THE LEON’S DEN

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BOARDMAN, OH- When you take a look down to the field prior to the game and see #24 for South Range, you can’t help but be impressed.  Size, speed, great hands, football IQ, agility, and intensity flows through the pipes of the Raider senior.

Ayden Leon has waited for his time to shine.  He’s prayed for these opportunities, and he’s earned his stripes along the way.

The best part about this young man, is none of the things listed above- but the heart he has to do everything for others.  Simply stated- Ayden Leon would give you the shirt off his back if you earned his respect.

A young man with an incredibly bright future, taking trips to the University of Kentucky, and receiving looks from schools like Princeton means that Ayden might be finally making his way onto the radar of Saturday afternoons very soon.  However, before he gets there- according to him- he and his teammates have some work ahead of them on Friday Nights.

We caught up with Ayden for this week’s South Range Player Profile: The Leon’s Den

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STARK REALITY

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BOARDMAN, OH- Being an athlete is in the DNA of South Range Senior, Jake Starkey.  One of the most athletic families you’ll come across (not to mention competitive) is making their name known in the 330 this year more than any previous year.

A big reason is the guy who wears #28 for the South Range Raiders.  Starkey seems to never come off the field- you can presumably find him in the “South Range Swarm” on every tackle of every play on any given Friday night.

We sat down with Jake and talked about the season that is, alongside the adversity he felt with the loss of not only a teammate but his brother’s season-ending injury.

It’s a family affair on this week’s edition of South Range Player Profile- Stark Reality.

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SHANE LIKES TO SHINE

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BOARDMAN, OH- “Small But Mighty” the sign reads at Raider Stadium, alongside the number 11 on the banner.  Shane Lindstrom might be one of the smaller players in the tri-state area, but could also be considered to be pound for pound the best competitor in that same demographic.

The South Range senior starred earlier in his life with gymnastics, but according to his dad, always was holding a football.  A young man who you can see is determination personified anytime he has the ball go in his direction- Lindstrom has had a big-time year, leading the Raiders in receiving through 8 weeks, and some of the best highlight-making plays this area has seen in years.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Shane Lindstrom in this week’s Player Profile for South Range.

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WAID WINS GOLD HELMET AWARD

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WALTHAM, MASS – Bentley University graduate quarterback Mark Waid (Cortland, Ohio/Girard HS)has been named this week’s recipient of the New England Football Writers Association Division II/III Gold Helmet Awards presented by the Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation.

In a 38-7 win over Saint Anselm Saturday, Waid threw five touchdown passes while completing 13 of 20 passes for 232 yards. He had an outstanding passing rating of 224.94 and also gained 59 rushing yards on 11 carries. The Youngstown State transfer distributed passes to nine different receivers and the touchdowns covered 59, 1, 14, 5 and 7 yards. All this came against a Saint Anselm team that came into the game at 4-1 and ranked first in the NE10 in scoring defense (10.4).

Waid has led the Falcons to a 4-2 record and a conference-best 33.0 scoring average by completing 53 percent of his passes for 1,012 yards, 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He’s also the team’s top rusher with 451 yards and two TDs.

Waid leads the Northeast-10 in passing efficiency (157.8) and is also second in rushing yards and TD passes, and fourth in passing yards and completion percentage.

Nationally in Division II, Waid ranks third in passing yards per completion, fourth among rushing yards by a quarterback, tenth in rushing yards per carry and 11th in passing efficiency.

Waid is the first Falcon to win a Gold Helmet since Austin Ryan in 2017.

Next Saturday, Bentley plays at Assumption University.

 

*Contributed/written by bentleyfalcons.com

SCHIAVI TAKES THEM TO SCHOOL

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NORTH JACKSON OH- Everyone came in to the 2022 football season knowing the caliber of quarterbacks that were featured in the area. The Mahoning Valley features maybe the most returning stars under center than we’ve ever seen. Little did we know that Jackson Milton had one waiting in the wings. In Week 1 Jackson Milton’s Alex Schiavi introduced himself with a monster 7 touchdown game.  He has taken the reigns of the quarterback position inside a conference that already features a ton of talent. Schiavi holds his own that is for sure. He has managed to quickly gain the respect of the locker room, and become an incredible leader on the field.  He almost acts as a second coach. He is someone who can definitely be trusted to get his teammates in the right positions. That is why Jackson Milton is on the cusp of one of their best season’s in program history. Through 8 weeks the Jays sit at 6-2.

