By Tom Williams

williams@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

Four years ago, several Boardman eighth-grade football players chose to attend Ursuline High School.

Spartans senior lineman Tino Arcuri said the rejection provided motivation.

“For my Class of 2019, it’s humongous,” Arcuri said of Friday’s 38-14 victory over the Irish. “Some of our best friends decided to leave us.

“We made it our goal for four years we were never going to let them beat us,” the Spartans’ left tackle said.

Mission accomplished.

Arcuri’s freshman team defeated Ursuline in 2015. In his first two varsity seasons, the Spartans needed overtime and double-overtime to start a winning streak against the Irish,

Friday’s game was all but secured at halftime just after Tommy Fryda’s 26-yard field goal put Boardman (5-3) ahead 24-7.

“We accomplished that goal,” Arcuri said. “I loved how this one turned out — we didn’t need the extra quarter.”

The Spartans’ win sets up Friday’s showdown with archrivial Austintown Fitch (6-2). The Spartans are sixth in Division II, Region 5 in this week’s computer ratings. The Falcons are fifth in Diision I, Region 1.

“It’s a huge game, just from a playoff perspective, a rivalry and them being a really good team [as well],” Boardman quarterback Mike O’Horo said.

The top eight teams in each region qualify for the playoffs.

Trailing 14-0, a roughing-the-punter penalty after a third-and-31 helped the Irish (1-7) get back in the game.

Eight plays later, Brady Shannon connected with Daysean Harris for a 15-yard touchdown to slice Boardman’s lead midway through the second quarter.

But three major penalties, including two for grabbing face masks, propelled the Spartans to a third touchdown.

“Our kids did a great job of responding,” Boardman head coach Joe Ignazio said. “A dumb mistake put us in that situation, kept them alive.

“But our guys hung in there,” Ignazio said. “We marched right down the field and plugged it in.”

O’Horo scored from the 1, his second touchdown. He said his line provided a huge comfort zone.

“It’s always nice when they are keeping me clean and giving me time to get the ball downfield,” O’Horo said, “They all played awesome tonight.”

Ignazio agreed.

“Our line was physical all night long,” he said.

Up front are Arcuri at left tackle, Isaac Land at left guard, Jimmy Hoffman at center, Nikitas Misssos at right guard and Dave Merdich at right tackle. The tight ends are Alex Huzicka and Kareem Hamdan.

“All five [of us] need to be strong or else Mike is going to get hit or the running backs,” said Arcuri, who sacked Shannon twice. “We gave up two touchdowns. It was our own fault — we had penalties that could have been avoided.

“There’s still room for improvement.”

O’Horo passed for 174 yards including a 27-yard touchdown to Nate Thompson. Joe Rodriguez rushed for 123 yards and scored twice.

Thanks to sacks, the Spartans limited the Irish to 55 yards rushing. Davion Jones had 103 yards on 19 carries.