Week 1- Warren G. Harding (0-0) @ Canton McKinley (0-0)
- David Baugh
- 10 hours ago
- 5 min read
Despite coming off of an injury-laden 3-6 football season in 2025, Warren G. Harding head coach Matt Richardson and his staff have their young athletes, as they like to say, ready to "run and hit" this fall. After a productive offseason training with world renowned Head of Strength & Conditioning Mike Bartos, they’ll come into this season ready to make a jump into the elite of Division II.
Warren G. Harding head football coach Matt Richardson addresses his team during their College Showcase back on 05/08/2026. To date, nine Raiders currently have a combined 67 scholarship offers.
If you want an illustration of how far the Raiders have come this offseason, just take a look at junior tailback Makhai Brogdon. Last season, he was 5-foot-10, 169 pounds. Today, he checks in at 5-foot-11, 197 pounds and is aiming to have a breakthrough season after posting 350 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 58 carries in 2025. Seniors Elijah Phillips (5’9”, 170lbs) and Da'Marea Hugley (5’8”, 165) will provide quality depth at the tailback position while classmate Jeramiah Crenshaw (5’8”, 205lbs) and sophomore Braylen Wilson (5’11”, 200lbs) will rotate as the lead blockers at fullback.
Harding junior Makhai Brogdon breaks free for a 70-yard touchdown run during a scrimmage against Steubenville on 08/07/2026.
Meanwhile, senior quarterback James Jones (6’3”, 220lbs) comes into his final season 65-of-116 for 749 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions for his career while sophomore Elias Johnson has also shown promise in his reps as the backup. Their weapons on the outside will include seniors Asa Coleman (6’0”, 190lbs) and Central Michigan University commit Matt Richardson (5’10”, 173lbs) with classmate Austin Blackwell (6’1”, 185lbs), junior Kai Parker (5’9”, 168lbs), and sophomore Lavez Powell (5’10”, 165lbs) in the mix at wide receiver. Look for Asa Burch (6’5”, 210lbs), a 4-star prospect for the class of 2028, to start at tight end.
Harding's senior duo of quarterback James Jones and wide receiver Matt Richardson connect on a 25-yard tocudhwon pass during their scrimmage against Steubenville on 08/07/2026.
Whoever is on the field for Harding’s offense will have the luxury of operating behind a polished group of linemen that performed well in their preseason scrimmages against Steubenville and Painesville Riverside. A healthy rotation of seniors in Mike Wade (6’2”, 300lbs), Josh Flenory (6’2”, 270lbs), Ja Momon-Jackson (6’1”, 320lbs) and University of Cincinnati commit Zay’vion Smith (6’5”, 245lbs) will be enhanced by junior Ja’Tese Coleman (6’2”, 270lbs) and sophomore Chase Tibbs (6’2” 255lbs), who began last season as a freshman starting on varsity before an early-season injury sidelined him for rest of the year.
Harding's Zay'vion Smith works out for coaches at their College Showcase on 05/08/2026. He verbally committed to the University of Cincinnati on 04/01/2026.
As previously mentioned, Burch has been one of the more talked about “EDGE” prospects in the entire country since October 14, 2025, which marks the day that he picked up the first of his 26 scholarship offers (Wayne State). Smith will man the opposite end of the line while seniors Justice Dukes (6’0”; 230lbs) and Kendrick Brown (6’1”, 250lbs) will also look to be forces along the defensive front. Crenshaw, Wilson, seniors Brayden Tatum (6’5”, 235lbs) and Jaylen Murray (6'0", 215lbs), and junior Dwann Scott (6’2”, 200lbs) will all contribute at linebacker while Richardson headlines a defensive backfield that will rotate Phillips, Johnson, senior Antonio Dukes (5’11”, 178lbs), junior Erick Hill (5'9", 155lbs), and sophomore Zeri’on Redding (5’10”, 161lbs).
Harding's Asa Burch records the second "pick-6" of his sophomore season against Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary on 09/12/2025.