Schiavi doesn’t care much for personal numbers, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t putting up some seriously impressive ones. Through 8 games Schiavi is 125/186 through the air. That is a completion percentage of 67%.  He has thrown for 1471 yards.  He has a solid touchdown to interception ratio as well with 21 scores and only 6 INT.

Schiavi took the time this week to hop on YSN’s Running Point to talk about his fantastic season.  He talks with Richie Juliano, DJ Yokley, and Anthony Hartwig about his role on the team, his mindset on game days, and much more. Check out the latest Jackson Milton Football Player Profile on YSN!

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SOUTH RANGE KEEPS FALCONS GROUNDED

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JEFFERSON, OH- For seven weeks, the South Range Raiders have been on the winning end of things on the scoreboard.  Jefferson’s valiant air attack certainly posed a threat leading into week 8, but the Raiders quickly extinguished flames from the nest in a 42-7 victory.

South Range started just under the ten-minute mark when Billy Skripac bounced in a run from 10-yards away.  On the very next drive offensively, Skripac did it again from 1-yard out to give the Raiders a two-score advantage at 14-0.

Jefferson would get on the board just after the second quarter began when Grant Hitchcock ran the ball in from six yards away to cut the score in half at 14-7.

South Range would take the momentum back quickly when Tyler Remish blasted his way into the endzone from four yards away to make it 21-7.  The Raiders would score once more before the half when Skripac would find Shane Lindstrom a yard away to make the game 28-7.

After the break, Skripac kept the same script when he called his own number from 5-yards out to make it a 35-7 lead.  The Raiders would wrap up the game with 2:47 to go in the third when Skripac connected with Ayden Leon from 48-yards to put the game away at 42-7.

South Range would finish with 399 yards of offense through 53 plays, which included 181 yards through the air and 218 yards on the ground.  Jefferson would finish with 114 yards total in the contest, every one of them on the ground.

Billy Skripac would finish with 148 yards on seven completions and a pair of scores through the air, while adding three on the ground on his eight rushes.

Tyler Remish would lead the rushing attack with 109 yards and a score.  JD Crouse would lead receivers with two receptions for 59 yards, but Leon and Lindstrom hauled in a TD apiece.

Nick and Joey Plunkett were the defensive leaders with five tackles apiece, Tyler Remish added 4.5 tackles to the tally for the Raiders.

Luke Funtash led the Falcons offensively with 56 yards on 13 rushing attempts.  Grant Hitchcock would add 42 yards and a score as well.

South Range (8-0) will look to keep their winning ways next week as Lakeview will invade Raider Stadium for Homecoming, while Jefferson (5-3) will head to Poland to take on the Bulldogs.

MOONEY COMPLETES MEMORABLE COMEBACK

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WARREN, OH- Mollenkopf stadium was the stage for a heavy bout in week 8 between Mooney and Warren Harding Friday night. It was a heavy hearted game for the Cardinals, dealing with adversity on and off the field. A not so good first half turned into an unbelievable comeback in the 2nd half. The Raiders raced out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter, and went into halftime with that lead. Mooney found a second gear in the second half and exploded with 26 unanswered points and did not allow Harding to find the endzone again to come away with a huge 26-17 victory. 

Warren Harding started the game off with a quick two scores, both by Dalys Jett. Jett took the second play of the game 74-yards for a touchdown. The next drive, Jett found Naujeat Jones for a 21-yard TD pass. Coming out of half down by 17, Jarmar Howell and the Cardinals took over. Howell came out firing with 109 rushing yards in just the third quarter. Ashton O’Brien put up the first score for the Cardinals with an 18 yard TD. Then early in the fourth, Howell cut the Harding lead down to three with a 7-yard TD run. After a turnover by the Raiders, Mooney pulled some tricks out of their bag with a direct snap play to Alec Delsignore who found the endzone to give the Cardinals their first lead of the night. Harding would eventually give up another turnover, but Mooney gave it right back within minutes after an interception. But Delsignore came up huge for the Cardinals when he snatched a pick 6 to extend Mooney’s lead to 26-17. 

For Mooney, Howell finished with 169 yards on 17 carries and a TD. Mooney outgained the Raiders in the second half, 250-100.

The Cardinals will move to 4-4 on the season and will host Steubenville on Saturday. The Raiders will move to 2-6 on the season and will travel to Chaney to take on the Cowboys Friday night.

