McDonald defeats W. Reserve to stay on top

Two first-half turnovers generated 10 points in the 24-11 victory.

By TOM WILLIAMS

vindicator sports staff

McDONALD — Capitalizing on two early turnovers, the McDonald High football team remained king of the hill in the Inter Tri-County League Tier Two.

Western Reserve coach Anthony Hake would love to have another crack at this week’s Number 7-ranked Division VI team in the Associated Press state poll.

“I’m going to give them all the credit [because] they beat us, but we shot ourselves in the foot,” Hake said Friday after McDonald won, 24-11, on Friday night. “We missed some opportunities but that’s part of the game. They didn’t miss their opportunities.

“I’m proud of my guys,” Hake said. “We’re going to finish 9-1, we’re going to get in and I hope to God we come back here and play them again in Week 11.”

McDonald entered the game fifth in this week’s Region 21 computer playoff ratings and Western Reserve was seventh as well as 10th in the AP poll.

Going against the defending league champions, Western Reserve rolled the dice early.

After being called for illegal procedure on a fourth-and-1 on its opening drive, Western Reserve tried a fake punt, snapping the ball to up man Clayton Hull.

Hull spotted an unguarded receiver and threw the ball. McDonald defender Nick Rota anticipated the play, intercepted the pass and raced to the Western Reserve 23.

“He was supposed to catch it and take off,” Hoke said. “He saw the open guy and [Rota] jumped it. What the heck — it was a nice play.”

McDonald coach Dan Williams said, “They got tricky on that first punt and our kids reacted on the fly. Nick Rota made a great play and that set the tone early for us.”

Williams said the call was a surprise.

“We had never seen anything like that, especially when they sent out guys wide and they shifted. That’s a gutsy call and if it executes, that gives them a big lift.”

Instead, McDonald (8-0, 5-0) scored three plays later when quarterback Nicola Accordino scored a 2-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead.

“Our line played great and I can’t say enough about the momentum shift at the beginning when Nick Rota picked off that pass,” Accordino said.

In the second quarter, Western Reserve (7-1, 4-1) quarterback Shane Ewing tossed a screen pass to Hull that was fumbled and recovered by Accordino. Twelve plays later, Will Robison kicked a 23-yard field goal for a 10-point lead.

Momentum shifted to Western Reserve in the third quarter. Dave Duncan’s 23-yard field goal sliced the lead to 10-3.

On the next possession, Ewing tossed a long pass to Hull who raced to the end zone for a 78-yard touchdown. The point-after kick was wide left, keeping McDonald ahead 10-9.

Ewing completed 18 of 29 passes for 250 yards. He also rushed 23 times for 81 yards.

“He gives every team problems with his arm and the playmakers he has on the perimeter, especially when he runs the ball,” Accordino said.

“The biggest problem for us is we are a gang-tackling team and we like to be close to the ball,” Accordino said. “When they spread the ball out and [got in] one-on-one situations, that gave us some problems.

“We lost contain on him a couple of times and he showed what he can do with his legs. He hurt us.”

McDonald responded with its own big play as Devin Bansberg found an opening down the right sideline for a 59-yard touchdown for a 17-9 lead.

McDonald workhorse Nick Cupan’s 26-yard touchdown run extended the lead to 15. Cupan rushed 27 times for 151 yards.

“[Cupan] is a great back, he’s one of the best in the whole area,” Hoke said.

After a high punt snap, McDonald punter Nick Puntel wisely kicked the ball through the end zone for a late safety for Western Reserve.

williams@vindy.com