Team

Boardman

Record	Div.	Conf.
6/5	Div. II	All-American Conference Gold Tier

By Ryan Jones

sports@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

Boardman’s Nick Buonavolonta is 100 percent healthy, and that’s bad news for the rest of the Federal League.

The 5-foot-9 halfback had a hand in Boardman’s first three touchdowns and helped the Spartans roll to a 41-6 victory against Massillon Jackson.

The Spartans, ranked No. 6 in Division 1, Region 1, earned their third consecutive Federal League win and improved to 5-2 overall.

“Each week in the Federal League is a grind,” Boardman coach D.J. Ogilvie said. “You can’t overstate the importance of winning in this league. We just have to keep the kids focused and working hard in practice week after week. Next week we have GlenOak, who has Ohio State recruit Bri’onte Dunn at tailback.”

The daunting Federal League schedule may seem a bit brighter if Buonavolonta keeps producing like he did Friday night.

The senior capped off Boardman’s opening drive with a one yard touchdown plunge to give the Spartans a 7-0 lead.

On Massillon Jackson’s next possession, Buonavolonta stripped quarterback Cooper Merrill and teammate Eric Yovanovich recovered the fumble at Boardman’s 45-yard line.

Buonavolonta got the first carry after the turnover, and ripped off a dazzling 55-yard touchdown jaunt to push the lead to 14-0.

Ogilvie said the turnover gave his team some first half momentum.

“Turnovers are always a big factor in games like these,” he said. “If you’re going to win you have to force them on defense and we did. Nicky is the type of player you keep giving the ball to; he’s a difference maker for us.”

Buonavolonta, who led all rushers with 91 yards on 13 carries, hauled in a 21-yard touchdown on a pass from Trae Robinson midway through the second quarter to put the Spartans up 21-6.

“That was a great call on fourth-and-one by coach [Joe] Cleghorn,” Ogilvie said about the wide receiver pass. “We have some versatility on offense and none of our players are more versatile than Nick. He’s a good blocker, we can split him out and obviously he can run the ball. He’s such an unselfish player.”

Boardman played two quarterbacks for most of the night. Robinson, who tossed the wide receiver touchdown pass, went 3-of-8 for 69 yards and junior Ryan Pollifrone completed 6-of-8 passes for 80 yards and added a rushing touchdown.

“When Ryan comes in at QB we keep Trae [Robinson] in at wide receiver because he’s such a good athlete. Both guys are more than capable of playing the position and they bring something different to the table, which keeps defenses off balance.”

Jackson coach Beau Balderson said his squad had chances on offense but failed to capitalize.

“I’m frustrated with our offense because we have moved the ball and played pretty well, but we keep making the mistakes that keep us from putting points on the board.”