*Contributed By YSN’s Brendan Miller

ROCKETS DON’T WAIVER ONE BIT

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MCDONALD, OH- With Lowellville still unbeaten and almost no one to stop them, they’re sitting comfortably up at the top heading into the last few weeks of the regular season. But, they did have a tall task in front of them in McDonald Friday night as the Blue Devils hosted the Rockets in week 8 action. Lowellville came into Friday night’s matchup looking for their first win at McDonald since 2002. McDonald made the opening portion of the passing game tough for Lowellville by keeping that in check. But just like any other great balanced team does, the Rockets found success in their running game to roll past McDonald with a 36-13 victory.

The Rockets came out firing quickly on the ground with scores by Marcus Dubos, and Santino Rivera-Ocasio. Vinny Ballone then added a quick passing touchdown to Brady Bunofsky to push their lead to 21-0. A safety forced by Bunofsky and an immediate Ballone rushing touchdown then put the Rockets up by 29 going into half. Although McDonald would have some push back in the second half, the rolling offense and tough defense for Lowellville secured the victory.

For Lowellville, Ballone was 16/27 for 185 yards in the air and 33 on the ground with 2 TDs. Rivera-Ocasio finished with 27 yards on 8 carries. Marcus Dubos had 44 rushing yards on 5 carries. Bunofsky came down with 7 receptions for 84 yards and 2 TDs.
Lowellville will move to 8-0 on the season going into week 9 as they will travel to Mineral Ridge on Friday. McDonald will move to 2-6 and will host Waterloo Friday night.

*Contributed By YSN’s Brendan Miller

POLAND DEFENSE UP FOR THE TASK

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CORTLAND, OH- It was all defense in the battle between Poland and Lakeview in week 8 action in Cortland Friday night. A late 3rd quarter field goal and a late-game touchdown was all that was needed for Poland to come away with a low scoring victory, 9-0.

It was a back and forth battle as both teams’ defenses stood tall each time the other came close to scoring. But late in the third, Poland was able to build a little bit of momentum that was capped off by a 30-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Jas Stefancin. Again, both teams’ defenses stepped up as it would stay locked at 3-0 for a chunk of time. In the fourth, Poland’s defense showed their strength over Lakeview with a huge interception by JD Memo who took all the way back to Lakeviews 1-yard line. Cole Fulton found a hole and punched it in to give Poland a 9-0 lead. The Lakeview drive, Memo came down with another pick to seal the game.

Looking forward, Poland will move to 5-3 and will host Jefferson on Friday. Lakeview moves to 3-5 on the season as they will travel to South Range to take on the undefeated Raiders Friday night.

*Contributed By YSN’s Brendan Miller

BEAVER LOCAL CONTINUES TO CRUISE

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EAST LIVERPOOL OH-?The Beavers continued their path of destruction on Friday night, as they defeated the Indian Creek Redskins 56-13.

 

The Beavers forced a turnover on downs on the first drive of the game, and followed it up with a 2 play TD drive as Austin Cline found Caden Foster from 12 yards out. On their next possession, it took them 5 plays to reach the end zone thanks to a 35 yard house call by Kaydon Bobby on a screen pass. Indian Creek didn’t just go away though, as Isaac Robinson housed the ensuing kickoff from 75 yards, and then both defenses took control the rest of the first quarter. In the second, the Beavers found their stride. Following a muffed punt Austin Cline threw a fadeaway pass to the endzone where Noah Bowyer made a tough catch while also drawing a pass interference call to make it 21-6. The penalty was enforced on the kickoff, and the Beavers went with a surprise inside kick which they recovered.

 

Austin Cline then ran it in from 20 yards out for his 4th total TD on the day, putting Beaver Local up 28-6. Their defense continued to create stops, and a Gabe Morgan 1 yard TD run followed by a 4 yard TD pass from Cline to Bobby again made it 42-6 at the half. The Beavers put the cherry on top with a Blake Lucas kickoff return TD to start the second half and a Wade Foster TD run in cleanup duty late in the fourth. Indian Creek scored one more time in the third, but it wasn’t enough as the final was 56-13.

 

The win secured a second straight Buckeye 8 conference title, and the Beavers will look to extend their 6 game winning streak next week against John Hay.

*Contributed By YSN’s Michael McKenzie