It was on Feb. 12, 1941, the Board of Education of the Boardman Rural School met to discuss the construction of a 2,000-seat football stadium for their Spartan grid team.
      Presiding over the school board was its president, Lloyd Dalby. Other members of the board were W.K. Allsopp, Joseph Miller, Myron Agnew and Fred Green.
      They met with architects Otto Kling and Robert Medicus, who offered several different plans for a stadium.
      Within two months, on Apr. 7, 1941, the school board approved letting bids for the construction of a reinforced, ‘concrete’ stadium, under plans drawn-up by Medicus.
      According to old Boardman Rural School records, the school board wanted to “get underway with building the project as soon as possible.”
      Erected in the summer of 1941 at a cost of $16,000, the new stadium was financed through a one-mil bond issue.
      As noted in the Boardman HS yearbook of 1942, the new stadium “was fully completed and ready for play on Nov. 15, 1941 the Saturday after Armistice Day.”
      That 1941 Spartans football team, under the direction of Head Coach Rib Allen featured a nine-game schedule, but the team was considered “quite question mark a few weeks before the season opened” in mid-September against Newton Falls.
      Allen’s Spartan charges answered any questions, reeling-off three, straight shutout wins---over the Falls (27-0), Lowellville (26-0) and Lisbon (26-0).
      Austintown stopped the win streak, besting the Spartans 26-13, and that was followed by a 3-0 loss Boardman suffered at the hands of Louisville.
      The Spartans then charged to three, straight wins, over Columbiana, East Palestine and Minerva, to set the stage for the big game in the brand new stadium, against Sebring at a time when both teams played for the coveted ‘Little Brown Jug.’
      The capacity crowd was brought to its feet when Boardman’s George Sullivan romped 65 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the game, and the Spartans claimed a 21-0 victory to finish at 7-2 on the season, including five, shutout wins.
      In the early years of Boardman Stadium, the Spartans were virtually unbeatable at home.
      In 1942, the Spartans under Allen went unbeaten at 9-0, outscoring their opponents by a huge margin, 349-6.
      Boardman opened the 1943 season on a 13-game win streak and built that to 22 games, again going 9-0 in that season, and outscoring their foes, 351-21. The win skein stretched to 24 games in the 1944 season before the Spartans finally lost a game, 33-0, to Youngstown East, for their only loss in an 8-1 season.
      Entering the 1945 season, no Boardman grid team had ever lost in their ‘new’ stadium.
      Boardman opened the ‘45 campaign with a 13-0 loss at the hands of Youngstown East in a contest played at Rayen Stadium, and moved to their second game, a home contest against Mingo Junction. The contest marked the first time a Boardman team had never won in Boardman Stadium. However, the Spartans didn’t lose, as the game ended in a 6-6 tie.
      Losing five of their first eight games in 1945 (all away games), Boardman closed out the year in the annual Little Brown Jug game on Nov. 10, and dropped a hard-fought 20-7 contest to the Sebring Trojans, the first time the a Spartan grid team ever lost a game at Boardman Stadium, and the first time the Spartans ever lost the Little Brown Jug since the tradition began in 1941. The loss dropped Boardman to a 2-7 log on the season.
      Upon the loss, Head Coach Rib Allen noted “Thus ended the worst season I have ever experienced.”
      The next ‘big event’ at Boardman Stadium came during the 1948 season when new ‘floodlights’ were installed after a fund-raising drive led by the Boardman Kiwanis Club.
      The Spartans went 4-5 that season, but filled Boardman Stadium with an overflow crowd of 3000 fans in a 19-0 upset win over heavily-favored Wellsville. Injuries plagued Boardman in the ‘48 season that allowed an underclassman, Angelo Ianucci to gain playing time in the backfield with the fleet Bob Vogt.
      In 1949, fans flocked to Boardman Stadium, as the Spartans went 7-2 led by Vogt, Jay Chuck and Ianucci. The season ended with an overflow crowd at the stadium as Boardman regained the Little Brown Jug toppling Sebring, 34-12. Vogt darted for 65 yards and a touchdown on the very first play of the game and finished with three TDs in the contest. Chuck added another TD to highlight the action.
      At the time, Vogt was labeled as one of the best players to ever don the maroon and white. He ended his senior year scoring a school record 148 points and earned honorable mention All-Ohio laurels.
      Another standout on the team was co-captain Dick Stevens, noted for his play on the defensive side of the ball. He gained first-team All-Ohio selection.
