SPARTANS FIGHT RUNS SHORT IN WARREN
WARREN, OH- In a wild matchup, the Warren G Harding Raiders clinched their second straight win by taking down the Boardman Spartans with a final score of 38-20.
The game kicked off with some unexpected twists. Donovan McCoy fumbled the ball after a reception, and it was quickly scooped up by Boardman’s Aiden Berg, who raced 30 yards into the end zone for a surprise touchdown, giving Boardman an early lead.
But Harding wasted no time in responding. Javonte Jones made a spectacular return on the ensuing kickoff, bringing the ball all the way to Boardman’s four-yard line. That set the stage for Antonio Smith, who, despite a tricky snap, managed to grab the ball and dart into the end zone from the right side.
Throughout the game, the Raiders displayed a well-balanced offense, mixing both running and passing plays effectively. Israel Reynolds had a strong showing, carrying the ball 16 times for 79 yards and scoring two touchdowns. Antonio Smith also contributed with nine carries for 31 yards.
The standout performance, however, came from the Raiders’ passing game. Quarterback Chaz Coleman completed nine of his 16 pass attempts, racking up an impressive 219 passing yards. Naujeat Jones emerged as a key target, hauling in five passes for an incredible 179 yards.
Jones found the end zone twice, both times early in their respective drives. On the first occasion, Coleman connected with the senior wide receiver for an 84-yard touchdown, exploiting a gap in the Spartans’ secondary. Later, following a turnover on downs by Boardman, Coleman found Jones on a crossing route, and the talented wide receiver did the rest, breaking multiple tackles in the open field for a remarkable 69-yard touchdown.
During a pivotal second touchdown drive, Boardman managed to pin Harding on its one-yard line. Antonio Smith, however, showcased his agility by gaining 12 yards on a single play and then adding another 11 yards on the next. This set the stage for a meticulous 99-yard, 12-play drive, capped off by Israel Reynolds’ first touchdown of the night.
Boardman’s quarterback, Zach Haus, completed 25 of his 49 pass attempts for 218 yards. Haus connected with Willy Torres and Jaylen Soto for touchdowns of six and seven yards, respectively. Despite numerous incompletions, Harding’s active secondary consistently disrupted passes, earning praise from Coach Arnold.
With this win, the Raiders have now notched two consecutive victories. They’re gearing up for an away game against Cardinal Mooney next Friday. On the other hand, Boardman will be hitting the road to face Dover.
