Dons blank Lions, get Knights next

By RALPH COX Sports correspondent WEIRTON — The Madonna defense flexed its muscles again Friday night shutting down what had been a high powered Tucker County offense in a 48-0 rout of the Mountain Lions in a West Virginia Class A quarterfinal game at Jimmy Carey Stadium. The victory moves the unbeaten Blue Dons (12-0) into the semifinal round next week against arch rival Wheeling Central, a 28-14 winner last night over Williamstown. With the win, the Blue Dons handed head coach Bob Kramer his 100th win in 12 seasons at the helm. “The kids came out ready to play tonight,” said Kramer. “We came out a little flat in the first quarter last week against Gilbert and we didn’t want to do that tonight. “They like a challenge each week and I asked them to hold (Brendan) Miller under 100 yards, but they said they would hold him under 50 and I think they did.” Miller, who resembled in size and jersey number Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Ben Rothlesberger, went into the game with more than 2,200 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns. The stingy Blue Don defense, ranked No. 1 among all West Virginia high schools regardless of classification, held the big 240-pound quarterback to just 10 yards rushing on 14 carries. He completed just one of 10 passes for 15 yards with an interception. “He just couldn’t get started tonight,” said A. J. Rapp, Tucker County coach, whose team finished its season with a 9-3 record. “We couldn’t get him to that second level. The Madonna defense was faster and stronger. Their speed was the difference. “Like I said before, they are not ranked No. 1 defensively for nothing. They just knocked the wind out of our sails early. We got beat by a great football team tonight.” While the defense, which has yielded just 28 points all season, was doing its thing shutting out the seventh opponent in 12 games, the offense was racking up 453 total yards and seemed to be scoring at will in the second half. “We have a lot of offensive weapons,” Kramer explained. “We have the people this year that give us a balanced offense. We can run big backs inside or go with quick backs on the outside and we can pass when we want to or have to.” Senior Max Nogay had another big game for the Blue Dons rushing for 147 yards and three touchdowns. He carried the ball for 208 yards and three scores last week against Gilbert. Nogay also completed six of 13 passes for 60 yards. The balanced offensive attack that Kramer talked about included 102 rushing yards by senior fullback, Lou Comis, who scored twice and senior tailback, Jimmy Deter, supplied the quickness getting loose for 79 yards on the ground. It took a while for the Madonna offense to get rolling, but when it did the touchdowns came repeatedly. The hard rushing Comis got the ball rolling when he bulled up the middle for 16 yards carrying several of the Mountain Lion defenders into the end zone with him. Sophomore Logan Linder, place kicking in a game for the first time, was unable to get the ball through the uprights, so the Blue Dons were ahead 6-0 at the 2:57 mark of the first period. They scored two more times in the second quarter On the first one, Nogay stuttered through a small hole over right tackle and found an open field going 50 yards and the second one was Connor Arlia’s 4-yard blast. Nogay lateraled to Arlia, who threw a pass to a wide open Chris Perna for the two-point conversion following the first second quarter touchdown and Nogay hooked up with his brother, Eddie, for the second two-pointer. That gave Madonna a 22-0 lead at the half. The Mountain Lions attempted an onside kickoff to open the second half, but the Blue Dons weren’t fooled and took possession at midfield. Deter reeled off a 21-yard run and Nogay went 20 more, but Deter fumbled at the Tucker County 4 on the next play. The Mountain Lions couldn’t get out of the hole so Miller punted to the Tucker County 32. Comis blasted ahead for 15 yards and Nogay went through a big hole over right guard from the 17. He met three Mountain Lion defenders at the two yard line, but he carried them into the end zone with him for the touchdown. Linder’s kick was good for the extra point and the rout was on. Nogay scored again about three and half minutes later going over right guard again from six yards out. Comis got into the scoring act again going through right guard for 10 yards while bouncing off of several Tucker County defenders. Christian Roe finished the scoring with a 4-yard plunge up the middle with 1:08 left in the game. His score capped a 63-yard Madonna drive that took 10 plays and ate up more than five minutes on the clock. “It means more to us that we got our 12th win this year than for me to get 100 wins,” Kramer said. “I really have never won a game. I’ve just been fortunate to have a lot of good kids and good assistant coaches over the years. I just get credit for the wins, but those are the people that got them. “I’m just glad to be playing next week and that we will be at home,” Kramer said. When asked if playing Wheeling Central was special, Kramer said “I have seen them play a couple of times and they have a nice team.” The Maroon Knights will have the call as to whether they want to play the semifinal game on Friday night or Saturday next week. The date and time will be announced following a meeting of coaches at the WVSSAC offices in Parkersburg Sunday.