by Senior RB Nino Hill racked up 161 yards and two scores as the Bulldogs took down the Raiders 26-19 in the 2024 season opener. The new McKinley starting QB, Kam Montgomery, did not have his best performance but still threw two touchdowns in the contest. Harding had one last opportunity late in the fourth quarter, but the drive stalled near midfield.
Fireworks Early
On just the second play of the game, Harding forced a fumble deep in McKinley territory. Unfortunately for the Raiders, the offense could not get things going, and they ended up giving the Bulldogs great field position as the punter’s knee hit the ground while fielding the snap. Two plays after that, Montgomery found junior Deejay Britt for a 31-yard touchdown, giving McKinley an early 6-0 lead that held through the quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Montgomery was picked off by senior Airiz Coleman-Bay, who took it 38 yards for the Harding touchdown. After a missed extra point, the game was tied 6-6. In response, the Bulldogs went on a 15-play, 80-yard drive that featured only rushing plays and was finished off by Nino Hill, who plowed in from five yards out to make it 13-6 McKinley.
Harding wasted no time on the ensuing possession, covering 75 yards on five plays capped off by a 42-yard touchdown pass from Chaz Coleman to Marcus Crum Jr. to even things up again at 13-13. With just over two minutes until halftime, the Bulldogs weren’t finished scoring. With 18 seconds on the clock, Montgomery found Darius Hill in the endzone for a 31-yard completion, giving McKinley a 19-13 lead at the break.
Tight Game Late
After winning the opening coin toss and electing to defer, Harding received the second-half kickoff and put together one of the most impressive drives of the game. Starting on their own 22, the Raiders picked up yards in chunks, and after 18 plays and nearly nine minutes of game clock, Chaz Coleman plowed in from a yard out to tie the game at 19-19.
While not as long, McKinley responded with a 12-play, 66-yard drive of their own that was finished off with a ten-yard touchdown run from Nino Hill, his second of the game, as the Bulldogs reclaimed the lead at 26-19. Harding had three drives to try and tie the game in the fourth, but they ended in a fumble, shanked punt, and a turnover on downs as McKinley held on for a 26-19 victory.
Keys to the Game
If Nino Hill was a problem as a junior, he is going to be a nightmare for opponents as a senior, finishing with 161 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries. Defensively, the Bulldogs front seven will be a hassle for opposing offenses, constantly applying pressure in the backfield and laying big hits on rushers and pass catchers.
Raiders senior quarterback Chaz Coleman is a dual threat in every sense of the word, finishing with 67 yards and a score on the ground to go along with 92 yards and a touchdown through the air. First-year head coach Matt Richardson has Harding going in the right direction, and they should get better as the season progresses.
Next Week
Things won’t get any easier for McKinley next week as they head to Avon to take on the Division II powerhouse Avon Eagles.
Harding will kick off the home portion of their schedule next Friday night when they host the Buchtel Griffins.
Top Performers
Warren Harding Raiders
Chaz Coleman: 5-7 92 yards TD 14 carries 67 yards TD
Mi’King Adair: 10 carries 15 yards 1 catch 23 yards
Canton McKinley Bulldogs
Kam Montgomery: 4-11 68 yards 2 TD 1 INT
Nino Hill: 28 carries 161 yards 2 TD
Jamar Johnson: 11 carries 31 yards
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
McKinley 8:28- Kam Montgomery to Deejay Britt, 31 yards (kick no good)
2nd Quarter
Harding 10:33- Airiz Coleman-Bay, 38-yard interception return (kick no good)
McKinley 3:45- Nino Hill, 5-yard run (kick good)
Harding 2:21- Chaz Coleman to Marcus Crum Jr., 42 yards (kick good)
McKinley 0:18- Kam Montgomery to Darius Hill, 9 yards (kick no good)
3rd Quarter
Harding 3:22- Chaz Coleman, 1-yard run (kick no good)
4th Quarter
McKinley 11:02- Nino Hill, 10-yard run (kick good)
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | FINAL | |
| Harding | 0 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 19 |
| McKinley | 6 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 26 |
