The Garfield G-Men are once again closing in on finishing the regular season with an undefeated record. The G-Men shook off a slow start and claimed a rain-soaked 56-14 victory against Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Grey Tier rival Crestview last Friday evening at Crestview Football Field in Columbiana.
“It was a little back-and-forth early on until we settled in,” said Coach Mike Moser. “That was nice. It gives us at least a share of the title. Now we have to go win it outright this week, but Crestview is a good team, and I know their record is a little deceiving, but they are a good team and getting some guys back and they are a quality team and well-coached.”
Garfield (9-0, 6-0) clinched at least a share of the MVAC Grey Tier banner and will have a chance to capture sole possession of the title when it faces league foe Brookfield in its final league game on Friday evening at Alumni Stadium in Trumbull County.
Not only will the G-Men compete for outright ownership of the league championship but will fight to secure a top four seeding in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division V Region 17 postseason, which would net a first round bye.
Garfield has already earned a top eight seeding, assuring that it will host at least one postseason game in the playoffs.
The 14-year coach said it was a welcome pleasure for the team to earn the right to host a postseason contest, especially since Garfield only played four home games this season.
“We get to host one in the playoffs, and it should be a great atmosphere and all of those things but right now, our kids are good at keeping things week-to-week and right now the only thing we have to worry about is Brookfield,” he noted.
On Friday, it was a back-and-forth affair in the first quarter, as each team scored on its first two drives with Crestview taking a 14-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Moser acknowledged that Garfield was not playing well defensively in the first period.
“We just were not ready to play and doing some of the things we were supposed to be doing,” he added. “To their credit, they were whipping us up front and were knocking our defensive line back. Everyone got out of whack but eventually the defensive line settled in.”
He added each team was engineering methodical drives in the first quarter, as neither defense could slow down the opposing offense.
The G-Men seized control in the second quarter, scoring two touchdowns and converting on a two-point conversion, to build 28-14 lead at the half
“We were not focused and it was their homecoming crowd and a fired-up team,” said Moser. “It is a good lesson for the kids for what happens when you don’t come ready to play from the very beginning.”
Junior tailback/linebacker Ryder Cain paced the G-Men by scoring three touchdowns in the first half.
The 5-foot-11 junior finished the game by rushing for 150 yards and four touchdowns on four is this right, four carries?) carries.
“Ryder gets better the more he carries the ball so he doesn’t mind the carries I can tell you that,” said Moser.
Garfield erupted in the second half, scoring four more touchdowns and shut out the Rebels, triggering the running clock when the lead exceeded 30 points.
Moser credited his defense for getting stronger after the first quarter.
“We have good senior leaders so there is not any panic moment,” he noted. “It is not a yelling or screaming match, it is just about figuring out what they were doing and coming up with an answer for it.”
Even in a game where passing options were limited because of the heavy rain, the G-Men’s rushing game was successful, recording 412 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 45 carries.
“We did not put the ball on the ground all night, our kids handled the weather well,” Moser said. “We held onto it, we grinded it out, the credit goes to them. I am proud of them.”
The G-Men will attempt to finish the season with an undefeated record, which would be the fourth time in the last seven seasons. Before Moser’s tenure, the last time the G-Men football team enjoyed a perfect regular season was in 1972, but it is now becoming a common occurrence for the program.
“It could be a great accomplishment, but it just speaks to the kids,” said Moser. “I know it is hard to do something like that and to be good 10 times in a row and every Friday night to be good, it requires a lot and it speaks highly of them.”
