Team

Boardman

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

By Matthew Peaslee

mpeaslee@vindy.com

boardman

Names like LeCharles Bentley, Brian Dowling, Anthony Gonzalez and Oliver Luck are thought of in great regard in NFL circles. But where they are legends is Cleveland St. Ignatius High School.

Year after year, the well-regarded, all-boys school produces football success. It’s safe to say the first description that comes to mind is dynasty.

“They’re so well-known and respected around the state,” said Boardman quarterback Ryan Pollifrone. “Every year you hear about them.”

Now, his Spartans face the notorious Wildcats (8-2) in the first round of the Division I playoffs Saturday at Byers Field in Parma at 7 p.m. Boardman is the seventh seed, while St. Ignatius is the two.

“It’s real exciting playing a team of their prestige,” Pollifrone continued. “It’d be even more exciting for us to knock off that big guy in the state. We’re definitely pumped up for that.”

They’re also intimidated — slightly.

“There always is a slight intimidation factor when you’re playing sports, but ultimately it’s going to add up to us going out and playing harder to prove everybody wrong—like we’ve been trying to do all season,” said Dayne Hammond.

The 10-time state champs and three-time national champs have fallen to Mentor and Cincinnati St. Xavier this year, and Spartans coach Mark D’Eramo believes there is a mutual respect between the two programs. When scouting the Wildcats, the first-year leader says that they stick to what they know — and that’s putting points on the board.

“We know about them and they know about us,” D’Eramo said. “They’re a typical Ignatius team. They’re going to look to run and throw the ball. They have the speed and the size that they always do, so it’s going to be a challenge, but a great football game.”

Eight weeks ago, D’Eramo may have been talking about a game where he was a spectator, rather than a coach. The turnaround from an 0-2 start to a 7-3 regular season finish, was a “humbling thrill,” he said. When asked if he could have asked for a better way to start his head coaching career, he was thankful the question came at the end of the year, rather than the beginning.

“If you would have asked that question at the end of week two I would’ve been under the Market Street bridge with a noose around my neck. We couldn’t have beaten anybody at the start of the year, to be honest.”

Hammond feels that the early hiccups were due to an identity crisis. Once they trusted each other and bonded, though, great things happened.

“Our whole team knew that we had it in us and we finally pieced together the little things that made it all connect,” the senior said. “We knew from the beginning that we were going to turn it around.”

There’s an inkling that the Wildcats will throw the ball more in the game, while their 3-3-5 defense may create some problems,too. But, Boardman has defeated St. Ignatius three times (1994, 1998 and 2001). If getting that fourth win in school history comes down to a matter of faith, don’t count the Spartans out. They’re full of it.

“I think everyone has counted us out,” Pollifrone said. “It’s more fuel for us and we’re used to this role. We’re ready.”