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Strong finish guides Girard
By Jim Flick
GIRARD
Thanks to turnovers in the second half, Girard High capped a disappointing football season by defeating neighbor and traditional rival Liberty High 33-6.
“We can build on this for next year,” said Girard coach Nick Cochran. “Our kids responded after some tough losses. They came ready to play tonight.”
Girard (6-4, 2-2 All American Conference Blue Division) built its record to 5-2 and seemed headed for the playoffs before suffering disappointing losses to Campbell and LaBrae.
Friday, the Indians out-gained the Leopards in yardage 433-219.
Girard was led by junior tailback Ahmad Eggleston, who gained 226 yards in 30 carries with three TDs.
Junior QB Dan Graziano added 79 yards on 18 carries, and completed 6 of 7 passes for 102 yards.
Liberty (1-9, 0-4 AAC White Division), was led by Charlie Perdue, who gained 162 yards in 24 carries. Perdue started at halfback, but shifted to quarterback in the first quarter. He completed 4 of 7 passes for 17 yards. Robert Smith-Harris added 46 yards for the Leopards on nine carries.
“We turned the ball over too many times tonight,” said Liberty coach Jeff Whittaker, whose team lost two fumbles and an interception. “The turnovers were really a factor.
“Girard made some nice plays offensively. And we just got worn down.”
Cochran said a key to his team’s success was the development of the offensive line, which had no starters returning from last year’s squad.
“Our line was young,” he said. “Now, they’re our spark.”
Cochran credited assistants John Bartos, John Latell and Ryan Cole with building the offensive line.
“The biggest thing is that you’ve got to stick together as a family,” he said. “If we can do that, we can build for next year.”
Girard struck first in the first. Eggleston capped a seven-play, 77-yard drive by dashing 24 yards into the end zone. The extra point attempt failed.
A turnover by Girard allowed Liberty to tie the score in the second quarter. Liberty’s John Rivers intercepted a Graziano pass and returned it to the Girard 3-yard line. On the next play, Perdue dove into the end zone. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the score tied.
The Indians regained the lead on the next series, driving 75 yards in 14 plays. Kyle Richey scored on a 2-yard run and David Meigs kicked the extra point to give Girard a 13-6 lead.
On the first series of the second half, the Leopards threatened the Indians’ lead when Perdue dashed 45 yards to the Girard 22-yard line. But two plays later, Liberty fumbled the ball and Girard recovered.
The Indians then mounted an eight-play, 71-yard drive finished off by Eggleston’s 3-yard touchdown run. After Meigs’ kick, Girard lead 20-6.
In the fourth quarter, Eggleston scored his third TD on 12-yard jaunt. The final TD came in the fourth when WR Landon Smith grabbed a pass from Graziano and wove his way 61 yards downfield into the end zone.