Week 7- Boardman (2-4) @ Warren G. Harding (3-2)

Warren G. Harding’s week 6 football matchup against Erie (PA) McDowell marked their first game in two weeks.  At halftime, the Raiders found themselves trailing 3 to 0.  However, the second half told a different tale as they ultimately defeated the Trojans 28 to 9. 

At the 8:01 mark of the second quarter against Erie (PA) McDowell, Warren G. Harding senior linebacker Mandes Provitt crashes into the quarterback to force a fumble, which was recovered by junior Justice Dukes.

In the process, the team accomplished a feat that hasn’t been done in seven years.

Harding junior Elijah Phillips makes a great read from the safetyy position and darts in to register a tackle for a loss.

Harding quarterback Amiere Cobb threw for 51 yards and a touchdown and had 101 rushing yards and another score on nine carries while sophomore tailback Makhai Brogdon carried the ball eight times for 103 yards and one touchdown.  It marked the first time that a pair of Raiders eclipsed the century mark since Kay'ron Adams (125) and Elizah Smith (102) both did so in a 36-19 victory over Howland on October 26, 2019. 

Harding sophomore tailback Makhai Brogdon breaks lose for a career-long 80-yard touchdown run against Erie (PA) McDowell.

Brogdon’s contributions gave him two 100-yard performances in two career starts as he now leads the team with 240 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just 22 carries (10.9 yards per carry) while Cobb has carried the ball 15 times for 188 yards (12.5 yards per carry) and two scores. 

Harding quarterback Amiere Cobb follows his teammates blocks, including a monster pancake by junior Josh Flenoury (#55), en route to a 58-yard touchdown run against Erie (PA) McDowell.

Cobb’s touchdown pass against McDowell went for 24 yards to senior Tyler Smith.  More known for his efforts on the defensive side of the ball, while it was just the second catch of Smith’s football, his first came last year on a 22-yard touchdown catch during last year’s second round playoff game against Austintown Fitch.  Speaking of “defense,” the performance also marked the second consecutive game in which the unit didn’t surrender a touchdown as the Trojans’ lone time crossing the end zone came on a kickoff return.  

Harding quarterback Amiere Cobb finds fellow senior Tyler Smith for a 24-yard touchdown pass against Erie (PA) McDowell.

Now, speaking of “returns,” junior Matt Richardson, who is also more known for his prowess on defense, scored the first touchdown of his varsity football career on a 35-yard punt return midway in the fourth quarter against McDowell.  In week 2, he hauled in a pair of interceptions during Harding’s 25-6 triumph over Akron Buchtel.  Collectively, after surrendering 24.7 points per game in the first three contests, the Raiders have defeated their last two opponents by an average score of 35.0 to 7.5.  They’ll look to continue that trend against a longtime rival who is looking to regain their footing.

At the 6:43 mark of the 1st quarter against Erie (PA) McDowell, Harding junior Matt Richardson hauls in a punt and returns it 35 yards for a touchdown. It was the first score of his varsity football career.

The Boardman Spartans are led by current head coach Daniel “D.J.” Dota.  Last year, he implemented a “Wing-T” offense that takes an awful lot of discipline to defend.  While the Spartans split their first four games of this season, they did so by averaging 29.8 points per contest.  That production is spearheaded by the skill set of versatile Vince Butto, who rarely comes off the field.  Offensively, he has been known to get the job done on foot or airmail while defensively, he serves as the last line of defense from the safety position.  

Former Harding head coach and Defensive Coordinator Daniel "D.J." Dota has been the head of Boardman's football propgram since 2022.

Butto’s title of “Mr. Everything” for the Spartans couldn’t be any more true than it was during their 35-34 triple overtime victory over Youngstown Chaney in week 3.  That night, he put his entire team on his back as he scored all five of their touchdowns on the ground while also hauling in a key interception in the end zone late in the first quarter.

Boardman safety Vince Butto intercepts a Youngstown Chaney pass during the first quarter of their matchup on 09/05/2025.

Despite Boardman’s recent 35-7 loss to archrival Cardinal Mooney, Vince Butto was able to make his presence felt with his arm as in the third quarter, he found Frank Butto for a 19-yard touchdown pass.  Ultimately, the loss capped off a rough two-week stretch for the Spartans as they’ve been outscored 77-17 in their last two games.  Despite their recent struggles, they can’t be taken lightly as their program always seems to show up against Harding, which is evidenced by the fact that the Raiders needed to work all four quarters to pull off a 19-14 victory over them in 2024.

Boardman quarterback Vince Butto throws a 19-yard touchdown pass to Frank Butto during the third quarter of their matchup against Cardinal Mooney on 09/26/2025.