McDonald @ Western Reserve

Gallery

By Jon Moffett

jmoffett@vindy.com

Berlin Center

It looks as if Superman has met his kryptonite. Again.

For the 22nd time in as many tries, the boys in blue and red from Western Reserve fell to their arch nemesis: McDonald High. The latest chapter came Friday night to the tune of a 15-13 victory for McDonald on Western Reserve’s home field.

The loss may have prolonged the streak against McDonald, but it also ended a perfect season bid for Western Reserve. Head coach Andrew Hake was very blunt about the loss and what it means to his team.

“They made plays, and we made plays. They missed tackles, and we missed tackles,” he said. “Someone had to win, and someone had to lose. It was a great game. It’s unfortunate for us that we lost, but hopefully we play them in the playoffs because I like my guys over their guys.”

Western Reserve (8-1) has already clinched a spot in the playoffs. McDonald (7-2), however, must win next week to do the same. And head coach Dan Williams said this victory might be just what his team needed to get their minds ready for a playoff run.

“The kids came out and played an entire game,” he said. “They played hard for four quarters. And I give them a lot of credit, they have a lot of heart. Our backs were against the wall.”

Both offenses had a hard time figuring out how to attack their opponent early. Western Reserve took a cautious approach by running the ball early and often in the first half. McDonald did much of the same, though Williams said the teams’ “North-South” running game wasn’t very effective. Fullback Zach Tura got the bulk of the early carries.

But in the second half, Hake opened up the playbook and let junior quarterback Jeff Clegg air it out a little bit. He found trusty wide receiver Ryley Sheptock eight times. Sheptock finished with 103 yards on the night.

Clegg completed 14 of his 26 attempts. He had a 20-yard touchdown pass to John Rosati, and was intercepted once.

But it was Matthias Tayala, the senior quarterback for McDonald, who stole the show.

It seems as if the 6-foot-2, 200-pounder had soaked his jersey in grease before the game. He slipped through would-be tacklers and slid in the pocket to evade the rush. And he appeared to break two or three tackles on every run.

“I couldn’t have gotten one yard without this [offensive] line,” he said. “They came through in a big game, and every single one of my teammates did well.”

Tayala had 158 passing yards and went 7-of-18 with a spiked ball. He was intercepted once, and had two touchdown passes.

But it was his legs and head that kept his team in the game.

When the pass rushers got to him, Tayala squirmed out of the pressure. Many times he took off to run, but kept the play alive to find the open man downfield on several other occasions.

Tayala finished with 104 yards rushing on 20 attempts.

Williams said he has seen a steady improvement in Tayala, who only began playing football this year. He added that Tayala is starting to think more and uses his athleticism to extend and create plays, rather than simply tucking the ball and running.

Hake said Tayala was the biggest difference in the game.

“He’s a tremendous player,” he said. “He’s unbelievable, really.”

The Western Reserve offense also shot itself in the foot several times on key drives.

The team was called for 10 penalties for 49 yards. Several times those calls turned “and-short” situations into longer plays.

McDonald running back Nick Rota may have sealed the game when he sacked Clegg with only a handful of minutes remaining in the game. He said the play set the tone and added it was a message for if — or when, depending on who you ask — the teams meet again in the playoffs.

“I’d love [to come back here and play]” he said. “We’ll come back here and beat them again.”