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Boardman opportunistic in Federal League win
By Josh Reilly
NORTH CANTON
The Boardman football team forced four turnovers and snapped a fourth-quarter tie to pull out a 24-14 victory over North Canton Hoover at Memorial Stadium on Friday.
Carmen Tarantino caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Trae Robinson and Dan Kennedy added a 20-yard field goal in the final period for Boardman.
The Spartans responded from a game-tying touchdown drive by Hoover. Late in the third, Viking quarterback Austin Appleby hooked up with Ryan Choong for a 22-yard touchdown pass which helped Hoover pull even at 14.
On Boardman’s next possession, running back Nick Buonavolonta opened an eight-play, 73-yard scoring drive with a 35-yard run. A 15-yard carry set up Tarantino’s decisive score.
“That was the key to the game,” Boardman coach D.J. Ogilvie said of his team’s immediate response. “You have to overcome adversity to win in this league.”
With less than six minutes to go, Dayne Hammond made his second interception of the game for Boardman, halting a Hoover drive at the Vikings’ 46. Led by Buonavolonta, who had four carries for 23 yards on the Spartans’ ensuing drive, Boardman got Kennedy close enough for his insurance kick.
The Spartans took the game’s first lead on a 1-yard run by Trae Robinson.
In the second quarter, the Vikings tied the contest at 7 with a 69-yard hookup from Appleby to Stephen Dennissoff.
“We made some mistakes,” Ogilvie said, “but good teams overcome them.”
Boardman took its next lead with 25 seconds left in the half. A heavy dose of Buonavalenta — five runs for 39 yards — and two passes from quarterback Ryan Pollifrone to Hammond gave the Spartans the advantage. The drive ended with an 11-yard touchdown reception by Hammond.
The Spartan quarterback duo of Pollifrone and Robinson was efficient. Pollifrone was 11 of 14 for 113 yards while Robinson was 4 of 6 for 19 yards. Buonavolonta rushed 23 times for 131 yards.
“We have very effective quarterbacks,” Ogilvie said. “Both are good and performed well.”
Hammond was the huge playmaker for Boardman, finishing with two interceptions and the touchdown reception. He had six catches for 91 yards. Teammate William McCurdy added four receptions for 25 yards.
Buonavolonta and Tarantino also had interceptions for the Spartans; Buonavolonta’s pick ended Hoover’s final drive.