MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio — We could go on all night about Shaq Washington, DeVonte Ransom, Andre Stubbs and the Maple Heights offense. But as they showed in Friday night's 34-0 victory over a talented Shaw team, it is the Mustangs' defense that will make or break their goal of returning to the Division II state final.
Maple Heights' Dontell Kennedy almost sacks Shaw quarterback Robert Small on Friday at Stafford Stadium.
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(Lonnie Timmons III / PD)
MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio — We could go on all night about Shaq Washington, DeVonte Ransom, Andre Stubbs and the Maple Heights offense.
But as they showed in Friday night's 34-0 victory over a talented Shaw team, it is the Mustangs' defense that will make or break their goal of returning to the Division II state final.
Guys named John Welcome, Dontell Kennedy, Claybourne Miller and O'Brea Williams are the foundation of a team that held Shaw to 97 yards total offense.
Some star on both sides of the ball, and none last night more than wide receiver/safety Dana Day. The senior transfer from Glenville caught three touchdown passes, and had a key interception and 51-yard return.
"There's no flaws in our defense," said Day, who had "Ville" and "Stangs" written in eyeblack under each eye. "It's just up to us. We work hard and prep hard. The only people that can stop us this year is us -- mentally and physically."
Maple Heights, ranked fourth in The Plain Dealer Top 25, improved to 7-0 and 2-0 in the Lake Erie League Erie Division. Shaw coach Rodney Brown, who anticipated a much better showing from his 21st-ranked Cardinals (4-3, 1-1), came away impressed.
"We were prepared, but our offense couldn't move on the ground, and that killed us," Brown said.
Maple Heights keyed on Shaw quarterback Robert Small, who was dropped for losses five times and had four pass completions go for negative yards.
"We came after him," said Miller, a defensive end who disrupted numerous plays. "We held nothing back. We knew he was shifty, and we concentrated on wrapping him up."
Shaw is fast. Maple is faster. The player who really caught Brown's eye was Maple Heights' 5-6 senior Stubbs, whose electrifying, 43-yard touchdown late in the first half put the Mustangs ahead, 20-0.
"I haven't seen speed like that," Brown said. "We're fast, but we didn't play fast tonight. That No. 4 [Stubbs], very few high schools have a guy that can keep up with him."
Maple Heights senior tailback Ransom had another big night, rushing for 189 yards and one touchdown. He has 1,334 yards and 17 TDs this season. Washington, in his third start after missing three games with a knee injury, completed 10 of 22 passes for 163 yards and the three TD strikes to Day, who caught six passes for 78 yards.
Day's first TD was the result of a controversial call that hung over the proceedings much of the first half.
On Maple's first drive, LeVon Perkins turned a simple inside slant into a 51-yard gain to the Shaw 15. Four plays later, Washington's two-yard pass into the end zone appeared to be intercepted by Shaw safety Jamel Hicks as Day reached for the ball. After they fell to the ground, a touchdown was signaled and the Mustangs were up, 7-0.
"Weight room," Day said, smiling. "I out muscled him and took it from him."
Ransom flashed his abundant speed on a 13-yard touchdown run around left end for a 14-0 lead with 3:12 left in the half.
Shaw drove deep and had was gaining momentum until Small's fourth-down pass was intercepted by Day and returned 51 yards to the Shaw 43 with 1:15 remaining. Stubbs zig-zagged through the Shaw defense after nearly falling in the backfield for a 20-0 halftime lead.
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