Tag Archive for: High School Football

SALEM STRUGGLES TO FIND FOOTING

CANTON OH- Salem faced a challenging road game and struggled to find their footing against Canton Central Catholic, ultimately falling by a score of 34-3. The first quarter saw Canton Central take an early lead, with Brennan Betz breaking through for a 30-yard touchdown run, followed by Dan Boron’s 1-yard TD run. While the extra point was missed, Canton Central had a 13-0 advantage. In the second quarter, Blaize Bunner added to the lead with a 6-yard TD run, making it 20-0 at halftime.

Salem managed to get on the scoreboard in the third quarter when Troy Gibson booted a 37-yard field goal, closing the gap to 20-3. However, Canton Central responded with authority as Daniel Boron scored another TD, this time from 9 yards out, extending their lead to 27-3. In the fourth quarter, Canton Central sealed the victory with Brennan Betz connecting with James Kane for an 18-yard TD pass, making it a final score of 34-3 in favor of Canton Central Catholic.

Despite the challenges on the road, Salem fought valiantly but ultimately couldn’t overcome Canton Central’s strong performance.

G-MEN ARE STILL AS DOMINANT AS EVER

LEAVITTSBURG OH- Garfield continued their undefeated streak with a resounding 42-13 victory over LaBrae, showcasing their dominance on the football field. The first quarter set the tone for Garfield’s strong performance as Keegan Sell orchestrated a 6-yard rushing touchdown, giving his team an early 7-0 lead. Eric Geddes then connected with Christian Gallagher for a 10-yard passing touchdown, extending the lead to 14-0.

In the second quarter, Keegan Sell exploded with a spectacular 53-yard rushing TD, followed by Leo Grandizio’s electrifying 65-yard punt return for a touchdown, a play that would be remembered as the highlight of the game. LaBrae managed to get on the board with Davin Derry’s 29-yard rushing touchdown, but Garfield’s Sell responded with another 5-yard rushing TD, closing the first half with a commanding 35-7 lead.

After halftime, Garfield continued to shine as Eric Geddes connected with Keegan Sell for a 30-yard passing TD, pushing the score to 42-7. In the fourth quarter, LaBrae’s Gabe Greene showcased his skills with a 51-yard rushing TD, but a missed extra point left them trailing 42-13. The game concluded with Garfield’s undefeated streak intact, reaffirming their dominance in a commanding 42-13 victory over LaBrae.

BEAVER LOCAL MAKES IT A RED FRIDAY

EAST LIVERPOOL OH- In a highly anticipated clash between arch-rivals, Beaver Local left no room for doubt as they sprinted to a dominant 55-13 victory over East Liverpool. The game began with a bang as Gavin Wright’s pass was intercepted by Ryan Chafins and returned to East Liverpool’s 2-yard line, setting up the opening score. Austin Cline wasted no time, scoring a 2-yard rushing touchdown just moments later. Cline continued to be a force, adding a 3-yard rushing TD and a 5-yard rushing TD with a successful 2-point conversion on a fake PAT, giving Beaver Local a commanding 22-0 lead.

In the second quarter, Cline displayed his passing skills, connecting with Keaton Heddleston for a 12-yard touchdown, extending their lead to 29-0. East Liverpool found the end zone in the third quarter when Jaymin Haney rushed for a 5-yard TD, but Beaver Local responded emphatically. Austin Cline added a 3-yard rushing TD, and Brock Severs scored a 2-yard rushing TD, pushing the score to 49-7.

East Liverpool managed to score again in the fourth quarter, with Gavin Wright connecting with Quintin Conrad for a 34-yard passing TD. However, Beaver Local had the last word as Zavien Riley threw a 2-yard passing TD to Nicolas McKenzie, sealing the game with a final score of 55-13. Beaver Local’s commanding performance showcased their dominance in this rivalry matchup, leaving no doubt about their football prowess.

TIGERS LET OUT MIGHTY ROAR

NEW MIDDLETOWN OH- In a commanding performance on the gridiron, Springfield rolled to a resounding 56-0 victory over Waterloo.

The 1st quarter set the tone for Springfield’s dominance as Dante Gentile exploded with a stunning 71-yard touchdown run, followed by Kaden Kosek’s 16-yard TD run, and another 27-yard TD run by Gentile. Josh Felasco added to the onslaught with a blocked punt recovered in the end zone. Kolten Ruark connected with Dylan Sheely for a 40-yard touchdown pass just before the quarter’s end, establishing a 35-0 lead. In the 2nd quarter, Joey Centofanti contributed a 5-yard touchdown run, making it 42-0 by halftime. The 3rd quarter saw Wyatt Kuboff and Mathew Wymer add to the scoring, securing a dominant 56-0 win.

