By Tom Williams

williams@vindy.com

McDONALD

After falling way behind in the first two games, the Mineral Ridge High football team on Friday found a recipe for success.

The ingredients included a halftime lead that triggered a 33-point second half as the Rams stunned McDonald, 43-20.

If he could, Mineral Ridge coach Joe Stevens, a McDonald High graduate, would give one of their touchdowns back.

Ahead 36-14 late in the game, the Rams called a running play to eat the clock against the second string. Junior quarterback Jonathan Baker, on the verge of his first varsity victory, checked down and spotted Chris DiRando open for a 29-yard touchdown.

“He was told about it when he got to the sideline,” said Stevens of the play that inspired plenty of frustration during the postgame handshakes.

That was Baker’s only misfire as he passed for 211 yards.

His throws included a 54-yard score to DiRando in the third quarter. He also hit speedy wide receiver Stephen Phillips on the fly for a 74-yard touchdown that put the Rams (1-2) ahead 16-8. The pass traveled about 40 yards in the air.

“We took it hard, those couple of losses,” said Baker, referring to blowout losses to Fairport Harding and Leetonia.

“This win is all on the line,” said Baker, crediting Josh Detwiler, Kyle Davidson, Demik Fields, Jacob Fowler and Tim Brother. “The line tonight was unbelievable — they were opening so many holes, it was ridiculous.

After an hour delay for a thunderstorm, the Rams wasted no time scoring. On the second offensive play, tailback Casey Porter broke loose for a 59-yard run to the McDonald 3. Baker scored on the next play.

“It was real sloppy trying to get your feet going,” said Porter, who rushed for 158 yards on 18 carries. “The line was blocking great, so that really helped out.”

Despite the lopsided score, the Blue Devils (2-1) remained in striking distance until late in the third quarter.

McDonald went ahead when Christian Rusinowski hit Steve Vidman with a 4-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Lined up for an extra-point kick, Rusinowski took the snap and ran for an 8-7 lead.

Just before halftime, Rams kicker Tracy Cross kicked a 25-yard field goal for a 10-8 halftime score.

After their first two touchdowns of the third quarter, the Rams failed to convert, keeping it a one-score game.

The backbreaker was DiRando’s 54-yard score for a 29-14 lead.

“We just needed a win,” Stevens said. “We were 0-2, and not playing well. McDonald has a great defense, they move guys all over so we just tried to make [the gameplan] as simple as we could.

“Our defense read and reacted, they flew to the ball,” Stevens said. “That’s what we were expecting to come out with at the beginning of the season — better late than never.”