Spartans’ rally falls short to McKinley
FOOTBALL - (18) Nick Buonavolonta recovers his fumble as (29) Johnny Duncan tries to get in on the play during their game Thursday night. - Special to The Vindicator/Nick Mays
FOOTBALL - (14) Taron Montgomery gets away from the Boasrdman defense including (23) Nate Provanca and (58) Bergen Brown during their game Thursday night. - Special to The Vindicator/Nick Mays
By Joe Scalzo
BOARDMAN
As several Canton McKinley players formed a huddle chanting “We want Massillon” following Thursday’s 27-20 win over Boardman, Spartans coach D.J. Ogilvie gathered his group to deliver his own Week 10 message: The season isn’t over yet.
“Supposedly, if we win, we get in,” Ogilvie said. “We’ve just gotta recover and bounce back.
“I know our kids will.”
The Spartans entered the game on a four-game winning streak with a chance to win a share of the Federal League title and clinch a playoff berth with two more victories. But thanks to a dominating first-half defensive effort, McKinley took a 20-0 lead and seemed to have the game in hand with eight minutes left in the third quarter.
“In the first half, we were in horrible field position,” Ogilvie said. “That was the main thing.
“And then we shot ourselves in the foot by jumping offsides a couple times and you can’t do that against a great defense like McKinley has.”
After rotating Trae Robinson and Ryan Pollifrone at quarterback in the first half, Ogilvie shifted the 6-3 Robinson to receiver in the second half, giving the Spartans another tall threat to go with 6-5 senior wideout Dayne Hammond.
Pollifrone hit both receivers on the Spartans’ first scoring drive, including a 10-yard TD pass to Robinson with 6:23 left that made it 20-6.
After forcing a McKinley punt, Boardman then drove 86 yards in 12 plays, punctuated by a 1-yard run by Robinson, who briefly stepped back under center.
The Spartans’ defense again forced a three-and-out, but Boardman’s offense stalled in three plays and McKinley retook control with an 11-play, 65-yard scoring drive capped by Kyle Ohradzansky’s 17-yard TD pass to Tyler Foster that made it 27-13 with 4:29 left.
“We had a bad series,” Ogilvie said. “We had an opportunity and we had momentum but their defense played well that series.”
Pollifrone helped the Spartans answer, hitting 5 of 8 passes on the ensuing drive that cut the deficit to seven. The scoring pass came on a pretty 4-yard catch by Hammond, who treated the McKinley defender like his little brother by snagging the ball on the cornerback’s helmet.
“Their guys made plays, but our guys kept everything in front of them and took time off the clock,” McKinley coach Ron Johnson said.
With 2:39 left and three timeouts, Ogilvie opted for the onside kick, which only made it eight yards before a Bulldog snagged it. Despite an offsides penalty on first down, McKinley was able to pick up a first down after three plays and run out the clock.
“Our kids showed a lot of fight,” Ogilvie said. “They didn’t give in, which showed a lot of character, so you’ve got to be proud that they didn’t quit.”
Pollifrone finished 11 of 18 for 150 yards, two TDs and a meaningless interception for the Spartans (6-3, 4-2), who will play at rival Fitch next week. Hammond caught six passes for 65 yards and Robinson had two for 40. On the ground, Nick Buonavolonta carried 15 times for 68 yards.
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