TRUMBULL ATHLETIC CONFERENCE The wait is over: Girard wins first title in 50 years

The Indians routed Liberty 36-6 to win the TAC-8 outright.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
GIRARD -- The last time Girard won an outright conference football title, Harry Truman was about to conclude his second term as this nation's 33rd president.
It was 50 years ago, 1952, when the Indians stood atop the standings of the area's newly formed Steel Valley Conference.
Friday, as loyal fans braved the rain and elements at Arrowhead Stadium, the Indians defeated Liberty 36-6 in the 33rd renewal of series between the schools to finish as the outright champion of the Trumbull Athletic Conference.
"This is truly a great feeling," Girard coach Bud McSuley said. "We've asked our seniors all season long to provide us with the necessary leadership and all season long they have met that challenge."
Quarterback Matt Zuppo and running back Nick Shirey each scored twice, while Dustin Helle rushed for 92 of his team's 224 ground yards as the Indians finished the regular season with a 9-1 mark and a perfect 7-0 league ledger.
Moving ahead
The Leopards (6-4, 4-3) watched the Indians take a commanding 25-8 lead in the series that began in 1970.
After a scoreless first quarter in which the Leopards were held to just nine offensive plays on their first three possessions, Zuppo raced 9 yards into the end zone just two minutes into the second quarter to give his team a 7-0 lead.
On the Indians' next possession, Shirey scored on a 6-yard scamper on just the second play of the drive. A bad snap turned out to be a blessing for Girard as holder Nick Canterino picked up the loose ball and hit placekicker Brandon Gardner with the two-point conversion and a 15-0 lead.
On Liberty's next series, coach Jeff Whittaker elected to go for it on fourth-and-3 from his own 47-yard line and running back Bradley Fletcher responded. His 53-yard touchdown scamper cut the Girard lead to 15-6, the score at intermission after the failed two-point conversion attempt.
"Our offense had a great night despite the terrible weather, but give credit to our defense as well," McSuley added. "Our defense continually applied pressure, and other than the touchdown run prior to halftime, didn't allow any long runs on the night."
Putting it away
Shirey and Zuppo each added their second touchdowns in the third quarter on runs of 1 and 5 yards, respectively, to increase the Indian lead to 29-6.
Gardner, who entered the game late in the third quarter after Zuppo went down with a leg injury, rounded out the scoring by hitting Victor Mills with a 5-yard pass at the 10:31 mark of the fourth quarter.
The Indians had 13 first downs to just six for the Leopards, racking up 249 total yards to Liberty's 128, just 44 in the second half.
The most lopsided stat of the night had to be time of possession. The Indians held the ball for 38:20 compared to Liberty's 9:40.
Despite a steady rain throughout the game, only one fumble was lost, that coming by the Leopards.