Federal League clasped by Canton McKinley in 27-7 freezing of Polar Bears
By Keno Sultan
C-Town Radio announcer and statistician
JACKSON TWP.--Canton McKinley has a share of the Federal League title. Next week they just might be stingy enough to keep it for themselves.
The Bulldogs may not have claimed it outright thanks in part to Lake's 21-7 win against North Canton Hoover but they are in a prime position to do just that next week after their 27-7 victory over the Jackson Polar Bears in front of a near capacity crowd at Robert Fife Stadium.
After both squads traded touchdowns in the first quarter, McKinley was just too much to handle for Jackson as they ran their winning streak to a season-best six while the Polar Bears left an angry team in the form of a three-game losing streak and also now, a 17-game losing streak to McKinley, who hasn't lost to Jackson since the 2007 season when Thom McDaniels was 10 years removed from leading the Bulldogs to the 1997 Ohio Division I state and national championship and coached Warren Harding for seven seasons before taking the Jackson reins for two seasons.
McKinley quarterback Keaton Rode accounted for all four Bulldog scores in the form of two touchdown passes, which both came when respective snaps went over his head and he picked up the football to find his receivers that were wide open and two more on the ground. Jackson's lone score came in the first quarter on a short three-yard touchdown run.
Jackson had the momentum after taking a 7-6 lead only to be outscored 18-0 the rest of the way, something that bothered second-year field general Jay Rohr.
"I have to take a look at the film to see what transpired to that point. Our kids fought hard but it was critical mistakes after that first drive and we held them again and we snapped the ball on a fourth down over the head of our punter and they get the ball at the 25 yard line going in," he said dejectedly. "Our defense held them to a field goal but you cannot make critical mistakes like that against a football team like McKinley and they will make you pay."
McKinley is riding with a wave of momentum right now and with the 134th meeting against Massillon on the horizon (who defeated Austintown-Fitch 42-7 to push their record to 8-0), the Bulldogs have a chance to lock up the league outright with a win next week against GlenOak, who at press time downed Louisville 42-7.
But it will not happen according to Bulldog mentor Antonio Hall if the bad snaps and penalties continue. But he was quick to point out that claiming a share of the crown is a step in the right direction of where he wants his team to traverse.
"It's great but we are not done yet. It's an honor to put ourselves in this position to win out. We have to cut down the mistakes and fix those. Hopefully we can do that next week," he said.
Canton McKinley has a share of the league title. Next week the whole title just might fall into their waiting paws.
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