Tag Archive for: Football

BOARDMAN FOOTBALL COACH’S CORNER (EP 6) WITH DJ DOTA

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BOARDMAN, OH-  In this episode of “Boardman Football Coach’s Corner,” we have a special guest joining us – DJ Dota, the head coach of the Boardman Spartan football team. Coach Dota reflects on a tough week for the team, with both wins and losses on the depth chart, as well as some key injuries. He discusses the importance of building depth and preparing the players for any situation.

The conversation also delves into the difference between being injured and being hurt, and how the team works to keep players healthy and in optimal condition. Coach Dota highlights the role of their athletic trainer in ensuring the well-being of the players.

Additionally, they touch on the challenges of getting enough reps for the second-string players and the difficulty of simulating game-like conditions.

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DON’T MESS WITH SMESKO

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CANFIELD, OH- In this episode, we dive deep into the world of South Range football and get to know one of their talented players, Dylan Smesko. Join us as we embark on a journey to uncover the life, experiences, and passions of this outstanding junior athlete.

From his nerves before interviews to his favorite Gatorade flavor, we cover it all. Discover the secrets behind South Range’s close-knit team and the role models that have shaped Dylan’s journey. We’ll also explore his leadership on the field, his love for speed, and his dream job in cybersecurity.

Get ready to be inspired by the incredible stories and aspirations of this rising star in the world of football. So, sit back, relax, and tune in to this captivating episode of YSN, as we present the South Range Player Profile: Dylan Smesko.

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LUKE-WARM RECEPTION

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CANFIELD, OH-  In today’s episode, we have a special guest joining us, none other than Luke Starkey from the South Range High School football team.

Luke’s journey has been filled with ups and downs, starting with a devastating injury that left him sidelined last year. But through perseverance and unwavering support from his family, Luke has made a remarkable comeback.

As we dive into his story, we’ll explore the challenges he faced during his recovery, the motivation that fueled him, and the defining moments that made him the player he is today. Join us as we get a glimpse into the life of Luke Starkey, a rising star on the South Range team.

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LABRAE CONTINUES TO IMPRESS

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LEAVITTSBURG, OH- The LaBrae Vikings got off to a rocky start, finding themselves down by three scores as they went to halftime. But boy, did they turn things around in the second half! LaBrae pulled off an amazing comeback to beat the Warriors 43-33, and let me tell you, it was an absolute classic.

At halftime, Brookfield was sitting pretty with a 26-7 lead. But LaBrae came alive in the third quarter. Davin Derry led the charge with a 2-yard touchdown run that got the Vikings rolling. Then, on Brookfield’s next drive, the Viking defense really turned up the heat. They pressured Josh Rankin, Brookfield’s quarterback, and forced him into a big mistake. Owen Meeks swooped in, intercepted Rankin’s pass, and dashed 45 yards for a touchdown. Talk about a game-changer!

Derry had a stellar performance. He bulldozed his way to three touchdowns and even pulled off an interception return. The guy knows how to make plays when the pressure’s on.

The fourth quarter? Well, that was all about the Vikings. They kicked things off with a slick touchdown run by Jay McGarry and even forced a safety on the following kickoff. After that, it was another trip to the endzone for LaBrae, with Derry punching it in from nine yards out.

Just when you thought he was done, Derry put the icing on the cake with an interception return for a touchdown.

On the other side of the field, one of the area’s top freshmen, Rico Smith was doing some heavy lifting for Brookfield. He powered his way to three touchdowns in the first half and ended the game with a total of four under his belt.

Brookfield, with a 3-4 record, is heading back home for a couple of weeks. First up, they’ve got a matchup against Campbell Memorial.

Meanwhile, LaBrae has bumped up to 4-3 this season after a tough start to the year.

 

SPARTANS FIGHT RUNS SHORT IN WARREN

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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.

 

CHANEY POWERS TO VICTORY OVER MOONEY

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YOUNGSTOWN, OH — Despite a rocky start that included a fumble on their first play, the Chaney Cowboys were granted a second chance, and they capitalized on it, defeating Cardinal Mooney 28-12 on Friday night.

The Cowboys began with favorable field position at their own 38-yard line after a strong kickoff return. However, their initial attempt to run the ball up the middle resulted in a fumble, recovered by the Cardinals at the Chaney 42-yard line.

With the ball deep in their opponent’s territory, Mooney had an opportunity to strike early. But fate had other plans, as they fumbled the ball back to Chaney on the very first play from scrimmage.

Chaney wasted no time taking advantage of the turnover. On the second play of the drive, quarterback Drew Gault connected with wide receiver Darius Stonework on a 31-yard touchdown pass.  Chaney’s next offensive possession was even more efficient than their first score. Quarterback Matt Jones broke free for an 80-yard touchdown run on the first play of the drive, extending their lead to 14-0.

While the Cowboys’ offense shone brightly in the first half, their defense proved equally formidable, effectively shutting down the Cardinals despite their lengthy drives.

