Warren G. Harding 2024

IMG_5946.jpeg


We are officially 24 days away from Warren G. Harding’s 2024 football season opener against Canton McKinley!

Today’s “legend of the day” is Tyirq Ivory, who wore #24 during his senior year as a Raider.

Armed with a skillset that was reminiscent to that of his uncle Omar Provitt's, Ivory was a big play waiting to happen from the wide receiver position. In his very first varsity game in that role, he caught a quick slant from then-junior quarterback Elijah Taylor and turned it into a 47-yard touchdown at longtime archrival Canton McKinley. Five weeks later, the duo connected on an 85-yard touchdown pass, the third longest in Harding history, in another road game against Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary. He finished his sophomore campaign with 23 catches for 340 yards & four touchdowns.

After sitting out the COVID-shortened season of 2020, Ivory returned his senior year and picked right back up where he left off. Receiving yardage wise, he owns two of the top seven perfromances in Harding history. In week four, he hauled in 10 catches (tied for 2nd in school history) for 179 yards (4th in school history) and two touchdowns against Massillon. In the 88-game matchup history between the two schools, 10 & 179 marks the highest single-game totals for catches and receiving yards for a player from either team.

The following week against Youngstown Ursuline, he achieved the same feat for that series as he finished with six catches for 149 receiving yards (7th in school history) and another pair of scores. His 77-yard touchdown catch from then-junior quarterback Dalys Jett is the second longest in the history of the rivalry. It only trails the 90-yard scoring connection between Harding's Sterling Frazier and Terrion Jackson in 2017. Ivory finished the 2021 season with 33 catches (tied for 9th in school history) for 597 yards (9th in school history) and 8 touchdowns (tied for 5th in school history).

For his career at Harding, Ivory hauled in 56 catches (7th in school history) for 937 yards (5th in school history) and 12 touchdowns (tied for 4th in school history). SInce then, he's spent time at SUNY Erie Community College (Buffalo, NY) & Butler CC (El Dorado, Kansas). Time will tell if he resurfaces on the college scene again. If he does, hopefully, he can recreate the magic that he once did in a Raider uniform.
 
Last edited:
TEMPESTA said:
FSU baby..........................Lets not speak on it please I'm still not over the snub from the playoff committee :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:
Click to expand...

They weren't going to make a deep playoff run without their star quarterback. The snub was warranted, no? I mean how far do you really think they would have gone without Jordan Travis?
 
23- Erwin Sutton.jpeg


We are officially 23 days away from Warren G. Harding’s 2024 football season opener against Canton McKinley!

Today’s “legend of the day” is Erwin Sutton, who wore #23 during his playing days as a Raider.

In high school football, people often assume that after a starter graduates, things will go downhill. While tailback Erwin Sutton got solid playing time as a sophomore in 1994, Harding had a trio of seniors leading the ground attack as Derrick Beckwith finished with 86 carries for 628 rushing yards and five touchdowns, dynamic quarterback Walt Turner took off 68 times for 463 yards and eight touchdowns, and fullback Damion "Chief" Coleman plowed his way to 293 yards and six touchdowns on 49 carries.

The graduation of a loaded class in 1995 opened up a plethora of opportunities for the younger guys to step up that fall. In the end, Sutton's actions let everyone around him know that he was indeed up next. After entering the season finale against Howland with 70 carries for 379 yards and four touchdowns, he nearly doubled his production for the entire year as he racked up 267 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries in the Raiders' 37-20 victory.

While then-junior quarterback Andre Coleman would eventually break through with 715 rushing yards and six touchdowns on his 104 keepers in 1996, Sutton was still able to carry his momentum into his senior season as he finished with 1,055 yards, and seven touchdowns on 193 carries. He did so by establishing a much higher level of consistency as he eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in six of Harding's ten games, which doesn't include his 98-rushing yard performance in a 22-15 victory over Youngstown Woodrow Wilson. Overall, he finished his high school football career with 1,890 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on 323 carries.

Sutton would go on to continue his academic and athletic career at Walsh University. Through his high school days on the gridiron up until now, he has inspired generations of youth to work hard both on and off the field. May his light continue to shine on those that cross paths with him.
 
Worm,

Seeing your post about the US Army All-American Bowl reminded me of the last time I saw Tom Powell play in high school. Above I posted about the last time I saw him play for Reserve. He was a junior that year and I saw him play several games the next season in Harding's state championship season, including all the playoff games, but the last time I saw him play was in the 1991 North-South All-Star game at Massillon.

