BLUE DEVILS TORMENT MINERAL RIDGE

BERLIN CENTER OH- The last time Mineral Ridge were able to beat their Mahoning County Athletic Conference Rival Western Reserve Blue Devils was nearly two decades ago in 2005, winning 56-10. The year before, they won 28-14 but since then it has been all Western Reserve. Would the Rams end the winless streak, or was it going to be the same story with Reserve winning for another straight season? We would have to see as head coach Jason Lude and the Blue Devils host the Rams and coach Brain Shaner.

The first quarter saw both teams have at least two possessions on the ground, but the time of possession was the huge factor as the Blue Devils kept on pounding the ball with star running back and sleeper in the valley David Altiere. With young sophomore quarterback Luke Henning struggling a bit through the air, the Blue Devils and coach Lude decided to have him use his feet more and that’s what he did as Henning scored two touchdowns in the second quarter. The first being a qb godlike sneak for three yards and the second being from five yards out. With both two point conversions by Altiere good, it was now 16-0.

Reserve would get the ball back after a few Mark Bunch and Mineral Ridge turnover on downs. It was a tough night for the Rams during that time too as senior Mark Bunch would be banged up a bit and for a play, had to be replaced by freshman Brady Balestrino for a play. It was tough as well for Alex Sturgeon and Ian Erb to get the ground game going, being stopped below 20-yards rushing.

Back to the Blue Devils, they continued to pound the ground game with Altiere who had already reached over 100 yards on the night and decided to go a little extra abs blast through a few tacklers going 39-yards to pader making it 22-0. The last touchdown scored on the night for the Blue Devils was in the fourth with 7:06 remaining as Justin McLain took it in himself one-yard out making the final 28-0 with the Blue Devils, saving their season in Division six region 22, while the Rams will be in desperate situation in Division six region 21.

Mineral Ridge Stats
Mark Bunch: 8-16 for 73 yards 0 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.

Ian Erb: six rushes for 18 yards

Alex Sturgeon: six rushes for 13 yards

73 yards total team yards receiving with Tyler Tamburro, Mason Miller and Aaron Myers.

8 receptions and 9.1 yards per catch.

Western Reserve stats
Luke Henning: 4 of 7 for 75 yards. 0 touchdowns 1 interception passing. 12 carries for 36 yards and two touchdowns rushing.

David Altiere: 21 carries for 171 yards. Avg 8.1 yards and a touchdown. Caleb Durig: three rushes for 48 yards. Justin McLain five carries for 18 yards.

Ethan Cannon first half one reception for six yards. (Made a big time jumping catch in the second half).

88 total receiving yards

14.7 yards after catch and six receiving completions

Up Next
Western Reserve (3-3) will head to AA Burkey Memorial Stadium to take on the Division seven McDonald Blue Devils (2-4) next Friday at 7pm. Mineral Ridge (2-4) hosts the Division seven Jackson-Milton Blue Jays (2-4) at 7pm next Friday.

*Contributed by YSN’s Ian O’Brien*