      Boardman Stadium saw the Spartans end play in the old Tri-County Conference in the 1950 season when they finished with a 7-1-1 mark, including a 60-13 victory over Sebring that kept the Little Brown Jug in Boardman’s possession forever. No Boardman team has ever gained more yards at Boardman Stadium than the Spartans did against the Trojans, piling-up 625 yards of offense as the ‘TD Twins,’ fullback Jay Chuck tallied 32 points and left halfback Ianucci added 21 more.
      In its final season in the Tri-County Conference, six Spartans earned first team All-League honors includng Chuck, Ianucci, and four starters on the offensive line, center Duke Wellington, guards Frank Santangelo and Dick Beck, and tackle Al Hammar.
      Moving into the Steel Valley Conference against Steel Town teams like Campbell Memorial, Girard and Struthers, the Spartans struggled to find ways to win during the decade of the 50s.
      That span, however, put arguably one of the greatest gridders ever to play in a Boardman uniform on the field, Butch Anderson.
      Anderson’s feats are legendary. Playing under Head Coach Jerry Thorpe, Anderson piled-up 200 yards or more rushing with regularity. With Anderson voted as the Best Back in the Steel Valley Conference and third team All-Ohio in 1956, and Dick LaLumia and Ed Abel gaining SVC laurels, Boardman complied a 7-2 log.
      After falling 30-0 in their opener at Campbell, the Spartans returned to a packed house at Boardman Stadium and blitzed the Woodrow Wilson Presidents, 20-2. Anderson had two TDs in the game.
      After beating Niles McKinley for the first time in 27 years, Boardman engaged the Girard High Indians and walked away with a 34-13 victory. In was in that game, Anderson scored four TDs while rushing for nearly 300 yards.
      Anderson was injured in a 12-0 loss to Hubbard in the sixth game of the season and missed the seventh game, an 18-7 loss to the Salem Quakers.
      Boardman Stadium hosted the Spartans final two games of the ‘56 season.
      The Spartans faced Struthers and won their first game ever against the Wildcats, 34-12. In that game, Anderson played just six plays due to his knee injury, but scored on three, long TD runs.
      The Spartans finished the season against Austintown. Anderson, so legend goes, played on gimpy knees and paced the Spartans to a 32-0 victory.
      Longtime Spartan grid fan and former Boardman gridder Jim Nichols was at that game and recalls on one play, Anderson took an end-around and romped 59 yards for a score, But the play was called back due to an off-sides penalty.
      The Spartans called the same play on the next play, and Anderson went 64 yards for a TD!
      With Thorpe still at the reigns, and coming off a 3-6 year in 1959, in 1960 Boardman moved to their first-ever Steel Valley title with a 6-4 overall record, including 6-2 in the SVC.
      Boardman fielded what many call its best team ever in 1961, posting an unbeaten 9-0 record and ending the season ranked fifth in the state of Ohio.
      During that season, there was never an empty seat in the house at Boardman Stadium, as 5000 to 6000 fans attended each game, most of them standing five or six deep around the field.
      Quarterback Mike Shasby, fullback Nick Nardacci, with help from halfback Earl Brown, and lonesome end Jimmy Huston paced the offense. Boardman’s huge offensive line featured Bob Schaal, Mike DelVesco, Dick Friend and All-Ohio first team pick Ralph Nespeca. Though only a sophomore, the punting of Don Ross pinned Boardman opponents in tight positions all season long. The Spartans outscored their foes, 226-36 on the season.
      Biggest win of the season came against Salem, when the only score of a 6-0 game came on a tackle-eligible pass from Shasby to Nespeca. Ironically, it was the same play (this one covered 17 yards) in the first home game of that season that gave Boardman a 12-6 win over Youngstown South High’s Warriors.
      Under the direction of Steve Sonoga, the 1965 edition of the Boardman Spartans won the Steel Valley crown with Larry Tracy at quarterback, argued by some as one of the best-ever to suit-up for the maroon and white.
      The Spartans posted an 8-1 log that season, losing an unbeaten season in an away game to Struthers, 6-0, in the final game.
      A big game that season at home featured the Rayen Tigers as foes before a crowd of 6000 fans and Boardman managed just 121 yards in total offense on the night and still came away with a 14-9 victory.
      Trailing 9-8 with just over six minutes left, Tracy rolled out to pass and was trapped in the backfield. But he outmaneuvered Tiger defenders and slipped around right end for a first down. Five plays later he scored the winning TD with 49 seconds left in the game.
