.”

Senior Alex Sampson (702 yards, 19 TDs) and junior Nick Cupan (652 yards, 6 TDs) key the McDonald attack, while junior quarterback Nick Accordino (365 passing yards, 3 TDs) throws when needed (which hasn’t been often).

“It’s really the same offense we ran last year,” said Williams. “We still have all that spread stuff in, we just haven’t needed to use it yet.”

Western Reserve is more balanced, throwing for 1,100 yards and running for 1,200. It’s also been in more close games, beating Mathews by one point and Wellsville by three. Junior quarterback Shane Ewing is the key to the offense with 1,100 yards passing and nearly 500 rushing.

“They throw more than most teams and it’s really a concern for us because it’s something we don’t see week in and week out,” said Williams.

McDonald may have won 20 straight in the series, but it’s obvious this year’s game is something special. Friday’s game will be televised on myYTV and there’s sure to be a big crowd.

This, both coaches said, is what high school football is all about.

“This is why you play the game,” said Williams. “To rise up to these challenges.”

“It’s something you look forward to,” added Kopachy. “Our kids know it’s being tabbed as a big game around our area and our kids are excited to play in a game like that.

“It’s a pretty big deal.”

scalzo@vindy.com