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Devils dominate line play vs. GV
By ERIC FORTUNE
McDONALD
McDonald didn’t have the luxury of time to lament a Week 2 loss to Springfield — its first regular-season loss since 2013.
Grand Valley, fresh off a stunning upset of state power Kirtland, was next for the Blue Devils.
The Mustangs ended the Hornets’ 56-game, regular-season winning streak in Week 2, so Friday night’s game had an added dimension.
But GV couldn’t duplicate the feat. McDonald controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball in a 28-7 victory.
Blue Devils coach Dan Williams and his players knew what the Mustangs had done a week earlier.
“Oh yeah, that was a concern of ours,” Williams said. “No doubt. Kirtland had won 50-some games or what have you in a row. We watched the film and they beat Kirtland up. Our kids know Kirtland.
“We played them three years ago in the playoffs and got it handed to us. That was motivation. Our eyes were open and real attentive this week because we knew we had a good opponent this week.”
On their opening series, the Blue Devils (2-1) got into the red zone after a 40-yard run from Joe Perry on the second play from scrimmage.
It seemed the Mustangs had stiffened up as Ben Carkido’s five yard scamper on fourth down had come up short of a first down and given the Mustangs possession at their own 13.
Instead, a personal foul penalty gave the Blue Devils a new set of downs which they took advantage of on the next play when Perry took it in from seven yards out to make it 7-0.
On their ensuing possession, GV (1-2) responded with a 12 play drive that stalled at the McDonald 30.
“We felt we were ready to play,” GV coach John Glavickas said. “It didn’t seem like there was a difference all week long and then they came out and just didn’t perform like they did last week.
“I give McDonald credit. They came out and kicked us in the teeth from the first play on. Our kids never seemed to react to it. It’s like they were backing off. They totally dominated us on the offensive line and defensive line.”
Ben Carkido to Jake Reckard to make it 14-0 midway through the second quarter.
Trailing 14-0 and McDonald pinned at their own 11-yard line with 2:04 left in the half, the Blue Devils changed the complexion of the game when Carkido found Joe Sudol down the sideline for an 89 yard pass to make it 21-0 going into the half.
“That was a big play for us,” McDonald coach Dan Williams said. “They were pressing on the edge. Joe can run. He can flat out fly. Ben made a great throw and he made a great catch. That was a backbreaker. ... It was a big play for us.”
Glavickas agreed.
“That was the turning point in the game,” he said. “We felt 14-0, we’ll get the ball in the second half and we’ll still be fine. It just seems like we never got it going. We shot ourselves in the foot with a dumb play or the emotion just wasn’t there tonight. McDonald just kept coming after us.”
GV got on the board after Matt Larned found Jake Kocab on a 4-yard out to make it 21-7 with 8:49 to play.
McDonald sealed the victory with a 10 play, 69-yard drive topped off by Joey Celli’s 15-yard run with 4:33 left.