As young as the Garfield G-Men football team was last year, it did not prevent them from once again reigning as the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Grey Tier Champions. The G-Men return a more experienced squad this year in the wake of its continued success in the MVAC Grey Tier.
“Keep in mind that every year is different; there will be more challenges and new challenges this year. I think it helps to know you have done it once and you know what it takes, so I think it should set you up,” Coach Mike Moser said.
Last year saw the G-Men begin the season with several new faces after graduating a big senior class. Garfield returns most of its skilled players, having graduated only six seniors, with an eye on making a deeper march in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division V Region 17 playoffs.
The G-Men return as the two-time reigning MVAC Grey Tier Champions, but Moser said that he expects his squad to be challenged by Liberty, LaBrae and reigning conference runner-up Crestview, who Garfield edged by one point in last year’s showdown in Columbiana to claim the conference banner outright.
“There is pressure regardless. Whether you came up short the year before or you are trying to get back up there or if you want it, you are trying to defend it. Each year has its own set of challenges,” the 13th-year coach added. “We are just concentrating on getting better every day. We will let the chips fall and we will take everything one week at a time.”
Returning at quarterback is senior Jack Neikirk, who threw for 729 yards and 7 touchdowns, completing 34 passes out of 55 attempts while rushing for 292 yards and three touchdowns.
“Jack had some pretty big shoes to fill when he stepped in,” the coach noted of the 6-foot-2 senior. “Jack has got the arm. He has got the savvy. I think he would tell you he just needs to improve upon his overall knowledge of the scheme a little bit and a little better decision making.”
Moser said that G-Men’s rushing attack will be fueled by junior Devin Bates, who returns after being the team leader in rushing yards with 854 yards and 17 touchdowns on 108 carries while also recording 102 receiving yards on five receptions.
“Devin is certainly going to be a main contributor,” Moser said of 6-foot Bates. “We have had all kinds of guys. Devin ran for almost 900 yards last year, so he was our leading rusher as a sophomore, so I think he is ready to roll.”
Joining Bates in the backfield will be senior Brandyn Bogucki who ran for 794 yards and 7 touchdowns and also caught 19 passes for 305 yards and 6 touchdowns. Juniors Colin McGranahan, Sam Strahan and Bruce Nelson will also contribute strength.
The 5-foot-10 Bogucki will also see time as a wide receiver, along with senior Will Simon, junior Nate Baczkowksi, and the 5-foot-11 McGranahan.
According to Moser, Bogucki will be the main hub on offense because of his versatility to fill any role.
“He can run it, he can catch it, he can throw it, he is dangerous in the kick return game and is an elite secondary defender for us, he is just a really good overall football player,” he said.
The G-Men return a wealth of experience in the trenches, having only graduated Ivan Trent, and will have more depth at the positions as seniors Gavin Mason, Lucas Neihiesel, Michael Huebner, and junior Gavin Barnard return as starting offensive linemen, bolstered by sophomores Jack Timmons and Jared Cardinal and junior Chris Willingham.
Moser lauded the team’s depth on the offensive line, citing it as one Garfield’s greatest strengths this year.
“Last year we were breaking in a bunch of new starters up front, and Coach Ward always does an awesome job with those guys. He has them up and running,” he added. ‘When you run the ball like we do, everything starts up front for you, so it is a luxury to have guys up front that you are confident in.”
The same set of offensive linemen will also serve as the team’s core defensive linemen, but Moser said that the linebackers will anchor the defense as Bates, junior Logan Sell, sophomores Ryder Cain and Nelson and Strahan will fortify the position.
Moser acknowledged that although it is a young group of linebackers, they will be the team’s defensive foundation for the next several years.
Garfield’s season begins when it takes on Edgewood at Corlew Stadium in Ashtabula for a non-conference game on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m.
