Girard gets revenge, TAC title

The Indians snapped Hubbard's 24-game home winning streak.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
HUBBARD -- The rain began to fall on Bud McSuley, but the Girard High football coach didn't mind. His eyes were already wet.
Wiping away his tears, McSuley attempted to put into words the magnitude of Girard's 27-7 victory over Hubbard on Friday at Memorial Stadium.
The Indians had just clinched a share of the Trumbull Athletic Conference with a dominating effort while snapping Hubbard's streaks of 24 straight wins at home and 20 straight in the regular season.
"Last year it was the same thing, but they had the great feeling at our place," said McSuley, referring to Hubbard's victory on its way to the 2001 TAC crown.
Then, he paused, breathed deeply and smiled.
"I'm just happy right now."
Back on top
According to McSuley, Girard clinched its first share of a league crown since 1987, when it was in the Mahoning Valley Conference.
Not only that, but if the Indians beat Liberty next weekend, they will win their first outright title since 1952 when they were members of the Steel Valley Conference.
"Last year it was the worst feeling in the world. We didn't want to have that again," said senior receiver/cornerback Dustin Helle, whose big plays on both sides of the ball keyed the Indians.
Girard's defense may have had the biggest role of the night -- stopping Hubbard standout junior running back Shaun Lane, who was held to 43 yards on 15 carries.
"In the off-season we worked on strength and speed. You saw that we were flying to the football," McSuley said. "There were two to three guys there [on Lane], and it's tough to break that kind of tackle."
Hubbard coach Jeff Bayuk questioned the number of carries Lane received.
"If I had to do it over again, I would have gotten him the ball more," Bayuk said. "We tried to keep them [Girard's defense] off of Shaun, but we probably didn't get the ball back to him like we should have."
Next option
With Lane slowed, Hubbard went to the air where senior quarterback Gabe McKee found little success.
Although he scored Hubbard's only touchdown on a 4-yard run, McKee was intercepted five times, including three by Helle.
"They put a lot of pressure on him," Bayuk said of Girard's defense. "Whenever he tried to throw, he could never set his feet."
Meanwhile, Girard's offense, under the direction of coordinator Nick Cochran, was in high gear again.
Leading the way was junior quarterback Matt Zuppo, who completed 17-of-22 passes for 229 yards and one touchdown.
He also ran for 73 yards and two touchdowns as Girard pulled away from a 14-7 halftime lead.
"Coach Cochran has taught me everything," Zuppo said of the former Youngstown State quarterback. "He's taught me to be a leader."
In addition to his three interceptions, Helle caught five passes for 95 yards and a touchdown and also carried twice for 28 yards.
"He's an all-state player. It was him and [Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary's] LeBron James last year," McSuley said of his 5-foot-9, 152-pound standout. "Every game, he has done something to make us win."
Senior Nick Shirey scored Girard's other touchdown on a 3-yard run.
Looking ahead
Not only does Girard (8-1, 6-0) have command of the TAC, but it should improve on its No. 5 computer playoff rating in Division IV, Region 13, and its No. 18 ranking in the state poll.
Hubbard (8-1, 5-1), which finishes the regular season at Brookfield next week, was fourth in the Div. III, Region 9 playoff ratings and the state poll this week.
"We'll be fine. It's not the end of the world," Bayuk said. "We'll pick up the pieces and move on next week."
richesson@vindy.com