Garrettsville, OH- The OHSAA Football playoffs got underway across Ohio on Friday evening. My postseason journey started at JAG Field in Garrettsville where the #4 seed Garfield G-MEN hosted the #13 seed Trinity Trojans. The G-MEN were fresh off of a 9-1 regular season that saw them win an MVAC title after rolling off eight straight wins. Trinity came in winners of 5 of their last 6 games to finish at 6-4 heading into the playoffs.
After holding the Trojans to a 3 and out to start the game, a very short punt set the G-MEN up at the Trojans 37 yard line. From there they went 6 plays with QB Jack Neikirk capping it off with a 7 yard keeper for a touchdown. The PAT bounced off the bottom of the goal post making it a 6-0 lead for the G-MEN.
Trinity would answer right back. A 9 play, 59 yard drive ended with a Aidan Duncan 1-yard plunge into the end zone for the Trojans. The successful PAT gave Trinity a 7-6 lead with 7:23 to play in the 1st quarter.
Garfield coughed the ball up on their next drive after Brandyn Bogucki lost the ball following a hard hit at the 49 yard line. Trinity was unable to capitalize as Garfield DT Ivan Trent sacked Duncan, followed by a Kaden Robinson 4 yard loss and a false start penalty which put the Trojans in a 3rd & 22 situation. They would punt after an 11 yard pass play from Duncan to Lance Hudson came up short.
The G-MEN put together their second scoring drive of the half going 84 yards in 10 plays eating up over 5:00 of the clock. Devin Bates and Harper Troyer took turns gashing the Trojans defense. Troyer finished it off with a 6 yard touchdown run and then ran in the 2-point conversion to give Garfield a 14-7 lead with 6:03 to play in the half.
Once again the Trojans would answer back. They would move the ball into G-MEN territory and pick up a crucial 4th and 1 conversion on a Robinson run. The next play Garfield's Cade Rock was flagged for a roughing the passer penalty on an incomplete pass giving Trinity a free 15 yards. Five plays later Robinson took it in from 4 yards out for the touchdown. The PAT made it a 14-14 game. That's where we stood at the half.
The G-MEN received the ball out of halftime and struck quick. After a pair of short runs, Devin Bates went around the corner and down the sidelines for a 51 yard touchdown run. The PAT was wide left and Garfield regained the lead 20-14 barely over a minute into the second half.
After a quick 3 and out by the Trojans, Garfield would march 64 yards in 11 plays as ending with a Troyer 1 yard touchdown run, his second score of the night. They would convert the 2-point conversion for a 28-14 lead. 14 unanswered points seven minutes into the second half for Garfield.
Trinity was not ready to concede this one. They put together a long 11 play, 71 yard drive of their own. On the first play of the 4th quarter, Robinson dove in from 2 yards out for the touchdown. They missed a crucial PAT attempt making it a 28-20 deficit.
Garfield would answer the call on their next possession. Harper Troyer finished off the scoring drive with runs of 21 and 5 yards, the last of which was his third touchdown of the game. The PAT put Garfield up 35-20 with 8:36 to play in the game.
On Trinity's first play of their next possession, Duncan fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Bates for the G-MEN at their own 31 yard line. Garfield again moved the ball into Trojan territory and looked poised to score again before a fumble of their own by Troyer was recovered at the 15 yard line by the Trojans. They would capitalize after a huge Duncan to Damonte McKenzie pass play for 57 yards setup a scoring strike from Duncan to Robinson from 24 yards out. They decided to go for two but the pass was incomplete. Garfield led 35-26 with 2:51 to play.
The Trojan onside kick attempt was recovered by Garfield who proceeded to run out the clock and clinch the 1st round playoff victory 35-26.
It was the two-headed monster of Devin Bates (136 yards, TD) and Harper Troyer (143 yards, 3 TD) leading the way for the now 10-1 G-MEN. They will host the #5 seed Garaway Pirates (9-2) next Friday at JAG Field. Garaway topped Lakeview 41-21.
Postgame interviews with Harper Troyer, Devin Bates and coach Mike Moser.
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