Last but certainly not least, Harding senior kicker/punter Jaron Edmonds has a legit shot to rewrite the school record books as he currently ranks 2nd in history with 11 made field goals (‘24 alum Jake Daugherty made 13 from 2020-23). That includes a school single-game record four made field goals in last year’s season opener against Canton McKinley. Numerous outlets on social media have mentioned his name among the best kickers in the entire state. Davenport University certainly agrees as they officially extended a scholarship offer on 05/16/2026.
Senior kicker Jaron "G.G." Edmonds showcases his leg strength with a 46-yard field goal during Harding's scrimmage against Steubenville on 08/07/2026.
Speaking of “McKinley,” there’s very few high schools in the country that have a resume that matches that of the Bulldogs. To date, they rank 8th nationally with 33 professional football players produced and 10th with 891 all-time wins. To date, they've won three state championships during the playoff era (1981, 1997, 1998) while also being credited with two national championships from the Associated Press (1934, 1997).
Team photo of the 1997 Canton McKinley Bulldogs that finished the season 14-0, won the OHSAA Division I state championship, and was crowned the USA Today national championship. Their head coach, Thom McDaniels (top right), would eventually lead Harding's football program from 2000 thru 2006.
That said, even with a history that grand, the Bulldogs’ 2025 season saw then-sophomore tailback Kyelin West burst onto the scene in historic fashion. After rushing for 189 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener against Harding, he’d go on to secure OHSAA 1st Team All-Division I honors with 1,503 rushing yards, the 7th highest single-season total in McKinley history, and 12 touchdowns. This season, fans should also look out for junior tailback DeMarlo Rozier Jr., an incoming transfer from Glenoak who is primed to compete for his father’s alma mater. In 1997, Rozier Sr. was the starting tailback on their OHSAA Division I & USA Today national championship winning team.
Then-Canton McKinley sophomore tailback Kyelin West breaks loose for an 84-yard touchdown against Harding on 08/22/2025.
The Bulldogs also boast a pair of elite wide receivers in Division I prospect Demarco Richardson Jr. (offers from Bowling Green and Miami University) and Darius Hill, who has scored touchdowns in both of his career games against Harding. Junior tight end Legacy Lee is also one to watch out for as he currently holds offers from Kent State, Howard, and Miami of Ohio as well.
McKinley quarterback Trent Hayden connects with Darius Hill for a 24-yard touchdown against Harding on 08/22/2025.
Defensively, McKinley will be powered by a plethora of senior Division I college prospects. One that the Raider faithful should remember is senior edge/linebacker Amare Mitchell, a Ball State commit who returned a fumble 40 yards for a touchdown in Warren last season. Defensive tackle Javier Moore holds an offer from Kentucky, linebacker Antonio Stevens has been offered by Kent State and Findlay, and strong safety Shad Davis is being looked at by several MAC schools. Last season, Stevens led the Bulldogs with 110 tackles, which includes 15 for a loss.
McKinley EDGE Amare Mitchell recovers a Harding fumble and returns it 40 yards for a touchdown on 08/22/2025.
Like Harding with Coach Bartos, McKinley also has one of the best strength and conditioning coaches in the world in Mike Winkler, whose time at Archbishop Hoban from 2014 thru 2024 directly coincides with 10 (team) state championships that were won by the Knights. They include five in football (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020), two in boys golf (2020, 2024), one in boys basketball (2023), one in baseball (2023), and one in girls soccer (2015). His previous experience also includes a combined eight years in the MLB for the Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Pittsburgh Pirates as well as a light stint with Cleveland Benedictine in 2024.
The coaching staffs at both Harding and McKinley have both put a strong emphasis on player development. In addition to Winkler, Coach Richardson and McKinley head coach Renard “Renzy” Parnell were all once on Hoban’s staff aiding in the development of its championship-winning legacy, so they all know what it takes to succeed. Even with as many young athletes that have been discussed in this write up, both programs are filled with numerous players who have worked hard and are eager to introduce themselves to the world. Expect a great effort from both teams this Friday.
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