Motivated Boardman rolls past Perry, 42-6
The Spartans bounced back from a Federal League loss to Hoover last week.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN — Losing last week to North Canton Hoover proved to be an eye opener for the Boardman Spartans.
It wasn’t the fact that they lost, but the manner in which they did, managing just seven points in their Federal League opener.
Running 49 plays to just 29 by Massillon Perry, the Spartans bounced back nicely, rushing for 359 yards and six touchdowns to easily outdistance the Panthers, 42-6 Friday night at Spartan Stadium.
Cameron Shaffer rushed for 105 yards and three touchdowns, Eric Polen added 100 yards and a score while Damien Jarrett broke through the Perry defense for 97 yards and two tallies.
Boardman racked up 424 yards offensively while the Spartans defense held Perry to just 146.
“Last week was our hardest week of practice yet. Those practices were labeled ‘Dark 30’ with the coaching staff getting us back on track, actually taking us back to the basics in our preparation for Perry,” Shaffer said.
Shaffer, a junior, is a fill in for senior running back Tyler Amendola who has been hampered the last several weeks with a knee injury.
“I’m just trying to do my best, but please credit the offensive line and the play of our defense tonight,” said Shaffer.
“The line opened huge holes for all of the backs tonight while defensively, we pretty much kept their offense in check.”
Early lead
The Spartans (4-2, 2-1) scored on their first four possessions of the game as they built a 28-0 advantage.
Jarrett’s first score of the game, a 5-yard scamper set up by Nick Tuminello’s 52-yard run, gave the Spartans a 7-0 advantage less than three minutes into the game.
Shaffer then added scoring runs of 30 and 3 yards to help Boardman to a 21-0 margin after one quarter.
Polen’s 19 yard run at 6:43 of the second quarter made it 28-0, but John Hyde’s 75-yard run, the Panthers’ only play that netted more than 8 yards, cut Boardman’s lead to 28-6 at the intermission.
“We practiced hard all week long. The offensive line set the tone of those practices on Monday and just never let up. You could see in their eyes that they were on a mission and were going to be special tonight,” Polen said.
Jarrett’s second score of the night, a 26-yard run at 8:28 of the third period, increased the Spartans’ lead to 35-6, while Shaffer’s final tally, a 27-yard romp with 6:24 remaining, rounded out the scoring.
“There really isn’t much to say. Give Boardman credit. They smashed us right in the mouth tonight and we didn’t respond. Nothing went well for us and they did everything right,” Perry coach John Miller said.
According to Boardman coach D.J. Ogilvie, it was a coin flip as to which wing-T team could do the most damage.
“Last week we were embarrassed and after a tough loss, you look to see how your team will respond emotionally. Being a wing-T coach, I had fun watching them [Perry] on film but had my share of concerns as to how we would stop their high-powered offense.
“Credit coach [Mike] Popio and our defensive coaches once again for an excellent game plan,” Ogilvie said.
Jarrett, who had four rushes of 10 yards or more, praised the offensive line.
“To be able to bounce back like we did tonight is a great feeling. We would not have enjoyed the success that we did offensively if it weren’t for the offensive line. They paved the way for our backs once again,” he said.
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