Mogadore falls to McDonald 42-21 in D7 Regional Championship
MACEDONIA, OH- Boliantz Stadium at Nordonia High School was the site of the Division 7, Region 25 Regional Championship game between #3 seed Mogadore and #1 seed McDonald. The Wildcats were looking to bring home their 18th Regional Title and secure a State Final 4 berth. In the end the Blue Devils offense and turnovers were too much for the Wildcats to overcome as they fell 42-21.
McDonald opened the game on a 13-play, 63-yard drive that chewed up almost seven minutes of the opening quarter clock. The end result was a 1-yard touchdown plunge by senior running back Drew Zajack. The PAT put the Blue Devils up 7-0.
Mogadore would waste no time answering right back. On their 2nd play from scrimmage, 215 lb running back Dylan Benedum broke through the line and took it 58-yards to the house to answer the Blue Devils score. Tyler Pendergast knocked in the PAT to tie it up at 7-7 with 4:25 to play in the 1st quarter.
The Blue Devils would score again on their second possession. Aided by a 15-yard facemask penalty early in the drive, they would go 78 yards capped off by a Kyle Puckett to Joshua Krumpak 29-yard touchdown strike. The PAT put McDonald back on top 14-7.
Mike Zellefrow - Gizmo Photography
The ensuing kickoff was nearly returned for a touchdown by the Wildcats as Kade Thomas took it all the way down inside the Blue Devils 10-yard line for a 79-yard return. Unfortunately for Mogadore, the Blue Devils force a fumble two plays later turning it over to McDonald.
The Wildcats defense would hold firm forcing the Blue Devils to punt. On the sixth play of the Mogadore possession, Maddox Smith would take the keeper 49-yards to paydirt. Pendergast hit the PAT to tie it a 14-14 with 6:55 to play in the half.
Mike Zellefrow - Gizmo Photography
McDonald would once again put together a scoring drive to break the tie. After a 25-yard Casey Miller run started the possession, eight plays later it was Krumpak scoring from 3-yards out for his 2nd touchdown of the half. The PAT put the Blue Devils up 21-14 with 2:00 to play in the half.
Mogadore was unable to do anything on their last possession before the half and we went into the break with the Blue Devils up 21-14.
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The Wildcats looked to come out strong to start the 2nd half and turn the tides. They would move the ball into Blue Devils territory before a critical fumble would turn it over to McDonald. This time the Blue Devils would take advantage of the turnover scoring in 11 plays after Casey Miller ran it in from 7-yards out. The PAT put McDonald up 28-14.
The Wildcats would answer back in three plays when Smith would hit Kade Thomas on a beautiful 36-yard touchdown pass late in the 3rd. Pendergast 3rd PAT pulled Mogadore within seven at 28-21 with 1:06 to play 3rd quarter.
Kaden Thomas hauls in a touchdown pass from Maddox Smith in the 3rd - Mike Zellefrow / Gizmo Photography
As they did all night, McDonald would answer the Mogadore score after Miller busted off a 36-yard touchdown on the first play of the 4th quarter. The PAT put the Blue Devils up 35-21.
Mike Zellefrow - Gizmo Photography
Mogadore desperately needed to answer back with a score as time was not on their side. Conner Lehner got it going with a 25-yard run out to the 48-yard line. Three plays later the Wildcats would suffer their third turnover of the night when Smith was picked off by the Blue Devils.
McDonald would once again capitalize off of the turnover. Joshua Krumpak would notch his 3rd touchdown of the game when he scored from 8-yards out to put this one away. The PAT made it a 42-21 game with a little over five minutes remaining.
Mogadore would march inside the Blue Devils 10-yard line after a big 52-yard run by Lehner. After a pass interference penalty on McDonald moved the ball inside the 5-yard line, Smith’s pass into the end zone was tipped and intercepted by the Blue Devils Quinn Schimdt. McDonald would run out the clock to clinch the 42-21 Regional Final win and a berth in the Division 7 State Final 4.
It was a tough ending to a spectacular season for the Wildcats. Conner Lehner as he has all season led the charge for the Wildcats with 131 rushing yards. Dyland Benedum rushed for 66 yards and a touchdown and Maddox Smith rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown also adding a 36-yard touchdown pass.
After a .500 season in 2024, Mogadore football is back to prominence as the future looks bright for 2026.
