Published: Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Lousy feeling fades; confidence on rise
The Spartans have won back-to-back games for the first time since 2002.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN — In mid-August, Boardman coach D.J. Ogilvie joined the other seven Federal League head coaches for a preseason media day.
The coaches were given ballots, asking them to rank the teams 1-8 based on where they thought each team would finish.
Boardman was picked eighth.
"Being a math person, I figured out that every coach [besides Ogilvie] picked us last except one, who picked us seventh," he said.
It was a lousy feeling, but Ogilvie knew it was coming.
Recent history
Boardman entered the 2006 season having gone 2-28 over the past three years, including 1-19 under Ogilvie.
Pretty much everyone figured the Spartans would lose big to Cleveland St. Ignatius in the opener, then struggle to win more than one or two games the rest of the way.
Then a funny thing happened. Boardman stayed close to Ignatius — the Wildcats eventually won 8-6 — and the Spartans walked away knowing they could have won.
"I think that helped," Ogilvie said. "You heard the same old moral victory stuff, but the best thing was that our kids had a chance to win. And that gave us confidence to work even harder.
"We knew we needed to turn it up a notch and we did that last week."
After a 49-0 rout of Washington (D.C.) Roosevelt in Week Two, the defeated Chaney 21-7 to win back-to-back games for the first time since 2002.
Hold the presses
Nobody's printing playoff tickets yet, but it's a start.
"We kept telling the kids [the past two years] that the hard work is going to pay off," Ogilvie said. "You want to have credibility with your football team, so we needed to show results at some point."
Now the Spartans enter the most challenging part of their schedule. After three straight home games, Boardman plays its first three Federal League games on the road, beginning with Massillon Jackson (1-2) on Friday. Hoover (3-0) and Perry (3-0) are next.
Quarterback Joe Bako, who was injured in the fourth quarter of the Ignatius game and missed the Roosevelt game, returned last week but wasn't at full strength. He should be OK this Friday, but the big test will be for Boardman's defense, which has given up just 15 points.
Defensive line outstanding
"Our defensive tackles have been playing really, really well," said Ogilvie, who also praised senior defensive end Justin Powell, an all-Federal League pick last season. "The defensive line has been controlling the line of scrimmage and all 11 guys are doing a great job sprinting to the ball."
Boardman's fast start hasn't just built belief within the team. Parents, teachers and fans have taken notice, too.
"It's been extremely positive," Ogilvie said. "The negative comments have certainly decreased and you've seen a lot of enthusiasm.
"It's a good feeling for the kids. It feels like all the hard work is paying off."
That said, it's not like Ogilvie has done anything different this season. After years of playoff-contending teams and Division I college prospects, Boardman began a down cycle in 2003, going 1-9 in Garry Smith's final season.
Best needed
Things are improving, but the Spartans still don't have enough talent to win without playing their best.
"Other than spending a little more time in the weight room, we haven't changed anything this year," said Ogilvie, who coached at United for six seasons before returning to his alma mater in 2004. "We're still doing the same stuff, only now we have some stronger kids.
"But we didn't change our offense or our defense. We didn't go and get real smart in the last nine months. We're just seeing some of the hard work finally pay off."
scalzo@vindy.com
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
The Spartans have won back-to-back games for the first time since 2002.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN — In mid-August, Boardman coach D.J. Ogilvie joined the other seven Federal League head coaches for a preseason media day.
The coaches were given ballots, asking them to rank the teams 1-8 based on where they thought each team would finish.
Boardman was picked eighth.
"Being a math person, I figured out that every coach [besides Ogilvie] picked us last except one, who picked us seventh," he said.
It was a lousy feeling, but Ogilvie knew it was coming.
Recent history
Boardman entered the 2006 season having gone 2-28 over the past three years, including 1-19 under Ogilvie.
Pretty much everyone figured the Spartans would lose big to Cleveland St. Ignatius in the opener, then struggle to win more than one or two games the rest of the way.
Then a funny thing happened. Boardman stayed close to Ignatius — the Wildcats eventually won 8-6 — and the Spartans walked away knowing they could have won.
"I think that helped," Ogilvie said. "You heard the same old moral victory stuff, but the best thing was that our kids had a chance to win. And that gave us confidence to work even harder.
"We knew we needed to turn it up a notch and we did that last week."
After a 49-0 rout of Washington (D.C.) Roosevelt in Week Two, the defeated Chaney 21-7 to win back-to-back games for the first time since 2002.
Hold the presses
Nobody's printing playoff tickets yet, but it's a start.
"We kept telling the kids [the past two years] that the hard work is going to pay off," Ogilvie said. "You want to have credibility with your football team, so we needed to show results at some point."
Now the Spartans enter the most challenging part of their schedule. After three straight home games, Boardman plays its first three Federal League games on the road, beginning with Massillon Jackson (1-2) on Friday. Hoover (3-0) and Perry (3-0) are next.
Quarterback Joe Bako, who was injured in the fourth quarter of the Ignatius game and missed the Roosevelt game, returned last week but wasn't at full strength. He should be OK this Friday, but the big test will be for Boardman's defense, which has given up just 15 points.
Defensive line outstanding
"Our defensive tackles have been playing really, really well," said Ogilvie, who also praised senior defensive end Justin Powell, an all-Federal League pick last season. "The defensive line has been controlling the line of scrimmage and all 11 guys are doing a great job sprinting to the ball."
Boardman's fast start hasn't just built belief within the team. Parents, teachers and fans have taken notice, too.
"It's been extremely positive," Ogilvie said. "The negative comments have certainly decreased and you've seen a lot of enthusiasm.
"It's a good feeling for the kids. It feels like all the hard work is paying off."
That said, it's not like Ogilvie has done anything different this season. After years of playoff-contending teams and Division I college prospects, Boardman began a down cycle in 2003, going 1-9 in Garry Smith's final season.
Best needed
Things are improving, but the Spartans still don't have enough talent to win without playing their best.
"Other than spending a little more time in the weight room, we haven't changed anything this year," said Ogilvie, who coached at United for six seasons before returning to his alma mater in 2004. "We're still doing the same stuff, only now we have some stronger kids.
"But we didn't change our offense or our defense. We didn't go and get real smart in the last nine months. We're just seeing some of the hard work finally pay off."
scalzo@vindy.com
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
In mid-August, Boardman coach D.J. Ogilvie joined the other seven Federal League head coaches for a preseason media day....
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