McDonald ousts Reserve 13-7

Gallery

Team

McDonald

Record	Div.	Conf.
8/2	Div. VI	Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference

Team

Western Reserve

Record	Div.	Conf.
8/3	Div. VII	Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference

McDonald senior quarterback Matthias Tayala is developing into a dangerous offensive weapon just in time for the playoffs

By Jon Moffett

jmoffett@vindy.com

McDonald

Matthias Tayala is used to making good things happen with his arm.

The McDonald High senior has won accolades as a thrower on the track team. Tayala finished in second place in the discus at the state meet this past spring.

And as a member of the basketball team, Tayala has been part of two undefeated seasons for the Blue Devils.

So it only made sense that the Blue Devils would covet Tayala’s golden arm for the football team as well — despite his lack of experience.

Tayala joined the team about two weeks before the season started. He had to learn the playbook and terminology as he went.

“At the beginning of the season, I wasn’t all that comfortable,” Tayala said. “But after every game I’m feeling more and more comfortable with the position and with my teammates.”

There is a big difference in hurling a discus or shot and a football, though. Tayala said it was difficult at first to learn how to throw.

“When I came out, I knew that I had to start throwing the ball a lot, which was weird, because it just didn’t feel right” Tayala said. “So my dad threw the ball with me every day in our backyard.”

But it wasn’t necessarily Tayala’s arm that garnered coaches’ attention.

Perhaps the biggest thing Tayala brings to the table is his ability to make plays with either his arm or his legs. If he doesn’t seem anything he likes, he’ll take off running and let his athleticism take over. Or, he’ll buy some time in the pocket and find the open receiver.

“The plays are coming together,” he said. “The coaches are helping me out a great deal, too. They’re calling plays that make me feel more comfortable and helping me with my [mechanics].

“I still have to work on some things, but that’s what football is all about.”

The development hasn’t always been pretty, but head coach Dan Williams said he has seen a definite improvement in the passer.

“With him on the field, we have a chance to win,” Williams said. “He just adds a different dimension to this offense.”

Williams admitted Tayala didn’t know a lot about playing quarterback at first. But he said Tayala is a relentless worker and has made huge strides.

“His development as the season has gone has been a big bonus for us,” Williams said. “He’s a coachable kid, and he’s one of the hardest working kids I’ve ever seen. He works his tail off every night, and stays after practice.

“He said he is trying to make up for not being here last year.”

Tayala said and teammate Stephen Mohamed, a senior running back, throw passes every day. He said the repetitions have been critical to his development.

“You can’t just peak at the end of the season, you have to keep going,” he said. “And I think we’re doing that.”

Tayala said he regrets not playing football earlier, but is glad he made the choice to play in his last year at the school.

And with the team now in the second week of the playoffs, Tayala thinks the sky is the limit for the Blue Devils.

“I came out for the team because I knew we could do something special this year, and we are doing something special,” he said. “It feels so great to be a part of this team and I think we can go further than any McDonald team has in the past few years.”

Still alive: The Valley has seven teams remaining for the regional semifinals, down from 10 last year. It had six regional semifinalists in 2008. Seventeen teams qualified for the playoffs this season.

Back in the win column: Fitch defeated Willoughby South on Saturday for its first playoff victory since 1992. Campbell defeated Martins Ferry on Saturday for its first playoff win since 1990.

Hello, goodbye: All six first-time playoff participants in Ohio lost in the first round, including United and Southern.

Poll position: All six Associated Press poll champions are still alive after the first round, including Ursuline (Division V). All the poll runners-up are still alive except Avon in Division II. Ranked teams went 43-17 in the first round.

Defending champions: The five returning state champions all won first-round games, including Ursuline (V) and Mooney (III). Norwalk St. Paul is the only 2009 champion not in this year’s playoffs.

League breakdown: The All-American Conference has three teams remaining in the playoffs: Howland in the Red Tier, Lakeview in White and Campbell in Blue. The Inter Tri-County League has one team remaining: Tier Two’s McDonald. Fitch and Lake are the only remaining Federal League teams, while Marlington is the only remaining Northeastern Buckeye Conference team. Ledgemont is still alive from the East Suburban Conference.

Milestone wins: Mooney won its 50th playoff game, third-best all-time behind Newark Catholic (62) and Cleveland St. Ignatius (54). Ursuline won its 30th playoff game, one of 20 Ohio schools to reach that milestone.

Seeded teams fare well: Home teams went 66-30 in the opening round, a .688 winning percentage. Six No. 8 seeds upset No. 1 seeds: Medina, Huber Heights Wayne, Sandusky, Hamilton Badin, Dalton and Minster.

Vindicator staff report