      Another big home game that season saw Boardman entertain Hubbard’s Eagles. Tracy had three, first half TDs on runs of 80, 45 and 40 yards and added another score on a 50-yard romp in the second half, finishing with 265 yards on the ground. The Spartans claimed a 38-20 victory.
      Among other stalwarts on that team were first-team All-SVC picks Don Fisher, Jeff Heaver and Tom Batholomew.
      Jim Orr and Larry Saxton coached brief tenures for the Spartans, as fans continued to flock to Boardman Stadium, and Orr’s 1970 teams took the SVC championship.
      Following Saxton’s resignation, the Boardman School Board hired Gene Pushic as head grid coach and his 1981 team is the last Spartan grid team to ever finish unbeaten, at 6-0, in a season blemished by a lengthy teacher’s strike. The 1980 season was most memorable, as quarterback of the team was Bernie Kosar, who just a few years later led the Miami Hurricanes to an NCAA national title. Kosar ended his career with the Spartans as the school’s most prolific passer with 2,222 yards.
      While Rib Allen’s grid teams of the early 40s went unbeaten for two straight seasons, in the modern era, likely the best head coach ever for the Spartans was Bill Bohren. He took over 1984 and before ever leading the Spartans onto the field, his first job was to take a paint brush and spruce-up Boardman Stadium. On many days prior to the start of his first season, Coach Bohren could be found painting the old concrete stands.
      It was also under Coach Bohren that Boardman added some great schools to its schedule, notably the Steubenville Big Red and the St. Ignatius Wildcats. When those teams came to Boardman Stadium, the facility was filled to capacity.
      At the outset of his tenure, Spartan fans often expressed displeasure with Bohren’s up-the-middle, run-oriented offense. But his teams won and coach Bohren ended his tenure with the Spartans as the winningest coach in the modern era.
      Bohren’s teams elevated their contests with Cardinal Mooney to new heights, as every game the two teams played at Boardman Stadium was filled to capacity and an excitement not seen since the days of the 1961 team. Bohren’s teams squared-off nine times with Don Bucci Cards, with Mooney ending with a 5-4 advantage in the series, two of which were overtime thrillers.
      In 1987, Boardman went all the way to the state title game before losing to Cincinnati Princeton, 14-6. Only blemish on the regular-season slate was a 7-6 loss to Mooney (who by the way won a state title that season). In marked the only time in the history of Boardman grid program the Spartans vied for a state football title.
      At one of those Bohren vs. Bucci, Boardman vs. Mooney grid games at Boardman Stadium, on Sept. 29, 1989, (BHS posted a 19-6 win). Ron Stoops Sr., Cardinal Mooney’s defensive coordinator for many years, suffered a heart attack near the end of the contest while on the sidelines. He died on the way to the hospital.
      In 1993, Dan Pallante, an assistant under Bohren, took over the reigns and one of his teams won perhaps the biggest upset game ever played at Boardman Stadium.
      September 30, 1994
      The Stunner
      Standing 4-0 and ranked No.1 in Ohio and fourth in USA Today’s “Super 25,” the St. Ignatius Wildcats traveled to Steel Valley country to face Pallante’s Boardman Spartans.
      In front of a packed house of more than 6,000, Boardman, sparked by two third quarter touchdowns by fullback Jim Tracy, including a 71-yard gallop, snapped Saint Ignatius’ 38-game winning streak, 18-14. The Spartans trailed, 14-3, at halftime.
      It marked the Wildcats’ first loss since a 14-10 setback to St. Edward in Week 8 of the 1991 season.
      The ‘94 Wildcats swallowed that tough setback in Boardman and ran off nine consecutive victories, including a 20-3 victory over Westerville South in the Division I state championship game at Massillon’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
      September 30, 1994
      The Stunner
      Standing 4-0 and ranked No.1 in Ohio and fourth in USA Today’s “Super 25,” the St. Ignatius Wildcats traveled to Steel Valley country to face Pallante’s Boardman Spartans.
      In front of a packed house of more than 6,000, Boardman, sparked by two third quarter touchdowns by fullback Jim Tracy, including a 71-yard gallop, snapped Saint Ignatius’ 38-game winning streak, 18-14. The Spartans trailed, 14-3, at halftime.
      It marked the Wildcats’ first loss since a 14-10 setback to St. Edward in Week 8 of the 1991 season.
      The ‘94 Wildcats swallowed that tough setback in Boardman and ran off nine consecutive victories, including a 20-3 victory over Westerville South in the Division I state championship game at Massillon’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
     
