After an exciting first half of play, the Garfield G-Men started from square one in the second half and captured a 35-26 victory against Trinity in the first round of the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division V Region 17 playoffs last Friday evening at JAG Stadium in Garrettsville.
“I am proud of our kids,” said Coach Mike Moser. “They competed really well. We competed really hard, and some guys got in there and we got little dings here and there and some guys had to come out for a play or two and some other guys jumped right in and did their job. I was pleased with the way they finished.”
It marked the fifth straight season that the G-Men (10-1, 7-0) secured a playoff victory and advanced to the second round. Garfield will host Garaway in the regional semifinal this Friday at 7 p.m.
“I can tell you that it is a very good program, they are very well-coached and we played them years ago and we know we are in for a battle this week,” noted the 12-year coach.
After the Trojans tied the score at 14-14 just before the half on 2-yard touchdown run by senior tailback/outside linebacker Kaden Robinson, Moser acknowledged that the game was starting from zero at the beginning of the second half.
The advantage went to Garfield as they struck first when sophomore running back/defensive back Devin Bates scampered into the end zone on a 49-yard run, giving the G-Men a 20-14 edge after missing the extra point.
Having traded touchdowns with the Trojans throughout most of the first half, Garfield finally came up with a big defensive play as senior tailback/linebacker Harper Troyer forced a fumble and the 6-foot Bates recovered the ball on the G-Men’s 30.
Garfield then marched down the field and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run by the 6-foot Troyer, who also converted a two-point conversion, increasing the G-Men’s lead to 28-14 in the third quarter.
According to Moser, owning a two-possession lead was almost as good as gold.
“You call plays a little more free and easy in that situation and life is always better when you are up,” he added.
The Trojans struck back as the 5-foot-11 Robinson scored on a two-yard touchdown run at the beginning of the fourth period, trimming Garfield’s lead, to 28-20 after they missed the extra point.
Although Trinity was still hanging around, it had no answer for the G-Men’s rushing attack, as Troyer continued his big night by scoring his third touchdown, this time from five yards out, extending Garfield’s lead to 35-20.
Troyer paced the G-Men’s ground game by rushing for 144 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries.
“He ran the ball really hard and broke a lot of tackles so good for him,” said Moser. “I was glad to see a senior like that on his home field in the playoffs have his biggest game as a Garfield G-Men in that scenario so good for him.”
Although the Trojans trimmed Garfield’s lead to 35-26 with another touchdown, the G-Men halted Trinity’s rally as senior wide receiver/linebacker Aiden Hill broke up a passing play for a two-point conversion attempt, maintain the G-Men’s lead to two possessions.
While it may have been the fifth straight season that Garfield extended its season to week 12, it was a significant milestone for this year’s team, as it marked the first playoff victory since graduating the 2024 senior class who helped set the trend of postseason success.
“I imagine it was a hurdle for them to get over but they have played in big games, and we have played in close games all year long so we tried to treat it like another game and the kids responded,” Moser said.
Once again, the G-Men were fueled by their rushing attack, which tallied 398 yards and five touchdowns.
As dynamic as Garfield’s stable of running backs were, Moser gave credit to the offensive line, which opened those running lanes for the G-Men to march down the field.
“I think for those guys up front, it was about getting some games under their belt and getting comfortable,” Moser said. “With their assignments and getting some experience and getting used to Friday Night Lights, the physicality of our offense and what it requires out of you, they are getting better.”
