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Coaches across the state struggle to solve Harding quarterback
Harding
quarterback
has unique
combination
of speed,
moves and
strength
By Steve Ruman
With 30 years of coaching under his belt, former Mayfield High coach Larry Pinto can offer up plenty of wisdom on pretty much any topic relating to high school football.
Pinto served as the Wildcats head coach for 18 years before stepping down following the 2015 season. He guided the ‘Cats to nine playoff appearances, including three regional titles. This past season, he served as an assistant.
However, ask Pinto a simple, straightforward question regarding Warren G. Harding quarterback Lynn Bowden, and the veteran coach struggles for an answer.
How do you stop Bowden?
“Well, I guess you try to contain him and hope for the best,” Pinto said. “How do you stop him? I really don’t know if there is an answer to that.”
On Friday, Bowden and his WGH teammates will travel to Twinsburg where they will meet Hudson in the Division II, Region 5 final. The winner will advance to the state semifinals on Nov. 25.
Following a sensational regular season, Bowden has been a one-man wrecking crew in the playoffs. In a pair of post-season games the senior has rushed for 570 yards and nine touchdowns. He has completed 20-of-29 passes for 246 yards and a pair of TDs.
Bowden’s performance has coaches scrambling for answers.
In 2015, Pinto’s Mayfield squad actually did get the upper hand against Bowden. Mayfield defeated Harding 23-21 in a regional semifinal. Still, Bowden (229 rushing yards, 20 carries) left an impression.
“Bowden is an unbelievable athlete, and he’s only gotten better since we faced him,” Pinto said. “The thing is, you can’t rush the line too hard or he flies by you. You’re never going to stop him, you just hope to somehow limit the damage. It doesn’t matter how well-coached a team might be, he’ll make something out of nothing.
“I looked at this region before the playoffs started, and I looked at Harding as the team to beat simply because of him.”
In Harding’s 56-48 first-round win over Brecksville-Broadview Heights, Bowden rushed for 202 yards and passed for 117 yards. His performance made a believer out of Bees coach Jason Black.
“You think you have a play stopped, and then he ad-libs and makes something big out of nothing,” Black said. “I think we could have committed eleven guys on him and he would have found a way. We’ve played some great programs over the years and Bowden is most dynamic athlete I’ve ever faced. The scary thing is, he’s just as good on defense.
“No offense to the young man, but I hope to never see him on the field again unless he’s playing for Ohio State. I can’t see how he doesn’t win the Mr. Football award.”
Against Massillon earlier this season, Harding trailed the Tigers 14-0 before rallying for a 41-28 win. In that game, Bowden rushed for 266 yards and six touchdowns.
Massillon coach Nate Moore said his game plan was to keep the Harding offense off the field as much as possible in an effort to limit Bowden’s touches. In fact, the Tigers were successful on a pair of onside kicks, designed strictly to keep the ball out of Bowden’s hands.
“We were successful for one half, then he just took over,” Moore said. “That was a bad match-up for us because we lack team speed. He just plays at a different level than everyone else. He’s that much better. He’s got everything: speed, athleticism and a great awareness.
“I wish I had an answer on how to stop him. We weren’t successful.”
Hudson coach Jeff Gough hasn’t yet faced Harding, but that hasn’t stopped Gough from calling Bowden “the best athlete in the state.” Gough knows his team will have its hands full Friday night.
“Lynn is just an amazing talent, he’s an unbelievable play-maker and he can beat you in a number of ways,” Gough said. “He’s certainly the best player that we will have faced this season. I can’t even compare him to anyone. He’s that unique and special.”
Bowden finished the regular season with 1,824 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns. He completed 65 of 100 passes (18 TDs) and scored nine touchdowns by way of kick off and punt returns.