Entering halftime with a 14-0 lead, Jones continued to make an impact early in the second half. With 5:07 remaining in the third quarter, he turned a draw play into an 83-yard touchdown run, giving Chaney a commanding 21-0 lead.

Mooney, however, began to mount a comeback. They scored on their next drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ashton O’Brien to wide receiver Carlos Gomes, reducing Chaney’s lead to 21-6.

The Cardinals followed up with another touchdown drive at the start of the fourth quarter, with O’Brien connecting with receiver John Brenner on a 9-yard touchdown pass, bringing the score to 21-12.

Despite these touchdowns from Mooney, Chaney remained composed and focused on their game plan. Jones emphasized the importance of staying positive and supportive within the team.  Chaney ultimately sealed the victory with Jones scoring his third touchdown run, extending the lead to 28-12 and securing the win.

With this win, Chaney improved their overall record to 3-3, while Mooney’s record fell to 4-3 following the loss.

EAGLES SOAR IN THRILLER OVER BL

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HUBBARD, OH- In another tense encounter within the Northeast 8 division, Beaver Local faced off against Hubbard, but the Beavers’ struggles against the NE8 persisted as Hubbard’s Garland Warren sealed the game with a 5-yard touchdown run, securing a 29-25 victory for the Eagles with just 1:08 left on the clock.

Beaver Local, entering the game with a 4-2 record, found themselves in familiar territory, as this marked the third of four matchups against Northeast 8 opponents this season, with all previous games resulting in defeats, including encounters against Struthers and Niles. On the other side, Hubbard improved to a matching 4-3 record.

The game unfolded with both teams exchanging blows on the scoreboard:

Beaver Local drew first blood in the opening quarter, as senior quarterback Austin Cline connected with Brock Severs for a 14-yard touchdown pass, establishing a 7-0 lead.

Hubbard quickly responded, with Garland Warren rushing for a 10-yard touchdown, and the Eagles added a successful two-point conversion, taking an 8-7 lead with 1:45 remaining in the first quarter.

Warren continued to shine in the second quarter, breaking free for a 47-yard touchdown run, extending Hubbard’s lead to 15-7.

Beaver Local refused to be outdone, as Cline scored on a 5-yard touchdown run with just 1:02 left in the second quarter. The Beavers added a two-point conversion, sending both teams into halftime with a tied score of 15-15.

Hubbard regained the lead in the third quarter, as Alex Hackwelder executed a 1-yard keeper, making it 22-15 in favor of the Eagles. However, Beaver Local responded swiftly, with Brock Severs returning the ensuing kickoff an impressive 95 yards to tie the game at 22-22 with 7:02 left in the third quarter.

Kaleb Mays added a 21-yard field goal for Beaver Local with just 12 seconds remaining in the third quarter, giving the Beavers a brief lead of 25-22.

Ultimately, the late-game heroics of Garland Warren for Hubbard secured the victory for the Eagles, ending Beaver Local’s hopes of a comeback.

As Beaver Local prepares for their next challenge, a road game against Indian Creek, they will look for the comforts of their conference schedule to close out the year.

QUAKERS FIND FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON

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MINERVA, OH- In an Eastern Buckeye Conference showdown, Salem secured their first win of the season in style, defeating Minerva with a dominant score of 36-7, and sophomore quarterback Gavin Colbert made a memorable impact in his first start under center.

Colbert showcased his talent by throwing three touchdown passes during the first three quarters, helping the Quakers clinch the victory at Hines Stadium on Friday night. This win marked Salem’s break from an eight-game losing streak, propelling them to a 1-6 overall record and a 1-1 standing in the EBC. Meanwhile, Minerva, struggling with a 26-game losing streak and an overall record of 0-7, fell to 0-2 in league play.

The Quakers opened the scoring in the game with two quick touchdowns late in the first quarter. Will Harmon was on the receiving end of a 21-yard pass from Colbert, followed by a 32-yard reverse run, pushing Salem ahead 13-0.

Salem’s defense played a pivotal role, recovering a Minerva fumble on the Lions’ first series, setting up the Quakers’ first score. The defense also demonstrated its prowess by snagging three interceptions, with Cyle Burt contributing two of them.

Marcus Phillips added to the offensive onslaught with a 14-yard touchdown reception, further extending Salem’s lead to 20-0 in the second quarter. Colbert, filling in for the injured starting quarterback Cletis Monroy, showcased his skills with 134 passing yards in the first half.

The third quarter witnessed a resolute defensive effort by Salem when Minerva threatened with a first-and-goal from the 3-yard line. The Quakers’ defense held strong, stopping Minerva at the 1-yard line on a crucial fourth-down play.

Salem continued to build on their lead, with Derek Oesch scoring on a 3-yard pass from Colbert, bringing the score to 26-0 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter.

Minerva finally found the end zone in the fourth quarter when Devon Patterson broke free for a 46-yard touchdown run up the middle, putting them on the scoreboard and crossing the 100-yard mark for the game.

