SVSM coach Boarman looking forward to 'good things' after missing playoffs

Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (7-3)

* Players to Watch – RB Doran Grant (5-10, 165, Jr.), RB/DB Mike Kafagas (5-10, 180, Sr.), RB/LB Brian Foster (6-1, 220, Sr.), RB/DL Ben Castrigano (6-2, 210, Sr.), OL/DL Bryan Ausperk (6-7, 305, Sr.), TE/DL D.J. Williams (6-3, 265, Jr.), LB John Adams (6-1, 195, Sr.), RB/DB Mark Murphy (6-1, 180, Jr.)

Outlook – Akron SVSM is hoping to catch a little luck of the Irish this season.

Heading into the final week of the regular season last year, SVSM needed a win over Ursuline to earn a playoff berth but the Fighting Irish fell to the eventual Division V state champ to keep them out.

This season, SVSM moves up to D-III and will compete in the formidable Region 9.

“I knew we were going to move up and that we would probably be Division III, I just didn’t realize those other teams would move up with us and some other teams falling from Division II to III,” head coach Dan Boarman said.

“You can’t really think about those things though. If you want to be deemed one of the best in the state you’ve got to play the best in the state. It is what we look forward to.”

Boarman and his Irish have plenty to look forward to with one of the toughest schedules in the state regardless of Division.

“Let me put it to you this way – we open with (Columbus) Watterson and close with Ursuline, so what does that say,” Boarman laughed. “It’s just a tough schedule and we take it week by week. I think we like the challenge. Our kids look forward to the challenge of a good schedule playing the best in the state. You can’t be the best in the state unless you play the best.”

SVSM will look to its defense early this fall while some younger players gain experience on offense.

“It was interesting, I thought at the beginning of last year our strength was going to be our defense but we lost three kids with season ending injuries,” Boarman said. “We had to play a bunch of younger kids.

“I think we’re going to be pretty strong defensively. If our offensive line comes around, we could have a pretty good offense, too.”

Ausperk and Foster are Division I college caliber players and will lead a senior group that last made the postseason in 2007.

“We’re working hard,” said Boarman. “It is a great senior class backed up by a good sophomore and junior class and I am looking forward to the season.”

Grant is one of the top players in the state for the 2011 class and headlines a younger group of Irish players. He already has scholarship offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Michigan State and Illinois.

“We’re working hard. It is a great senior class backed up by a good sophomore and junior class and I am looking forward to the season,” said Boarman. “I am impressed. A lot of college recruiters have come in and have mentioned how big and physical our kids look. So, I am looking forward to seeing what happens to this development.”

And Boarman feels confident about having a successful season and getting back into the postseason.

“I’m just looking forward to it because if the preseason is going to be any indicator of our season to come, I think good things are going to happen at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s,” he said.

Schedule

Aug. 28, Columbus Bishop Watterson, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 4, Akron North, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 11, Akron Garfield, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 18, at Akron Hoban, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 26, Napoleon, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 2, at Canton Central Catholic, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 10, at Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 16, Youngstown Mooney, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 24, at Hunting Valley University School, 1:00 p.m.

Oct. 30, at Youngstown Ursuline, 7:30 p.m.