He started for the North but the starting QB never really looked at him in the first half even though he he looked to me to be open several times. In fairness the North was running the ball more than passing. The South led 7-0 at half time with the South set to receive the 2nd half KO. The North forced a punt on that first series but they fumbled it and the South recovered on the North 20-yard line and scored to go up 14-0. On their first possession of the 2nd half the North finally put John Ryan from Boardman into the game at QB. After two running plays they were at their own 30-yard line and Mr. Powell was wide left. They motioned right and Ryan went back to pass, looking the defense off to his right, when Mr. Powell made his move on a post pattern and Ryan turned back to his left and threw a dart about 30-35 yards in the air hitting Powell on the dead run. Mr. Powell then outran everybody to complete the 70-yard TD.
 
Last edited:
22- Boom Herron.jpeg


We are officially 22 days away from Warren G. Harding’s 2024 football season opener against Canton McKinley!

Today’s “legend of the day” is Daniel Boom Herron, who wore #22 during his playing days as a Raider.

When you think of tough running backs out of Warren G. Harding, Boom's name will always be one of the first ones that come up. At 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, he lived up to his nickname by "playing much bigger" than he was. He attacked holes with full force to the point where as of the summer of 2024, he still owns three of the top seven single-game rushing yardage totals in Harding history. That includes being one of four players in school history to eclipse 300+ yards rushing in a game as he finished with 325 against Youngstown Cardinal Mooney in 2005.

To date, here's how Boom's statistics rank in Harding history...
(#- also tied with Maurice Clarett & Demond Hymes)

-1st in Carries (Season): 288 in 2006
-1st in Carries (Career): 653 from 2003-06
-3rd in Rushing Yards (Career): 3,774 from 2003-06
-3rd in Rushing Touchdowns (Career): 42 from 2003-06
-4th in Rushing Yards (Game): 325 against Cardinal Mooney on 09/17/2005
-6th in Rushing Yards (Game): 279 against Archbishop Hoban on 10/29/2004
-7th in Rushing Yards (Game): 276 against Youngstown Ursuline on 09/30/2005
-7th in Rushing Yards (Season): 1,523 in 2005
-9th (Tied) in Rushing Touchdowns: 16# in 2005 & 2006
-10th in Rushing Yards (Season): 1,444 in 2006

Boom's high school accomplishments resulted in an offer list headlined by every Big Ten school. Despite having a roster loaded with talent at the running back position, Ohio State emerged victorious in the "Battle For Boom." Over time, he worked his way up the depth chart and had a career that still ranks well in Buckeye history...

-9th in Carries (Career): 592 from 2007-11
-14th in Rushing Yards (Career): 2,869 from 2007-11
-15th in Rushing Touchdowns (Career): 32 from 2007-11
-15th in Total Touchdowns (Career): 35 from 2007-11
-16th in Total Yards (Career): 3,178 from 2007-11

Collegiate Career Notes
-1st Team All-Big Ten (2010)
-On 11/27/2010, he had a 98-yard touchdown run vs. Michigan called back for holding. However, the run stood as an 89-yard gain, which is still tied for the longest offensive play in Ohio State history.

In 2012, Boom was selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. In six NFL seasons, he also spent time with the Indianapolis Colts, and Buffalo Bills
 
Worm02 said:
View attachment 62337

We are officially 22 days away from Warren G. Harding’s 2024 football season opener against Canton McKinley!

Today’s “legend of the day” is Daniel Boom Herron, who wore #22 during his playing days as a Raider.

When you think of tough running backs out of Warren G. Harding, Boom's name will always be one of the first ones that come up. At 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, he lived up to his nickname by "playing much bigger" than he was. He attacked holes with full force to the point where as of the summer of 2024, he still owns three of the top seven single-game rushing yardage totals in Harding history. That includes being one of four players in school history to eclipse 300+ yards rushing in a game as he finished with 325 against Youngstown Cardinal Mooney in 2005.