Salem closed out the game with two more scores, including a 23-yard field goal by Troy Gibson and a 32-yard run by Marcus Phillips following Burt’s second interception.

As both teams return to league play next Friday, Salem will face Carrollton, while Minerva takes on Marlington.

EP BUSTS THROUGH FOR REFLECTIVE WIN

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EAST PALESTINE, OH- You’ve been able to see the progression all season, and on Friday the East Palestine Bulldogs were able to reflect on more than just their new chrome helmets, as East Palestine secured their first win of the season by defeating Wellsville with a score of 40-22.

The victory marked a significant milestone for East Palestine, who now stands at 1-6 for the season with a conference record of 1-3 in the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference. On the other side, Wellsville fell to a matching 1-6 record for the season, with a similar 1-3 conference record.

The game kicked off with East Palestine taking the lead as Owen Jurjavcic powered through with a 3-yard touchdown run, putting them ahead 7-0 with 2:53 remaining in the first quarter.

Wellsville responded with a touchdown of their own, as Clayten Kersey executed a 1-yard touchdown keeper with 10 minutes left in the second quarter, narrowing the score to 7-6.

Richie Dowling then added to the excitement, breaking free for a 24-yard touchdown run with 2:42 left in the second quarter, giving Wellsville a 14-7 lead.

However, East Palestine wasn’t ready to concede. Jesse Lipp’s 2-yard touchdown run with just 28 seconds left in the half leveled the game at 14, setting the stage for a competitive second half.

East Palestine surged ahead in the third quarter when R.J. May caught an 18-yard pass from Jurjavcic, pushing them into a 20-14 lead with 6:55 left on the clock.

Unfortunately, the game took a somber turn when Wellsville’s Clayten Kersey suffered an injury during a sideline run and collision, leading to a temporary pause in the game. Kersey was stretchered off the field, and our thoughts go out to him for a full and speedy recovery.

Despite the setback, East Palestine continued to extend their lead. Jurjavcic added another touchdown to his tally with a 9-yard rushing touchdown at 1:25 left in the third quarter, increasing their advantage to 27-14.

As the game entered the final quarter, East Palestine’s Noah McKay powered through the middle with a 16-yard touchdown run, widening the gap to 33-14 with 10:36 left in the contest.

Jesse Lipp sealed the victory for East Palestine with a 4-yard scamper into the end zone at the 6:21 mark, bringing the score to 40-14.

Wellsville fought valiantly to the end, with Richie Dowling contributing one last touchdown for his team, an 18-yard run with 2:37 left, closing the score gap to 40-22.

With this hard-fought win under their belt, East Palestine looks ahead to their next challenge, as they prepare to host Columbiana next Friday. Meanwhile, Wellsville will be gearing up to face United in their upcoming matchup.

REBELS FEEL A CHANGE IN THE WIND

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* CONTRIBUTED BY TONY PERAZIO

COLUMBIANA, OH – The air was charged with excitement as the Crestview Rebels clashed with the Newton Falls Tigers in a thrilling football showdown. The stadium was filled with devoted fans, their voices echoing through the crisp autumn evening. Both teams were determined to emerge victorious, but it would take every ounce of their skill and determination to come out on top.

As the first quarter unfolded, the Rebels struck first. At the 2 minutes and 36 seconds mark, Jameson English, a dynamic quarterback back, took off running and exploded through the Tigers’ defense, scampering 12 yards into the end zone for a touchdown. The stadium erupted in cheers as the Rebels took an early 6-0 lead.

The Rebels’ momentum continued into the second quarter. At the 6 minutes and 7 seconds mark, Max Hawkins, another talented running back, punched in a 6-yard touchdown run. The Rebels were now up 13-0 after a successful PAT.

But the Tigers were not to be outdone. Caden Short, the Tigers’ determined running back, embarked on a mission to bring his team back into the game. At the 3 minutes and 58 seconds mark, he powered through the Rebels’ defense, dashing 16 yards for a much-needed touchdown. The Tigers were on the scoreboard, trailing 13-7.

Newton Falls continued to claw their way back into contention. With just 4 minutes and 27 seconds left in the third quarter, Caden Short once again found the end zone with an 18-yard touchdown run. With a successful PAT, the Tigers now held a narrow 14-13 lead.

The game had become a nail-biter, with both teams battling fiercely for supremacy. But the Rebels had one last surge left in them. With 1 minute and 57 seconds remaining in the game, Max Hawkins answered the call. He bulldozed his way into the end zone with another 6-yard touchdown run, giving the Rebels a critical 20-14 lead.

As the final seconds ticked away, the Tigers fought valiantly to mount a comeback. However, the Rebels’ defense stood strong, denying the Tigers any opportunity to score. The final whistle blew, and the scoreboard displayed the hard-fought victory: Crestview Rebels 20, Newton Falls Tigers 14.