Battle of Blue Devils will continue in Div. VI playoffs

By Tom Williams

McDonald won the first meeting back on Oct. 3 in a 47-6 rout.

Things couldn’t have started much better for the Western Reserve High football team the last time it played Inter Tri-County League Tier Two rival McDonald.

But things couldn’t have finished much worse on Oct. 3 when McDonald rolled to a 47-6 victory on the way to an unbeaten season.

A week later, Western Reserve stumbled against Leetonia, losing 40-34 when Bears quarterback Josh Selway scored the game-winning points on the final play.

Western Reserve rebounded with two more league wins to finish 8-2, earning a sixth seed in the Division VI Region 21 playoffs.

The reward? A rematch against third-seeded McDonald (10-0).

“The kids are excited,” Western Reserve coach Mike Kopachy said. “They felt like they let a lot of people down, including themselves. We didn’t play as well as we could have.”

McDonald coach Dan Williams said his community is thrilled to be holding its first playoff game.

From 2000-07 when the OHSAA expanded the postseason to include a fifth round with home games, Williams said McDonald had three chances to finish in the top four of Division VI Region 21. All three times, McDonald lost in Week 10.

“Definitely, being at home is a big advantage, especially for our first home playoff game in our history,” Williams said. “The community is excited, the kids are excited. Everything feels more comfortable when you are in your own locker room.”

Four weeks ago at Berlin Center, both teams were unbeaten with 6-0 records when Western Reserve played host to McDonald.

After the opening kickoff, Western Reserve took possession at the 17. Quarterback Shane Ewing immediately scrambled for 15 yards. Four plays later and after another first down, Ewing hit wide receiver Justin Lude for 36-yard pickup to the McDonald 21.

Ewing scrambled for 9 more yards before Western Reserve was penalized 5 yards. With momentum on the Western Reserve sideline, McDonald linebacker Nick Cupan stole Ewing’s next pass at the 9.

“When you see ESPN and they talk about game-changing performances, that was one of them,” Williams said. “They had some momentum early on and Nick came up with that big play.”

Alex Sampson, McDonald’s top running back, took the next four handoffs, totaling 33 yards. Then it was Cupan’s turn as he escaped for a 57-yard touchdown.

Western Reserve’s second possession was a three-and-out. McDonald responded with a second 83-yard drive.

That one took 15 plays and was capped when quarterback Nick Accordino hit Cupan with a screen pass for a 20-yard touchdown and 13-0 lead.

Ewing’s next pass was tipped then intercepted by Cupan at the Western Reserve 40.

Seven plays later, Sampson scored on a 13-yard run for a 19-yard edge.

“The defensive line did a great job and the linebackers pursued well,” Cupan said. “Everything just went right with us.”

Western Reserve lost 6 yards on the next three plays and a punt near the goal line only went to the 27-yard line.

Sampson’s next run produced McDonald’s fourth touchdown and a 26-0 lead with 4:04 remaining before halftime.

On Oct. 10 Cupan suffered an injury in a close game with Southern. Williams said Cupan is practicing and could play Friday.

Kopachy said his staff feels “even though the game snowballed on us, we saw at times we could play with them. It may be hard to believe but we did do some things well.”

Kopachy expects McDonald to play “with a whole lot of energy. We have to try and match that.”

Williams said his team isn’t planning any major adjustments.

“Things went so well the last time that we’re not going to change a whole lot,” Williams said.

williams@vindy.com