To date, here's how Boom's statistics rank in Harding history...
(#- also tied with Maurice Clarett & Demond Hymes)

-1st in Carries (Season): 288 in 2006
-1st in Carries (Career): 653 from 2003-06
-3rd in Rushing Yards (Career): 3,774 from 2003-06
-3rd in Rushing Touchdowns (Career): 42 from 2003-06
-4th in Rushing Yards (Game): 325 against Cardinal Mooney on 09/17/2005
-6th in Rushing Yards (Game): 279 against Archbishop Hoban on 10/29/2004
-7th in Rushing Yards (Game): 276 against Youngstown Ursuline on 09/30/2005
-7th in Rushing Yards (Season): 1,523 in 2005
-9th (Tied) in Rushing Touchdowns: 16# in 2005 & 2006
-10th in Rushing Yards (Season): 1,444 in 2006

Boom's high school accomplishments resulted in an offer list headlined by every Big Ten school. Despite having a roster loaded with talent at the running back position, Ohio State emerged victorious in the "Battle For Boom." Over time, he worked his way up the depth chart and had a career that still ranks well in Buckeye history...

-9th in Carries (Career): 592 from 2007-11
-14th in Rushing Yards (Career): 2,869 from 2007-11
-15th in Rushing Touchdowns (Career): 32 from 2007-11
-15th in Total Touchdowns (Career): 35 from 2007-11
-16th in Total Yards (Career): 3,178 from 2007-11

Collegiate Career Notes
-1st Team All-Big Ten (2010)
-On 11/27/2010, he had a 98-yard touchdown run vs. Michigan called back for holding. However, the run stood as an 89-yard gain, which is still tied for the longest offensive play in Ohio State history.

In 2012, Boom was selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. In six NFL seasons, he also spent time with the Indianapolis Colts, and Buffalo Bills
Click to expand...

I for one was happy to see Mr. Herron graduate from Harding. He gave the Cardinals fits. I remember his performance in that 2005 Mooney game. That was a wild game, it looked like Harding might win 50-0 the way it started. Not only did Boom have a huge night running the ball but Mooney's Nate Burney and Derrell Johnson each rushed for 250 yards and the Cardinals came back from a 19-0 deficit to win 36-19. To my knowledge that is still the largest deficit Mooney has ever come back from to win a game. Mr. Herron was a great one at Harding and beyond.
 
Last edited:
YTOWN said:
I for one was happy to see Mr. Herron graduate from Harding. He gave the Cardinals fits. I remember his performance in that 2005 Mooney game. That was a wild game, it looked like Harding might win 50-0 the way it started. Not only did Boom have a huge night running the ball but Mooney's Nate Burney and Derrell Johnson each rushed for 250 yards and the Cardinals came back from a 19-0 deficit to win 36-19. To my knowledge that is still the largest deficit Mooney has ever come back from to win a game. Mr. Herron was a great one at Harding and beyond.
Click to expand...

A few years ago, Derrell Johnson and I established a nice connection on social media. After he accepted a position on the coaching staff at Thiel, I communicated with him about a few student athletes. I jokingly told him that I didn’t appreciate how he did Harding in that ‘05 game 🤣. He’s a great dude!
 
Worm, I may have missed him mentioned, but as far as backs go Anthony Butler (A-Train) was also a beast for the Raiders. Again, so many great players its hard to mention all with such a short window before the season starts. Can't believe we're this close to the season getting underway.
 
Worm02 said:
A few years ago, Derrell Johnson and I established a nice connection on social media. After he accepted a position on the coaching staff at Thiel, I communicated with him about a few student athletes. I jokingly told him that I didn’t appreciate how he did Harding in that ‘05 game 🤣. He’s a great dude!
Click to expand...
I always rooted for DJK and I’m glad he’s doing well. He’s certainly made the most of a rough early childhood.
 
21- Todd Burch.jpeg



We are officially 21 days away from Warren G. Harding’s 2024 football season opener against Canton McKinley!

Today’s “legend of the day” is Todd Burch, who wore #21 during his playing days as a Raider.

On a personal level, I love when I see young athletes convert the same aspects that made them great competitors... To become great adults. For Burch, he had it together at an early age. Whether he was on the football field, basketball court, or out in the community, he was always inspiring people, both young and old, to be great at what they do. People my age looked up to him when we were kids and now, we respect him even more as adults.

On the football field, you couldn't ask for a better defensive back. Burch covered opposing wide receivers like a fitted sheet. So much so, his nine interceptions during his senior season in 1994 led to an OHSAA 1st Team All Division I selection. The signature performance of his high school football career came in week 5 of that season as he hauled in three interceptions and a fumble recovery in Harding's dominant 24-7 win against previously unbeaten Erie Central. He'd eventually put the exclamation point on his career in his final game as one of his two interceptions against Howland led to a 62-yard return for a touchdown in the Raiders' 48-15 taming of the Tigers.

Burch's efforts helped lead a Harding defense that only allowed 91 points for the entire 1994 season. Despite narrowly missing the playoffs, they finished the regular season ranked #10 in Division I by the Associated Press.

Following his days as a Harding Raider, Burch would go on to continue, as his older brother Alfie Burch would say, the "family business" of athletes that earned athletic scholarships. Five years prior, Alfie accepted a full ride to the University of Michigan. In 1995, Todd started his collegiate football journey at the University of Toledo. This summer (2024), that "family business" got even more prestigious as Todd's son, T.J. Burch, began his college basketball career at Ball State University out of Mansfield High School (TX).
 
Last edited:
Warren fans, I attached a pic of Wakefield Stadium. Perry returns 8 on offense and 8 on defense with several kids going both ways. After three sub par years we are hoping for a better season over .500. They still run some wing T stuff, but look to throw the ball more with two WR’s back over 6-4. Our QB is a 3 year starter and has decent wheels. Perry will go as far as their lines take them this year.
IMG_3620.jpeg
 
IMG_6723.jpeg


We are officially 20 days away from Warren G. Harding’s 2024 football season opener against Canton McKinley!

Today’s “legend of the day” is Deryck Toles, who wore #20 during his playing days as a Raider.

"Mr. Inspiration" himself, Toles was a beast on both sides of the ball for the Raiders. As a junior in 1997, he rushed for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns while recording 54 tackles & 3 interceptions. While injuries cut his senior season short, that year was highlighted by his performance in Harding's Homecoming game on October 2, 1998 vs. The Rayen School out of Youngstown. After returning the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown, Toles also compiled 250 rushing yards and four additional scores on 41 carries in the Raiders' 32-0 caging of the Tigers.

Toles finished his Harding career with 280 carries for 1,562 yards and 21 touchdowns. Thanks to his 3.9 grade point average, he appeared in an issue of "Jet" magazine as he was the 1999 recipient of the Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Award, an honor given to an outstanding African American male student athlete.

On July 24, 1999, Toles joined Harding teammates Carl Diggs & James "Homer" Simpson in the Big 33 Classic. At the time, the All-Star game was a clash between Ohio & Pennsylvania (today, it's PA vs. Maryland). Toles would go on to officially put the finishing touches on his high school career as he finished the contest with an MVP-winning performance with 8 carries for 70 yards and one touchdown in Ohio's 21-14 triumph over The Keystone State.

Toles continued his academic and athletic career as a linebacker at Penn State University. However, his health started to throw even taller hurdles at him as early on, he was diagnosed with a rare enzyme disorder called rippling muscle disease, which limits the body's ability to metabolize fat. As a result, it forces the human body to consume its own muscles for energy instead of sugar. While the condition was often painful and limited Toles to 30 to 35 plays per game, he made the most of his opportunities as he started in 27 of his 45 career games, totaling 179 tackles (93 solo), 6.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, & 2 interceptions.

In 2004, Toles went on to sign with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent. Over the course of his NFL career, he also spent time with the Indianapolis Colts & Cleveland Browns.

In 2006, Toles' tough decision to walk away from the game of football led to his true purpose in life as he founded Inspiring Minds, an organization designed "to engage, inspire, & empower youth to reach their full potential through education & exposure to life-changing experiences." Over the years, he has implemented programs that promote education, new experiences, college readiness, pride for your community, etc. Now, 18 years after its inception, IM now has chapters in Warren, Youngstown, New York City, Philadelphia, and North Carolina (Raleigh-Durham).

To date, over 6,000 students from across the country have been under IM's umbrella. In that time, their students have (collectively) traveled to 100 colleges, 90 cities (in 20 different states and five different countries), and have explored over 90 different companies.
 
19- Jamel Anderson.jpeg


We are officially 19 days away from Warren G. Harding’s 2024 football season opener against Canton McKinley!

Today’s “legend of the day” is Jamel Anderson, who wore #19 during his playing days as a Raider.

On a personal note, I first became familiar with Anderson during Harding's 2018 track & field season. As a sophomore at the Austintown Regional Final, he was the first leg of a 4x100 relay team that clocked a 42.12, the second fastest time in school history, to advance to the OHSAA Division I State Track & Field Championships. While they came up short in the prelims the following week at state, I knew that Anderson was somebody that I had to keep an eye on in every sport.

The following football season, Anderson began proving my hypothesis to be true. While he'd ultimately finished his career with 10 touches for 145 yards and 1 touchdown (46-yard TD catch vs. Youngstown Ursuline in 2019) worth of total offense, he utilized his skillset to score three times on special teams. On September 14, 2018, he chased down a muffed punt in the end zone for a touchdown as the Raiders left Austintown Fitch with a dominant 49-14 victory over the previously-unbeaten Falcons.

In the final regular season game of his career on November 11, 2019, he used to speed and elusiveness to join a very distinctive club as he returned two punts for touchdowns (84 & 44 yards) in the Raiders' 28-6 road victory over Howland. The only other player in Harding history who has done that in a single game is Maurice Clarett, who returned two punts for touchdowns (50 & 44 yards) in a 76-0 demolition of Cleveland South on August 24, 2001.

Anderson was one of those opportunistic multi-sport athletes who made things happen. The work ethic that he displayed all school year long is something that anybody, both young and old, could learn from. So much so, he has spent some time coaching track & field at the middle school level before opting to focus on his current barbering career. With the mentality that he's always had, I'm looking forward to watching him continue to do great things in life.
 
Scipio said:
Since Worm is already at #22, I feel good about being in the Top 20.
Click to expand...


Since Worm is using jersey numbers that coincide with the days left til the season starts, and you haven’t sported a jersey number under #20 since maybe your Little Presidents days….well actually probably NEVER, your chances are closer to slim and none! ;)
 
Steel Valley FB said:
Since Worm is using jersey numbers that coincide with the days left til the season starts, and you haven’t sported a jersey number under #20 since maybe your Little Presidents days….well actually probably NEVER, your chances are closer to slim and none! ;)
Click to expand...
As you know I’m not the brightest bulb in the box and I didn’t figure that out until Ytown rudely pointed it out.
 
18- Marcus Boomer - 2012 sophomore- 40-yard TD catch vs. Shaw from Powell.jpeg


We are officially 18 days away from Warren G. Harding’s 2024 football season opener against Canton McKinley!

Today’s “legend of the day” is Marcus Boomer, who wore #18 during his junior football season as a Raider in 2012.

Looking back, 2012 was a very important football season in Harding history as the program was coming off a 2-8 season the previous year. However, then-first year head (football) coach Steve Arnold had big plans to motivate his team moving forward. While the squad would make their identity on the ground with then-future University of Iowa & NFL tailback LeShun Daniels Jr., there were times when the Raiders had to make plays via airmail.

That's where Boomer came in. For the season, he'd haul in 12 catches for 190 yards and one touchdown, a 40-yarder that he hauled in courtesy of quarterback Lamar Carmichael in Harding's 43-20 victory over East Cleveland Shaw. However, you could argue that Boomer's most clutch performance actually came three weeks prior vs. Cardinal Mooney as on that night, brought down 4 catches for 74 yards in the Raiders' 28-20 triumph. That'd go down as Harding's first victory over the Cardinals since 2004, snapping a 5-game losing streak in the series (no match-ups in 2010 or 2011). That victory let the entire state know that the Raiders were ready to bounce back into playoff contention, which they did as they finished the season with a record of 9-2.

Ultimately, Boomer finished his high school football career with 27 catches for 366 yards and two touchdowns. He also showcased his athleticism on the boys basketball and track & field teams. He always stayed busy, which holds true to this day as he can now be found branding and promoting his line, Fallen Saint Clothing.
 
With scrimmages set to kick off across Ohio this week, here's a look at 40 opposing players that Warren G. Harding fans will need to watch out for this season.

The athletes analyzed all meet at least one of the following requirements...

A) They were an All-Conference, County, District, or State selection in 2023.
B) They have at least one FBS scholarship offer.
C) They have a previous standout performance against Harding.

NOTE- The opinions given are strictly mine and don't necessarily reflect the thoughts of anybody within Harding's football program.

www.wghfootball.com

The Fantastic 40: Warren G. Harding Football Opponents (Individuals) to Watch in 2024

Warren G. Harding: 2024 Football Regualar Season Schedule...08/23/2024- @ Canton McKinley08/30/2024- Akron Buchtel09/06/2024- @ Massillon Perry09/13/2024- Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary09/20/2024- Youngstown Ursuline09/27/2024- @ Solon10/04/2024- @ Boardman10/11/2024- Youngstown Cardinal...
www.wghfootball.com www.wghfootball.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top