      Notable Games
      At Boardman Stadium
     
      Fri., Oct. 25, 1985
      Boardman 30 - The Rayen School 0
      7,500 fans jammed into and around Boardman Stadium, as the Spartans trounced previously unbeaten Rayen, 30-0. Extra police were on hand for the game, making two arrests for intoxication and two for disorderly conduct.
      Tom Pipoly and Brad Smith rushed for 94 and 77 yards respectively to key the Spartan offense. 55 of Smith’s yards came on Boardman’s first possession of the game, an 88-yard march capped by a Smith, 22-yard TD jaunt. Mike Pollifrone booted 4 PATs and a 21-yard field goal for the Spartans.
      Boardman’s defense was stout. Linebacker Don Mook cracked a Rayen runner, forcing a fumble that was gobbled-up by Tom Velasquez. Brad Barringer intercepted a pass by Tigers QB Tony Donaldson, and so did Mook.
      The win lifted the Spartans to an 8-1 log, their only loss coming, 27-7, at the hands of Mooney.
     
      Fri., Sept. 17, 1986
      Austintown 7 - Boardman 0
      A Leo Hawkins 78 yard TD run provided the only scoring of the game in the second quarter. Although Fitch outgained the Spartans, 263-209, Boardman’s defense held the Falcons to just 10 yards on the ground in the second half. A Ron Strollo pass interception killed an early Spartans drive deep into Fitch territory in the first quarter. Fitch mounted a drive on the next possession that ended when Tony Veitz intercepted an Eric Luckage pass. Boardman moved rapidly downfield, keyed by a 28 yard run by quarterback Brad Barringer. A Barringer to D.J. Ogilvie pass connection gave the Spartans a first down, but the play was nullified by a penalty. The drive stalled on two straight incomplete passes on third and fourth downs. Boardman’s final possession of the game ended inside the five yard line with 50 seconds left on the clock. Fullback Kevin Nashbar’s fourth and two thrust came-up two inches short of a first down to preserve the Falcon win. More than 9000 fans watched the game.
     
      Fri., Oct. 15, 1987
      Boardman 7 - Ursuline 0
      One of the largest crowds in many years, close to 9500 fans, rimmed all of Boardman Stadium as the Spartans handed the Irish their first loss of the season after six straight wins. The victory kept Boardman’s playoff hopes alive.
      The Spartans notched the only points of the game on their first possession, covering 75 yards.
      Running backs Jason Marucci and Jeff Austin gained big yards behind the blocking of guard Tony Innocenzi and tackle Bill Schaffer. On the only scoring play of the game, the Spartans moved to the Irish 10 yard line, keyed by a pair of passes from quarterback Kris Bjorson to Ed Wroblewski; and another aerial connection to Ron Flauto. Marucci capped the drive with a one-yard plunge, and a Joe Lyden PAT boot ended the scoring in the game.
      A big play in the game came when Irish tailback Clinton Lynch was halted on a fourth and one, at the goal line, by a host of Spartan tacklers, including Jeff Kohout, Butch Scullen, Bill Christoff and Doug Velasquez. It was a Velasquez tackle on third and one that featured in the goal line stand.
     
      Fri., Sept. 20. 1991
      Boardman 16 - Warren Harding 7
      8200 fans jammed Boardman Stadium to see Bill Bohren’s Spartans top defending Div. I state champions and USA Today’s number one team in America, Warren Harding, 16-7. Boardman entered the game as 16-point underdogs.
      Boardman got the first possession of the game and was forced to punt. Chad Smithberger’s punt was downed by Eric Poplar on the one yard line. Harding moved swiftly to the Boardman 30 yard line. The drive stalled there, on a Jason Mericle quarterback sack.
      A bad snap from Center gave Harding the ball on Boardman’s 26 yard line in the second quarter, and from there Aaron Whatley skirted around left end for Harding’s lone tally of the game.
      The Spartans knotted things at 7-7 in the third quarter, as junior tailback Brad Williams four yard TD burst gave the Spartans their first score of the game.
      Keyed by a 41 yard run by Aaron Boyarko, Boardman moved several possessions later to the Harding one yard line. Williams broke up the middle and Boardman held a 13-7 margin. A Smithberger 20 yard field goal midway through the final stanza provided the final margin.
      Harding’s final threat died inside Boardman territory when Jason Triveri tipped a Joe Mars pass. The win evened Boardman’s record at 2-2.
     
      Oct. 31, 1997
      Boardman 38 Alliance 27
      In the final game of the season, quarterback Jeff Ryan tossed four times to Bryan Ignazio for 152 yards, including TD tosses of 45 and 77 yards to spur the Spartans. The hard-nosed Ryan finished his senior season completing 126 of 280 passes for 1835 yards and 17 TDs, and also ran for 329 yards and a dozen touchdown. Against Alliance, Ryan went 13 of 25 for 285 yards, and added 72 yard rushing.
     
