Spartans shut out Austintown Fitch

Spartans coach Garry Smith said the weather limited play calling.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN -- The Boardman High football team knew it needed a win in its season finale Friday to be considered for postseason play next week.
Using that as their inspiration and motivation all week, the Spartans used two rushing touchdowns by sophomore Brad Beck and 202 return yards by senior Jay Upthegrove to propel them to a 30-0 shutout over Steel Valley Conference rival Austintown Fitch.
"We had hoped for a better balance offensively, but the weather conditions limited our play calling tonight," Spartans coach Garry Smith said. "At the beginning of the season, I thought that we were an 8-2, 7-3 club, so we are right where I thought we would be.
Improvements: "What made this a special season is that we improved each and every week, and if we are lucky to receive a playoff bid then we are peaking at the right time on both sides of the football."
With a steady snowfall throughout the game and a "Seniors Night" audience on hand, Boardman scored on its first drive of the night and never looked back as it won its third straight game and improved to 8-2 overall, 3-1 in the SVC.
Evan Beard got the Spartans on the board with a 4-yard touchdown scamper just 2 minutes, 18 seconds into the game. When Andrew Good added the placement, Boardman held a 7-0 advantage.
"Like he has been doing this entire season and throughout his scholastic career, Evan Beard has gotten us pointed in the right direction," Smith said. "We have looked to him time and again and he has responded to our charge."
Upthegrove, who had two interceptions on the night, returned an errant Steve Burnich aerial 91 yards for his team's second score and the Spartans built a 14-0 advantage after the first period.
Beck, a sophomore who has seen his playing time steadily increase over the course of the season, raced 70 yards to paydirt at the 7:16 mark of the second period, and after Good booted a 20-yard field goal with time running out in the half, the Spartans took a comfortable 24-0 lead into intermission.
'Offensive weapon': "Brad Beck has been a pleasant surprise for us this year," Smith said. "He has become an excellent offensive weapon for us."
The wet turf prevented scoring opportunities for both teams in the second half, the only score coming when Beck scored the second of his two touchdowns, a 30-yard run with 3:21 remaining in the third period.
Fitch held a 15-12 advantage in first downs and Burnich was the leading passer, converting 14 of 27 attempts for 137 yards.
However, three interceptions by Burnich proved costly as one led directly to a score and the other set up the Spartans' final tally of the game.
Beck led all rushers with 126 yards on 12 carries, Beard adding 75 yards on 14 carries as Boardman rolled up 203 rushing yards on 29 carries, an average of 7.0 yards per rush.
Tom Zetts had a season low four completions for 60 yards, the Spartans rolling up 263 total offensive yards to the Falcons' 246.
Fitch ends its season 3-7, 1-3 in the SVC.