What does a high school football program do after graduating one of its winningest senior classes in school history? According to coach Mike Moser, they carry on and try to write a new chapter, which is what the Garfield G-Men plan to do for the upcoming season.
“What we did last year on the field does not really impact on what we do this year so these guys have been waiting, some of them have been playing, and now is their chance to get out there and show what they have,” Moser told The Weekly Villager on Aug. 9.
Fueled by the graduating class of 2024 en route to the High School Athletic Association Division V regional semifinal, the G-Men return with a senior class of only five players. Although it is a smaller senior class, Moser said that several underclassmen received significant experience last year.
“We have a lot of younger kids that we think are really high on. We think they can really play; it will be about getting out there and putting the work in, just really trying to pick up where we left off,” said the 12-year coach.
Although the G-Men’s offense remains run-dominant, there are a lot of new faces at key positions, including junior Jack Niekirk, who becomes the new starting quarterback and will succeed former starter Eric Geddes who graduated and will continue his baseball career at Ohio Dominican University.
“Jack’s got some savvy to him,” Moser noted. “He throws a good ball and Jack is a player. He knows the offense well and has had some experience in it. He throws a good ball and has good relationships with the receivers, and he is a good working kid.”
Neikirk will be protected by an offensive line with three returning starters in junior offensive tackle Richie Shackelford, sophomore guard Michael Huebner, and senior guard Ivan Trent. Although the G-Men are still figuring out who their other offensive tackle and center will be, Moser said the offensive line is in good hands with the return of Shackelford, Huebner and Trent.
“We got some continuity up front, and we are pleased with the guys,” he said. “Some of these guys have jumped in and filled in some of those other spots. I think we are going to run the ball but like I said, every team is its own and we are still in the process of finding out what we do and what we do well.”
Garfield’s rushing attack will be led by senior Harper Troyer, sophomore Devin Bates and junior Brandyn Bogucki.
Bogucki will also be counted on as a wide receiver along with seniors Cade Rock, Aidan Hill and junior Will Simon.
On the defensive end, Garfield’s defensive line will be filled with experience with Shackelford, Huebner and Trent lining up in the trenches but Moser expressed confidence in his secondary as well with Bogucki, Neikirk, Simon and sophomore Ryder Cain being projected as starters.
“I think everything is a work in progress but we think we are going to be okay,” Moser said. “We have to find guys that can get to the ball and tackle. I think we will be fast, but, again, we are still trying to find ourselves a little bit.”
Moser acknowledged that having such a young roster could be a challenge in terms of trying to limit mistakes but added that it also means that most of the G-Men have yet to reach their full potential.
“The advantages are that they have not hit their ceiling yet and you can literally see them getting better every day with every single rep and every drill,” he said. “It is a learning experience for these guys and the exciting part about being a coach is that we try to find where that ceiling is with that group and we have a long way to go.”
In addition to engineering another deep playoff run, the G-Men also have their sights set on retaining the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Grey Tier championship after snagging it last season for the second time in three seasons since joining the MVAC Grey Tier.
Starting with Garfield’s last season in the Portage Trail Conference, it has captured the conference banner three times in the last four years and that success has helped propel the program.
“It just proves that you are doing things the right way and the kids believe in your system, playing good football travels; it travels from home and away and it travels from one league to another,” said Moser.
The G-Men will begin their season when they host Edgewood at JAG Field in Garrettsville on Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.
