<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1LOucs_1GrNsff100" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1LOucs_1GrNsff100" width="845" height="321" ></figure>MCDONALD, OH — For a moment, Lowellville had McDonald on the ropes. But when the Blue Devils needed a response, they delivered a knockout punch.McDonald erupted for 35 unanswered points to erase a third-quarter deficit and storm past Lowellville, 56-24, in Friday night’s OHSAA regional quarterfinal showdown, punching its ticket to the regional semifinals.After watching a 14-point first-quarter lead disappear, the Blue Devils leaned on their explosive rushing attack, timely defensive takeaways, and the playmaking ability of quarterback Quinn Schmidt to put the Rockets away.McDonald wasted little time establishing control. Schmidt intercepted a Lowellville pass early in the first quarter, setting the stage for Dominic Sampson’s 7-yard touchdown run with 7:09 remaining. Nick Larson added the extra point to give the Blue Devils a 7-0 advantage.Just over two minutes later, Schmidt connected with Joey Krumpak on a 26-yard touchdown strike, doubling McDonald’s lead to 14-0.But Lowellville wasn’t about to go quietly. The Rockets found their offensive rhythm in the second quarter behind quarterback Ricky Willrich, who connected with Carter Hvisdak on an electrifying 82-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 14-6.Schmidt answered with a 5-yard touchdown run to restore McDonald’s 15-point cushion, but Willrich continued to attack through the air.The Lowellville signal-caller found Anthony Kacir for a 17-yard touchdown pass midway through the quarter, then connected with Kacir again on a 12-yard scoring strike with just eight seconds remaining before halftime.Suddenly, what had looked like a McDonald runaway had turned into a heavyweight fight, with the Blue Devils clinging to a 21-18 halftime advantage.The drama intensified after the break. McDonald’s Tyler Nalbach intercepted a pass early in the third quarter, but Lowellville’s defense answered when Nate Brown recovered a fumble to give the Rockets another opportunity.Daniel Huff made the most of it. The Lowellville running back broke free for a 66-yard touchdown run with 8:28 remaining in the third quarter, giving the Rockets their first lead of the night at 24-21.It would also be their last points of the season. McDonald responded with the kind of championship-caliber football that has carried the Blue Devils through their postseason run.Preston VanMeter broke loose for a 25-yard touchdown run with 6:10 remaining in the third quarter, putting McDonald back in front, 28-24.Schmidt followed with his second 5-yard touchdown run of the evening at the 2:24 mark, stretching the advantage to 35-24 heading into the final quarter.From there, the Blue Devils slammed the door. Sampson opened the fourth quarter with a 16-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 42-24. Less than a minute later, Schmidt came up with another interception, giving McDonald possession deep in Lowellville territory.Sampson immediately capitalized, scoring on another 16-yard run to push the advantage to 49-24 with 9:57 remaining.Caleb Gallner provided the finishing touches with a 26-yard touchdown run at the 1:42 mark, completing McDonald’s remarkable second-half surge.Larson was perfect on all eight extra-point attempts as the Blue Devils piled up eight touchdowns in the victory.Schmidt delivered an outstanding all-around performance, accounting for three offensive touchdowns with two rushing scores and a touchdown pass to Krumpak. He also intercepted two passes defensively, making his presence felt on both sides of the football.Sampson powered the ground attack with three rushing touchdowns, while VanMeter and Gallner each added a scoring run.For Lowellville, Willrich threw three touchdown passes, including two to Kacir and the 82-yard strike to Hvisdak. Huff added the Rockets’ lone rushing touchdown with his 66-yard burst.Despite the loss, Lowellville showed plenty of fight, overcoming an early 14-0 deficit and briefly taking the lead in the third quarter before McDonald’s offense took over.The Blue Devils outscored the Rockets 35-0 over the final 18-plus minutes, turning a three-point deficit into a convincing 32-point victory.The road to a regional championship now runs through a showdown between two familiar Mahoning Valley powers. McDonald advances to the regional semifinals, where the Blue Devils will face Springfield, which punched its own ticket to the next round with a commanding 34-7 victory over Norwalk St. Paul.The matchup promises another high-stakes chapter between two programs with deep football traditions and plenty of postseason experience.For McDonald, the formula is clear: keep the offense rolling, continue forcing turnovers, and build on the momentum of a dominant second-half performance. With a regional championship opportunity drawing closer, the Blue Devils are proving they have the firepower to make some serious noise in November.</div></body>

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MCDONALD, OH — For a moment, Lowellville had McDonald on the ropes. But when the Blue Devils needed a response, they delivered a knockout punch. McDonald erupted for 35 unanswered points to erase a third-quarter deficit and storm past Lowellville, 56-24, in Friday night’s OHSAA regional quarterfinal showdown, punching its ticket to the regional semifinals.

MCDONALD ERUPTS IN THE SECOND HALF

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MCDONALD, OH — For a moment, Lowellville had McDonald on the ropes. But when the Blue Devils needed a response, they delivered a knockout punch. McDonald e

MCDONALD ERUPTS IN THE SECOND HALF

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