It’s been a season of “firsts” for Warren G. Harding’s football program. For starters, it’s the first head coaching season of Matt Richardson. Thanks to the first victory over Austintown Fitch since the 2020 playoffs, 2024 marks the first time this decade that the Raiders have finished the regular season four games above .500. Not only that, but it also serves as the first winning season for the current senior class.
Speaking of “seniors,” 2024 also marks the first year that Harding has featured the versatility of Chaz Coleman, who has lined up at quarterback, wide receiver, linebacker, safety, and punter. Offensively, he has 1,238 yards (542 passing, 607 rushing, and 89 receiving) & 15 touchdowns worth of total offense while defensively, he has six tackles for a loss, four sacks, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and another two scores. Lately, he’s been splitting time at quarterback with sophomore James Jones, who is 34-of-59 for 349 yards while throwing three touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s coming off of the best game of his young career as he was 10-of-12 for 119 yards while throwing two touchdowns against Austintown Fitch.
The top targets for Harding this season have been Marcus Crum Jr. (28 catches for 246 yards & 3 touchdowns), Brown University commit Airiz Coleman Bey (15 catches for 216 yards & 1 touchdown), Stephen Sims (15 catches for 169 yards & 1 touchdown), Devon Morgan III (10 catches for 95 yards & 2 touchdowns), Coleman (4 catches for 89 yards & 2 touchdowns), and Matt Richardson 8 catches for 38 yards). Chaz Coleman has been the featured rusher as he has 134 carries for 607 yards & 7 touchdowns while his brother, Brandon Coleman Jr., has 71 carries for 195 yards & 3 touchdowns.
In addition to Chaz Coleman, Kenneth Byrd Jr. (4), Tyler Smith (4), Raylin Adams (2), Deshawn Wynn (2), Anthony Simpson (1), and Aiden Allen (1) have all recorded tackles for a loss while Coleman Bey (3), Adams (2), and Donovan Salero McCoy (1) have hauled in interceptions for the Raiders.
This week, Harding will welcome an unfamiliar foe to Mollenkopf Stadium in Cleveland John Hay. The only two matchups between the two were in the 1990 and 1991 season openers. However, Raider supporters may recall basketball matchups against the Hornets in the 90’s. In the earlier part of that decade, they featured then-future NBA player Ruben Patterson, who would go on to spend 10 seasons in the league. John Hay is also the alma mater of long time NBA tough guy Charles Oakley, who spent 19 years in the league.
On the football side, John Hay produced former NFL players Tim McGee (1986-1994), Wesley Carroll (1991-1993), Anthony Hancock (1982-1986), John Hicks (1974-1977), and Earl Douthitt (1975).
John Hay’s record of 5-5 is a bit deceiving as they played two games without wide receiver/tight end A’Chauntez Glenn, who checks in at 6-foot-7, 219 pounds. The Hornets will be led onto the field by quarterback Deysean Rosser, who has shown the ability to strike quickly with his legs as he scored on a 54-yard touchdown run in a 20-0 victory over Independence.
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