Week 6- Toledo Scott (1-4) @ Warren G. Harding (2-3)
In liue of a collage of legends from both football programs, this week's background image features '04 Warren G. Harding alum Richard Davis, whop is currently the head football coach for Toledo Scott.
Just like that, we’re at the midway point of the 2026 high school football season. For Warren G. Harding, their success has been predicated on whether or not they can gain and maintain momentum as they’ve faced quality opponents every week.
Harding senior and University of Cincinnati commit Zay'vion Smith charges through Youngtown Ursuline's offensive front to record a tackle for a loss on 09/18/2026.
In the season opener against Canton McKinley, the Bulldogs consistently prevented the Raiders from maintaining any momentum. As a result, a 7-0 deficit for the first 23 minutes of the game ultimately ballooned into a 33-0 loss. In fact, Harding didn’t seem to gain any traction until the 1:11 mark of the third quarter against Youngstown High School. That said, the 19-yard touchdown pass from quarterback James Jones to Kai Parker sparked a run of 91 points in 10 quarters. The problem was that in week 4, Massillon Jackson stole the Raiders’ momentum with a well-timed onside kick in the third quarter to help them eventually win by the score of 44-37.
Harding senior defensive back Elijah Phillips recognizes the bubble screen and charges through to record a tackle for a lossagainst Ursuline on 09/18/2026.
This past Friday against longtime foe Youngstown Ursuline, the Fighting Irish came out swinging as they scored the game’s first 20 points, all in the first quarter. However, the Raiders’ offense began to get some traction as Jones found sophomore Lavez Powell for a 24-yard touchdown pass at the 7:05 mark of the third quarter. On Ursuline’s ensuing drive, Harding’s defense finally forced them to turn it over on downs and got the ball back with 2:01 remaining until halftime. That said, after gaining a couple of first downs, Harding’s ensuing drive stalled at the Ursuline 30-yard line.
During the second quarter against Ursuline on 09/18/2026, Harding senior quarterback James Jones finds sophomore Lavez Powell for a 24-yard touchdown. It marked the first score of Powell's varsity football career.
After being down 20-7 at halftime, Harding came out in the third quarter and drove nearly the entire length of the field, but eventually came up one yard short of scoring. With that, a potential 21-20 Harding lead remained a 20-7 deficit with 6:20 remaining in the third quarter. Despite the defense responding with an interception deep in their own territory by junior linebacker Joseph Daniel, the Raiders eventually turned the ball over on downs at their own 35-yard line and the short field eventually resulted in an Ursuline touchdown. After going three- & out on their next drive, Harding’s punt resulted in a 64-yard punt return for a touchdown by Ursuline speedster Ray Javey. Again, a game that could’ve potentially been 21-20 Harding midway into the third quarter eventually snowballed into a 40-7 Ursuline victory.
Backed up deep in their own territory, Harding sophomore linebacker Josepd Daniel haults Ursuline's scoring threat by hauling in the first interception of his young varsity football career on 09/18/2026.
The aforementioned scenarios illustrate just how quickly momentum can swing games. When you play against the level of competition that Harding sees every week, every single play counts. That said, even at 3-2, head coach Matt Richardson knows that there is plenty of football left to be played. Moving forward, his Raiders will work on gaining and maintaining momentum, handling adversity better, finishing their drives with points on the board, and setting a stronger standard on defense.
Harding senior kicker Jaron "G.G." Edmonds kicks a touchback against Ursuline on 09/18/2026.
Despite the tough setbacks, Richardson knows that his young men are fully equipped to do just that as 14 Raiders currently combine for 80 scholarship offers. Statistically, Jones is getting close to posting top 10 numbers in Harding history for passing yards (currently sitting at 1,375 for his career; 162 yards shy of tying for 10th place) and touchdowns (14; two touchdowns shy of tying for 8th place). Meanwhile, the younger Matt Richardson is on pace to not only have top 10 season in Harding history for receiving yards in a season (currently has 377; 204 yards shy of tying for 10th place), but he only needs 181 yards shy of tying for 10th in a career.
Harding senior and Central Michigan commit Matt Richardson blocks an extra point against Ursuline on 09/18/2026.
No, winning football games and compiling big statistics aren’t the same thing. That said, the Raiders aren’t short on talent and their shortcomings during the first half of the season could make them better equipped to handle adversity better in the long run. While it won’t be an easy task, if they can clean things up and elevate their level of play every week, they still have a shot to potentially make a run for a spot in the Division II: Region 5 playoffs.
Harding senior defensive lineman Justice Dukes records a tackle for a loss against Ursuline on 09/18/2026.
Speaking of “top ten performers,” this week, Harding will welcome a very familiar face back into Mollenkopf Stadium as legendary running back Richard Davis, the current head football coach for Toledo Scott, will bring his young men into his hometown to battle the Raiders. From 2001 thru 2003, Davis built a resume at Harding that won’t be forgotten any time soon. To this day, he remains among their all-time leaders in carries (377; 7th), rushing yards (2,515; 6th), and rushing touchdowns (39; 4th). Richardson definitely remembers Davis’ impact as back then, he served as the Raiders’ running backs coach.
Then-Harding junior Richard Davis dashes down the sideline for an 80-yard touchdown run against Canton McKinley on 10/12/2002.
Now the head of his own program as well, Davis is also navigating his young men through a grueling schedule as they’ve faced teams the likes of Sandusky Perkins (5-0) and St. John’s Jesuit (3-2). Offensively, the Bulldogs have gotten production through the air from two different quarterbacks in senior Roshawn Russell and junior Renee McMillian, who is also a threat at wide receiver as he also hauled in an 80-yard touchdown catch from Russell against Perkins. However, expect a good amount of targets to go to wideout Trametreous Foster, whose biggest game of the season was his 10-catch, 87-yard and one-touchdown performance against Cleveland John Hay.
Then Harding-junior Richard Davis breaks loose for a 46-yard touchdown run during their Division I: Region 1 first round game against Cleveland St. Ignatius on 11/02/2002.
Scott's ground attack is powered by several players as Russell, McMillian, Foster, Mysean Lane, Antuan Gordon, and Exavier Johnson have all put up numbers this season. Speaking of Johnson, Harding must always know where he is on both sides of the field. While he has scored on a 45-yard touchdown run this season, the 5-foot-11, 165-pound senior athlete is coming off of a big junior campaign as last year, he registered 120 tackles (8.0 for a loss(, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. As a result, he took home 1st Team honors from the Toledo City League and Northwest District while also receiving Special Mentions from the Toledo Blade and all of Division II.
Then-Harding senior Richard Davis scores on a 42-yard touchdown run against Boardman on 10/03/2026.
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