By Jon Moffett

jmoffett@vindy.com

McDonald

Dan Skiba wasn’t about to get swept by McDonald in his high school football career.

The senior running back and his Rams had lost to the Blue Devils in each of his two previous years. But not this one.

Skiba was instrumental, scoring two touchdowns and snagging the game-sealing interception in a 24-21 victory.

“It feels great. It’s a feeling I can’t even explain,” Skiba said.

The Rams (1-2) trailed the Blue Devils (1-2) by 14 points at halftime. But coach Joe Stevens told his team they were not out of the game.

“It was a total team effort,” Stevens said. “We’ve got these skill guys on offense that everyone talks about, like Skiba. But our offensive line, and our defense were nasty in the second half.”

The Rams defense didn’t allow a point in the second half. That defense also caused two turnovers and forced a safety.

Midway through the third quarter, the Rams forced a three-and-out. The Blue Devils attempted to punt from their own 12, but the snap went off course and sailed out of the end zone for the score.

Later, with the game hanging in the balance, another special teams mistake gave the Rams excellent field position.

With about three minutes left in the game, the Blue Devils were faced with a fourth-and-12 from their own 49.

Quarterback Matthias Tayala lined up behind center and received the snap. He faked a throw and went to punt the ball, but a teammate was blocked into him and the ball bounced backward. The Rams jumped on it for the recovery.

That gave the Rams the ball at the McDonald 37. Three plays later, Skiba was darting into the end on a 14-yard run.

“We’re at midfield, and we practice that,” said McDonald coach Dan Williams. “But we missed a block up front, and our up back had to come up and pick up the guy who got loose, but he got flown back.

“If that works, you look like a hero. But if it doesn’t, you look like a goof.”

Skiba’s run was his second of the night. The first came from 1 yard out on a fourth-and-goal. McDonald had stuffed three previous attempts.

McDonald got the ball back with 2:12 left, and at their own 36. Tayala was sacked on the series’ first dropback, and threw two incompletions.

But on fourth-and-16, Tayala, a track and basketball standout, scrambled to pick up the first down.

Later in the drive, Tayala threw a pass across the middle of the field, and Skiba picked if off.

Skiba said it was time to celebrate.

“We’re definitely not going to do anything crazy and get in trouble,” he said. “But this is a night we’re going to remember for the rest of our lives.”