Kolten Ruark showcased his passing skills, completing 6 of 7 attempts for 94 yards and a touchdown, while Dante Gentile led the rushing attack with 117 yards and 2 TDs, including a spectacular 71-yard dash. Dylan Sheely was the receiving standout, tallying 60 yards and a touchdown with 3 receptions. Springfield’s performance was nothing short of spectacular, leaving no doubt about their football prowess.

URSULINE DOMINATES YOUNGSTOWN FOE

By Tim Corso 


YOUNGSTOWN OH- Ursuline rolled past East 46-0 in a Steel Valley Conference clash on Friday night.

The Irish set the tone early on a deflected pass that C.J. Frasco picked off and took back 35 yards to the house. A successful two-point conversion gave them the early 8-0.

After an unsuccessful onside kick, Ursuline forced a Golden Bear three-and-out, then proceeded to block the punt. The Irish capped off the ensuing drive with an 8-yard Christian Lynch touchdown scamper.

A mistake-filled night for East couldn’t have gone worse. East quarterback Andrew Blackmon was the victim of his receivers drops all night. The second big one resulted in another Frasco interception that brought Ursuline inside the redzone. From there, the route was on.

For the Irish, methodical drives showed the versatility of its offense throughout the span of the game. Showing its squad’s quick strike ability, D.C. Ferrell and Jy’Quise Liason broke big plays on back-to-back plays.

Ferrell caught a deep pass from Jack Ericson for what seemed to be a 56-yard touchdown before a holding call brought it back. Liason then responded with his own score of 66 yards to help pad the Ursuline lead.

Five different Irish reached paydirt on the win, they included: Frasco, Lynch (2), Devonte Taylor, Liaison, and Joe Balog.

Ursuline (4-0, 1-0 SVC) will host Warren Harding (1-3) next Friday, September 15 at 7 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.

DRAGONS OFFENSE SCORCHES LIONS

Photo Credit: CM Photography

Pepper Pike, OH- The Lakeside Dragons came into week 4 looking to rekindle their flame and that was achieved friday night in Pepper Pike. The Lakeside Dragons dominated the Orange Lions with a final score of 36-7. The game unfolded with several remarkable plays that kept fans of the green and gold cheering all night.

The first quarter started explosively when Lakeside’s Alex DiSalvatore launched a sensational 72-yard touchdown pass to Matt Wagner, putting Lakeside ahead 6-0. Unfortunately, the two-point conversion attempt failed. However, Lakeside quickly bounced back, as Nate Bartone scored a 9-yard touchdown run, and he personally converted the two-point play, extending the lead to 14-0.

The second quarter saw Lakeside’s Alex DiSalvatore connecting with Caleb Stitt for a 35-yard touchdown pass, and Matt Wagner secured the two-point conversion with a catch. This impressive play brought the score to 22-0. Lakeside continued to dominate when DiSalvatore rushed for a 5-yard touchdown and Sincere Turner caught the two-point conversion, making it 30-0 in favor of Lakeside.

In the third quarter, Nate Bartone showcased his skills again with a remarkable 36-yard touchdown run, but the two-point conversion was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 36-0.

Orange continued their fight into the fourth quarter when Alex Ford broke free for a 57-yard touchdown run, and the extra point was good, putting them on the board at 36-7.

The final whistle blew with the Lakeside Dragons claiming a resounding victory, improving their record to 2-2. They look ahead to face the struggling West Geauga Wolverines (0-4) at home in week 4. On the other hand, the Orange Lions, also at 2-2, will hit the road to take on the formidable Madison Blue Streaks (3-1) who is begining to find their old identity for  their next matchup.

NILES OVERPOWERS THE EAGLES

By Jamie Thomson

NILES, OH – The Niles Red Dragons (3-1) have a NE8 Player of the Year candidate in senior running back Antuan Gardner and a stout defense to match.

Gardner totaled 263 yards of offense and two touchdowns and Niles’ defense held the Hubbard Eagles (3-1) to just 95 total yards in the game, the lowest total Niles has held the Eagles to since 1986.

After starting the game slow, Niles would move the ball at will in the second quarter while totaling 24 points in the period. Gardner punched the first touchdown of the night in from 1 yard out just four seconds in and it wasn’t until over 8 minutes later that Antony Budak would score his only touchdown of the night from a yard out. Gardner would score less than a minute and a half later and Niles would add an additional field goal as time expired.

Coming out of the break, Hubbard would start with terrific field positioning thanks to a great return by Baron Reynolds-Penny. Alex Hackwelder would find the endzone just three and a half minutes later to bring the Eagles to within three scores. Unfortunately for Hubbard, that’s where their scoring would end.

The Niles defense would force three interceptions on the night, one of which came in their own endzone to keep Hubbard’s comeback bid at bay. Defensively, the Red Dragons would go the entire game without a penalty, a stark contrast from the defensive unit on the opposite sideline, who granted multiple first downs in key moments on offsides penalties. The strong defensive effort paired with a monster effort from Gardner gave Niles their first win over Hubbard since 1995, snapping a 16-game losing streak, 27-6.

