WARREN, Ohio — In a game for computer rankings, the Mentor Cardinals loaded up a bunch of points Friday. Led by a four-touchdown performance by Colton Wallace, the Cardinals defeated the Warren G. Harding Raiders, 28-13, at Mollenkopf Stadium. The Cardinals entered play ranked ninth in the Division I, Region 1 standings. The Raiders were 10th.
Mentor’s Mike Korecz, right, looks for running room as Warren Harding’s Alex Polenick pursues in the third quarter Friday at Mollenkopf Stadium.
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(R. Michael Semple / Warren Tribune-Chronicle)
WARREN, Ohio — In a game for computer rankings, the Mentor Cardinals loaded up a bunch of points Friday.
Led by a four-touchdown performance by Colton Wallace, the Cardinals defeated the Warren G. Harding Raiders, 28-13, at Mollenkopf Stadium. The Cardinals entered play ranked ninth in the Division I, Region 1 standings. The Raiders were 10th.
The Cardinals are 4-3 but have won three straight to take their playoff aspirations from life support to still kicking. Their losses were to St. Edward, Solon and Massillon.
"We could have won all three," Cardinals coach Steve Trivisonno said of the losses. "It's not easy to play seven weeks in a row. These kids kept fighting with a tough schedule, and they've put themselves in pretty good position."
The Raiders are 5-2 and licking their wounds after losing a chance to make a move in the rankings.
"I don't think this is the end all," Harding coach D.J. Dota said. "We have two opponents with good points in front of us, so we have to take care of business. We have Massillon coming to town, and they're a good point-getter."
Wallace was the difference. The senior ran for touchdowns covering 1, 10 and 63 yards, and he caught a 53-yard touchdown pass from Mitch Trubisky.
"You watch us each week and we're getting better and better," Trivisonno said. "We're playing eight juniors on defense, and they're coming along. Colton is Colton. He's the best athlete we have. He's able to make plays, whether it's as a wideout or a quarterback."
The Cardinals defense did a good job of slowing down the Raiders' ground attack. Demond Hymes, who's been the focal point of Harding's offense, was held to 42 yards on 15 carries. The Raiders had just 75 rushing yards.
"We needed to run the ball better," Dota said. "They gave us fits because they put a lot of guys in the box."
The Cardinals scored first on a 1-yard run by Wallace. The Raiders responded with a 46-yard touchdown pass from Mikhail Seawood to Jayln Powell.
Mentor scored the next three touchdowns on Wallace's 10-yard run, the 63-yard pass play and his 63-yard run.
The Raiders finished the scoring on a 61-yard pass from Seawood to K'Von Williams with 3:25 remaining in the fourth quarter.
'Mike Korecz rushed for 114 yards on 27 carries for the Cardinals, who had 226 yards on the ground.
Mentor hosts Shaker Heights in its next game.