2009 Week #8 in the ITCL
"McDonald Continues It's Winning Streak"
McDonald - If you love small school football, this was the game to watch. Western Reserve would try to battle back late in the game, but two McDonald defensive stands in the fourth quarter would turn away Reserve and preserve a 24-11 win for McDonald.
In the first half Reserve would try to catch McDonald off guard when Reserve's Clayton Hull would pass out of punt formation. However the pass was intercepted by Justin Rota and set up a Nicola Accordino touchdown run. Will Robison would add a field goal to give McDonald a 10-0 halftime lead.
In the second half things started to really heat up. After a three and out by McDonald, Reserve would go on a long drive and add a 23 yard field goal Dave Duncan to cut the McDonald lead to 10-3. Again McDonald would fail to move the ball on the next possession. Reserve would see quarterback Shane Ewing hit Hull on a 78-yard touchdown pass over the middle of the field to cut the lead to 10-9. The extra point would sail wide left.
McDonald would then sink the Reserve hopes and momentum when devin Bansberg would break a couple tackles and race down the Reserve sideline 59-yards to score. The extra would be good and McDonald would lead the game 17-9 after three quarters.
Reserve however would not quit. They would drive to the McDonald 24-yard line on their next possession, only to see a 41-yard field goal attempt fall wide right and short. That is when McDonald would seal the game for all practical purposes.
McDonald would go on a 9-play 80-yard drive with Cupan scoring on a 26-yard run off right tackle. The score with the PAT added to the McDonald lead at 24-9.
After Reserve would turn the ball over on downs at the McDonald 10-yard line with 2:38 remaining in the game, McDonald was not able to pick up a first down. A punt from the 19-yard line sailed over the head of Zach Puntel and he alertly kicked the ball out of the endzone to give Reserve a safety and make the score 24-11.
Reserve would make one last ditch effort, but the game would end with Ewing throwing just wide of his receiver in the endzone on a first and goal from the McDonald 7-yard line.
In a battle of the Blue Devils, McDonald showed that they are the cream of the crop with a 24-11 win over Western Reserve. The win puts McDonald in sole possession of the ITCL Lower Tier with just two game to go. It also pretty much clinches a playoff spot for McDonald, while Reserve will be in a must win situation the next two weeks in order to qualify.
Crestview won in convincing fashion by downing Lisbon 59-13, and East Palestine kept within striking range of the Rebels with a hard fought 40-19 win over South Range. Columbiana also stayed at least in the hunt for the league title, and solidy a playoff position with a tremendous 33-27 win over Mineral Ridge. It marks the second week in a row that Ridge has come up just short in hard fought games. On the other hand, United has won two in a row with another outstanding game in the league when they defeating the Springfield Tigers 36-28.
In what may also be considered the game of the night, Lowellville won a thrilling 16-15 contest at Leetonia. The Rockets are now sporting a four game winning streak and have alot of momentum. Wellsville kept their playoff hopes alive when they soundly beat Jackson-Milton 30-0 improving the Tigers record to 6-2. Finally, the Southern Indians were able to get into the winning column with a tough 7-0 win over an improved Sebring team that gave them all they wanted tonight.
Tremendous games this week only sets up more again next week as even those teams with disappointing seasons are trying to finish the season on a winning note. There will be no easy wins from here on out as those front runners are trying nail down titles and playoff spots. We will keep you updated on the league and who looks to moving on into the playoffs next week in the ITCL.