      Nov. 5, 1998
      Boardman 21 - Cardinal Mooney 14
      6400 fans watched as the Spartans upset Mooney, 21-14, to gain a share of the Steel Valley Conference crown with the Cards. Mooney dipped to 8-2 while Boardman ended its season at 6-4.
      Boardman took a 7-0 first quarter lead when tailback Andy Zetts tallied and Jim Kautz booted the PAT.
      A 75-yard scamper down the right side of the field by Spartan quarterback Matt Sammon boosted Boardman into a 14-7 third quarter lead, but Mooney answered with a drive of its own and tied things up at 14-14 on a Jeff Rich TD.
      A Sammon TD pass to Steve Sadlak was the clincher for the Spartans.
     
      Fri., Sept. 23, 1999
      Boardman 21 - Steubenville 12
      The Big Red and the Spartans entered the game with identical 5-0 logs. Steubenville entered the contest averaging 44 points a game and Big Red fans began gathering at the stadium three hours before kickoff. About 4500 fans watched the game, as the Spartans entered ranked #2 in their region of the OHSAA grid standings.
      Evan Beard bulled 26 yards for a TD that gave the Spartans a 21-7 command, as Cap Capraruolo added his third straight PAT boot. Beard paced the Spartan ground game with 85 yards, many of which were gained with defenders wrapped around him.
      Boardman’s second score of the game was set up when Tony Ventresco forced a fumble that Nelson Navarro recovered at the Big Red 24 yard line.
     
      Fri., Aug. 28, 2009
      ‘The Renewal’
      Cardinal Mooney 23 - Boardman 17
      After mis-steps by the Boardman High School Athletic Department forced the Boardman-Mooney grid rivalry to be abandoned following the 2003 season, the biggest rivalry on the Spartans gridrion was renewed in the opening game of the 2009 season. 8700 fans packed into Boardman Stadium to watch the Spartans outgain the Cards, but lose a 23-17 game. Mooney’s defense swiped five Spartan aerials out of the air to key the win.
      Boardman gained the early advantage. Ty Walls notched a first quarter TD for the first tally of the game. The score was set up by a Noah Patoray fumble recovery.
      Joe Stoops intercepted a Ron Boyd pass and darted 64 yards to the Spartans 28 yard line to set up Mooney’s first score. That came when Mark Brandenstein scored at the 2:18 mark of the first period. Mooney missed the PAT and Boardman held a 7-6 lead.
      A scramble by Card quarterback Alex Zordich late in the second period allowed Mooney’s A.J. Fox to boot a 22 yard field goal and Mooney held a 9-7 lead at the half.
      The Spartans got the first possession of the third quarter and drove into the red zone. But Braylon Heard intercepted a Boyd pass and darted 95 yards for a touchdown as Mooney charged into a 16-7 lead.
      Boardman got the ball back and swiftly moved into scoring position, keyed by a Boyd to Chase Hammond pass the covered 78 yards. The drive ended with another interception, this one by Card defender John Stoops.
      The Cards went to their vaunted ground game and boosted their margin to 23-7 when sophomore running back Charlie Brown scored.
      Late in the third period, Boardman got three points on a Trevor Ragan field goal
      The Spartans got their final tally of the game with 7:10 remaining, when Boyd tallied from a yard out to make the score 23-17.
      Boardman had two more shots to at least tie the game. One drive ended with another interception by John Stoops.
      With near two minutes left in the game, Boardman got the ball back 45 yards from paydirt. A Brandenstein quarterback sack on fourth down insured Mooney of the victory.
      On the night, the Spartans outgained the Cards, 283-163.
     
      Fri., Oct. 14, 2011
      Boardman 17 - Canton GlenOak 14
      After eight years of labor in the Stark County-based Federal League, Boardman won its only Fed League title, defeating previously unbeaten Canton Glen Oak’s Eagles. (The Spartans tied with GlenOak and Canton McKinley) for the title
      Dayne Hammond intercepted a Reid Worstell pass with 1:36 left in the game to preserve the win. A sparse crowd of about 3500 fans watched the action.
      Nate Jones scampered 39 yards for Boardman’s first tally. A Ryan Pollifrone pitch to Devin Campbell gave the Spartans a TD, while Ian Simmons booted a 27 yard field goal to give Boardman the halftime lead.