BIG PERFORMERS

NILES:

Antuan Gardner: 156 rushing yards, 107 receiving yards, 2 total TDs

Anthony Budak: 133 passing yards, 1 rushing TD, 1 passing TD

HUBBARD:

Matthew Chaney: 5 catches, 32 receiving yards

UP NEXT

Niles: Starting off conference play 1-0, the Red Dragons will look to remain unbeaten in the NE8 next week when they travel to Cortland for a matchup with the Lakeview Bulldogs (3-1).Lakeview will come into the matchup off of a 28-21 loss to the defending Division 5 state champion South Range Raiders.

Hubbard: After dropping their first game to the Red Dragons since 1995, the Eagles will return home for a matchup with the undefeated Poland Bulldogs (4-0). Poland has taken three of the last four matchups against Hubbard.

JURJAVCIC KEEPS HOLD OF THE REINS

EAST PALESTINE OH- No one gets more limelight on a football team than a quarterback. Whether it’s good, or bad it seems that attention always falls on the player under center. That’s why it pays to have a guy back there that has years under his belt performing the task at hand. For East Palestine this pillar of stability comes from Owen Jurjavcic.  He is going into his third year as the starting varsity quarterback for the Bulldogs. A lot has changed since we saw Owen take the lead in his first year as the starter.  Owen is now the definition of calm, cool, and collected as the Bulldogs get set to start conference play.  The confidence he brings to his position trickles into the rest his huddle, and gives the Bulldogs a winning attitude.

 

YSN’s Tim Figley got the chance to sit down with Owen again this season to see how far he’s come. They talk about the growth Owen has had this season, how he battles nerves going into games, and so much more. Check out the latest East Palestine Football Player Profile only on YSN!

Presented By:

SPARTANS DEFEND HOME FLOOR

BOARDMAN OH-  – In a thrilling volleyball showdown, the Boardman High School team showcased their prowess and defended their home court, overpowering Cardinal Mooney in straight sets. The raucous crowd was treated to a masterful display of athleticism and teamwork as Boardman secured victory with scores of 25-9, 25-12, and 25-13 in each respective set.

From the opening serve, Boardman set the tone, displaying incredible intensity and determination. In the first set, they surged ahead with a commanding 25-9 win, leaving Cardinal Mooney struggling to find their rhythm.

The second set continued in a similar fashion, with Boardman’s relentless attack overwhelming their opponents. The scoreboard read 25-12 at the end of the second set, as Boardman continued their dominant performance.

As the third set commenced, Boardman remained relentless. They closed out the match with a final set score of 25-13, sealing their straight-set victory in front of their enthusiastic fans.

Key players for Boardman made significant contributions to their impressive performance. MC Werth led the charge with 11 kills, 10 points, and 2 crucial blocks, showcasing her exceptional skills on both ends of the court. Cici Johnson displayed her versatility with 8 kills, 3 blocks, and a dig.

Ava Bosnjak made her presence felt with 2 aces, 7 points, 1 block, 1 dig, and 1 kill. Mazie Kauffman added to the offensive firepower with 4 kills, while Maya Flores chipped in with 6 kills.

The defensive backbone of the team was equally impressive. Gianna Cicchillo displayed her agility and precision with 10 digs, while Lanie Vennetti recorded 9 digs and contributed 15 points.

Jasmine Graham and Sadie Satterfield were solid in the back row, each tallying 3 crucial digs. The team’s cohesion was on full display as they dug deep to protect their home court.

Ava Commons orchestrated the offense with 25 assists, ensuring that her teammates had ample opportunities to shine. Maddie Mraz provided valuable support with 5 assists on the night.

Boardman’s resounding victory was a testament to their unwavering teamwork, skill, and determination. With such a stellar performance, they continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the volleyball arena, leaving their fans eager for the next exhilarating match.

NOTHING CAN KEEP MCKAY ON THE MAT

EAST PALESTINE OH- East Palestine has grinder and fought for the first three weeks of the season. However, they’ve had to do it without one of the go to guys in Noah McKay.  An injury during wrestling season a year ago has kept McKay on the sidelines through much of the summer.  Unable to do conventional practice and taking hits, McKay worked on the small details. Learning the routes, perfecting them to a tee, and making sure he can hit his spots on time.  The fine details are not lost on number 3.  Conditioning has also been a huge part in Noah’s recovery.  No one works harder that wrestlers in the weight room, and Noah is no exception.  After a long process, McKay has spent the week finally taking contact again in practice and is ready for his glorious return in Week 4 of the season against Lisbon.

YSN’s Tim Figley navigates is through this remarkable comeback story of Noah McKay.  They talk about what drove him through adversity, the excitement of being back on the field, and so much more. Check out the latest East Palestine football player profile only on YSN!

Presented By: