BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) - Friday night lights are back, and the Mahoning Valley is about to explode with one of the most anticipated high school football openers in recent memory.
This isn't just Week 1. This is a collision of two completely different football worlds.
In one corner stand the Boardman Spartans, a battle-tested program riding the momentum of back-to-back playoff seasons.
In the other corner steps a massive wildcard: the Youngstown Defenders, the city's brand-new, consolidated public high school powerhouse making its historic, first-ever varsity football debut.
Watch all the action on WKBN’s High School Football Game of the Week this Friday at 7 p.m.
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High School Football Game of the Week
Friday, August 21, 2026 at 7 p.m. LIVE on MyYTV, WKBN.com, WKBN App, WKBN+
Youngstown at Boardman
2025 Team Statistics
Scoring Offense: Youngstown, 23.2 (East/Chaney combined); Boardman, 22.2
Scoring Defense: Youngstown, 16.2 (East/Chaney combined); Boardman, 28.0
Game Notes
-Last year, on Sept. 5, Boardman won a wild matchup with Chaney – 35-34 - in triple overtime.
-Boardman has compiled back-to-back playoff appearances and 6-win seasons for the first time in nearly a decade (2017-18). This year, the Spartans are seeking more success as the program hasn’t had a 7-win campaign since 2011.
-The Spartans return 7 letter winners and 5 starters on offense as well as 4 on defense.
-Boardman’s Wing-T offense is back after posting a playoff win in 2025 over Riverside.
-A year ago, Youngstown’s two public schools (East and Chaney) combined for an overall record of 10-9 while each scored over 22-points per game and their defenses held the opposition to 17-points or less per contest.
-“The positives really revolve around the players,” the Defenders’ coach Seth Antram said. “These guys have grown up together, taken classes at Choffin together, and been around each other outside of athletics all their lives. The way they are carrying those relationships on to the field is very special.”
Upcoming Schedule
Youngstown
Aug. 28 – at Harding
Sept. 4 – at South Range
Sept. 11 - Ursuline
Boardman
Aug. 28 – at Lake
Sept. 4 – at Liberty
Sept. 11 - Louisville
Get updated high school football scores throughout the season on the WKBN scores page.
Track the latest conference battles on the WKBN high school football standings page.
You can also watch interviews and get player profiles from the Big 22 hopefuls.
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