Adams runs for 191 yards, four TDs against Falcons

By MIKE MCLAIN

sports@vindy.com

AUSTINTOWN

The numbers weren’t adding up for the Warren Harding Raiders entering week four of the season.

With losses in two of their first three games placing the Raiders 16th in the Division II, Region 5, something had to change in a hurry and in a big way.

That’s what made the trip here Friday for an All-American Conference Gold Tier game so important for the survival of Harding’s playoff aspirations. Heading home without a victory wouldn’t have been acceptable for any of the Raiders, from coach Steve Arnold down through every player on the roster.

Harding delivered in impressive fashion, assuming a 21-point lead in the second quarter and cruising to a 49-14 win at Falcon Stadium.

“Looking at this all week, we said this is a must-win game,” said senior running back Kay’Ron Adams, who rushed for 191 yards and four touchdowns. “We were looking at it, if we lose, we’re done.”

The Raiders evened their record at 2-2 in their first conference game of the season. They will collect a considerable amount of computer points from Fitch, which was second in Division I, Region 1 with a 3-0 record.

Harding played well in all areas, but its advantage was most noticeable along the line of scrimmage. The offensive line blocked well for Adams, while the defensive front controlled play.

It was easily the top performance of the season for the Raiders, who were coming off a 51-21 loss to Massillon Washington.

“This is very important for our program to win the game, but as decisively as we were able to win,” Arnold said. “We didn’t know we were going to come in here and dominate like we did.”

It wasn’t simply the Adams show for Harding’s offense. Sophomore quarterback Elijah Taylor took a big step in his maturation, completing 17 of 22 passes for 191 yards and one touchdown.

“Watching them on field, we thought that our overall team speed would hurt them,” Arnold said. “We didn’t think they could cover us. It was just a matter of protecting the quarterback and us being able to throw good balls and catch it. Elijah played well. Our receivers made plays. We had good balance.”

The Falcons are 3-1 and 0-1 in the conference. Coach Phil Annarella looked at Harding’s size differential as a key factor.

“They beat us every way imaginable,” Annarella said. “They deserved it. They outplayed us. They played a great game. My hat is off to them.”

Adams scored on runs of 2, 27, 13 and 14 yards — the final run giving the Raiders the final margin of victory on the first play of the fourth quarter. He was a workhorse, bouncing off numerous attempted tackles on his 26 carries.

“That was the whole game plan, to come out with toughness,” Adams said.

Harding received a gift early in the second quarter when Jamel Anderson fell on a ball in the end zone that was touched by Ralph Fitzgerald on a punt. The score and the extra-point kick by Mike Clauss gave Harding a 14-0 lead. Adams’s 27-yard touchdown put the Raiders ahead 21-0, but the Falcons answered with a 22-yard scoring pass from Bobby Cavalier to Fitzgerald.

Taylor threw a perfect pass to Ja’Kari Salter on a 33-yard scoring play to give Harding a 28-7 halftime lead.

A 13-yard scoring run by Adams extended the Raiders’ lead to 35-7. Linebacker Alex Payiavlas then intercepted a Cavalier pass and returned it 27 yards for a Harding touchdown to make it 42-7.

Fitzgerald took the ball on a reverse and ran 78 yards for a Fitch score. Adams then closed out the scoring.

Fitch visits East on Friday. Harding entertains Ursuline the same night.