Spartan Stadium caps first year with big game

Staff report

BOARDMAN

The new Boardman Spartan Stadium will cap its first season tonight by hosting a state semifinal playoff game between Ursuline and Steubenville.

The Irish and Big Red are playing in the Division IV state semifinal at 7 p.m., with the winner earning a game next weekend in Columbus.

Gates will open at 5 p.m.

Ursuline and Steubenville meet for the second time this season. The Big Red hosted the Irish on Oct. 2 and won, 48-12.

Undefeated Steubenville (12-0) has been particularly dominant in the postseason, outscoring opponents 128-14.

Ursuline had a .500 regular season, but played most of its games against schools with higher classifications.

The Irish have improved as the postseason progressed, beating Notre Dame Cathedral Latin (13-3), Woodridge (27-20) and (Crestwood (41-13).

Boardman is one of 14 sites selected to host a state semifinal game this weekend.

“It’s an honor to be chosen for such a prestigious game in our first year in the new stadium,” Boardman athletic director Denise Gorski said. “It’s a testament to the work of the Boardman Boosters, Boardman administration, the stadium core committee, the local business sponsors and the thousands of community members who’ve contributed to the stadium project to make this happen.

“Without these donors, obviously we wouldn’t even be talking about hosting any game this year, let alone one of such magnitude,” Gorksi said. “It shows the efforts of everyone to build a state of the art facility have been noticed statewide.”

This fall, Spartan Stadium hosted a girls soccer district final and three football playoff games.

The stadium was designed by Tom Madej, president and lead architect of Team 8e Architecture of Canfield. His previous work includes the stadiums in Poland, Toronto and Hudson.

The project is not complete. The next phase includes a wall of honor, ticket booths and a third building that would include restrooms, concessions, and lockerrooms. The estimated price of the next phase is $1.2 million.

“The OHSAA has recognized Boardman as one of the premier facilities in the state, and we aren’t finished yet,” said Bill Bonte, Boardman Booster Club President.