Changes pay off as Ridge defeats Raiders

By John Bassetti

MINERAL RIDGE — After last week’s loss to McDonald and South Range next on the docket, Mineral Ridge coach Joe Stevens made changes: some due to injury and some for strategic purposes.

Daniel Skiba’s shift from tailback to receiver was one of those changes that paid dividends.

Skiba, a junior filling in for Mike Dominic who was injured in the McDonald game, caught two touchdown passes from Jesse Garland that led to Ridge’s 20-14 victory.

After the game, Stevens said he told Skiba: “If I would have known you were going to make catches like that, I would have made you a receiver from week one, instead of tailback.”

The 6-0, 185 Skiba had seven catches for 130 yards, including a pin-point throw from Garland on 2nd-and-14 that covered 22 yards and snapped a 14-14 tie with 6:14 left.

“Dan is big-time player and when we need a big play, he’s one of the guys we count on,” Stevens said of Skiba’s one-handed catch in his right palm as he zipped toward the middle of the back of the end zone.

“He’s got great hands, great concentration,” Stevens said. “With him, it’s determination. He believes, on any play, when he lines up, that he can beat somebody.”

Zach Kiger’s interception of a Vince Miller pass enabled the Rams (2-2, 1-0 ITCL Tier One) to regain possession with the score tied, 14-14.

“As a senior, he stepped up and made a play that got us in position to win the game,” Stevens said of the cornerback’s pickoff.

A Garland-to-Skiba pass covering 15 yards for a first down was instrumental in keeping the go-ahead drive alive.

After South Range took a 14-7 early in the third quarter, Tyler Keeley’s fumble recovery enabled Ridge to start its game-tying push that culminated when Garland scored from 2 yards out at 10:31. Mike Keleman’s extra-point knotted the score at 14.

Senior Kyle Skiba’s 14-yard run up the middle was a key gain in the drive.

Of Keeley, a nose guard, Stevens said: “His motor runs constantly. He’s all over the field. He’s a tough guy to block.”

Floyd Kenney scored both touchdowns for Range (1-3) including a 3-yarder that gave the Raiders their 14-7 lead. It followed James Nell’s successful recovery of the second-half kickoff: an onside version by Ethan Witmer.

Nell followed his kicker’s boot by sprinting to Ridge’s 30-yard line where the Range player made the recovery.

Hunter Spitz’s ensuing 19-yard gain put the Raiders near the goalline.

“They came into this game prepared and they did a good job,,” South Range coach Dan Yeagley said of the momentum change after his team’s go-ahead tally.

The Raiders, who won their opener, haven’t lost three straight games in many years.

Ridge lost its opener to Mogadore, 28-20, then beat LaBrae, 20-7, before last week’s 21-8 loss to McDonald.

Garland completed 6 of 9 for 106 yards and one interception while Kiger was 4 of 6 for 40 yards.

Keleman, who was Dan Skiba’s backup at tailback the first three game, got more time at the position Friday when he also made two PATs.

Tom Padovani’s broken leg suffered early in the McDonald game also necessitated changes. Padovani was a defensive end/punter and upback for the Rams.

Joe Porter filled at upback against Range.

A big responsibility also fell on the shoulders of sophomore center Jacob Chiclowe, who had to contend with the QB alternations.

“Zach [Kiger] took the majority of snaps until this game, then we split time this week and Jesse [Garland] took some snaps with him,” Stevens said of the changes. “So, I think it was a matter of our center, being a little short on it [the snaps] and I think our quarterback was pulling out a little too soon — getting a little antsy.”