Late TD lifts Girard over Niles


— Earlier this month, Girard coach Pat Pearson willing accepted and took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge which has been a rage on social media.

On Friday, Pearson was the recipient of another dose of cold water over his head. This time, it caught Pearson off-guard, but it also brought a giant smile to his face.

Pearson’s soaking came at the hands of his players moments after the Indians scored a touchdown in the final seconds of play to defeat Niles 14-7. The game, played at Niles’ Bo Rein Stadium, marked Pearson’s coaching debut.

“I’ll take nine more of these if it means nine more wins,” Peason said. “This was a great win for our guys and our program. These kids never quit until the end, and they were rewarded for their determination.”

Girard rallied from a 7-0 deficit with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns. The Indians scored on the second play of the fourth quarter on a 49-yard pass play from Christian Bello to Jacob Ryser. They then scored the deciding touchdown on the second-to-last play of the game, a Bello run from a yard out with 4.5 seconds showing on the clock.

Girard took its final possession at its own 35 with 1:14 left in the contest. The Indians, who struggled to make big plays throughout the course of the night, came up huge when Bello hooked up with Collin Cramer for a 64-yard pass play. Cramer caught the ball over the middle in stride at the 50, eluded several defenders and raced to the Niles 1-yard-line.

The Indians got nowhere on two running plays, then on third-and-goal at the 1 and without any timeouts remaining, Bello pushed his way through to the end zone.

“I was just praying for them to get in because they worked so hard all summer, I wanted them to get what they deserved,” Pearson said.

Bello said he had no doubt that his linemen would lead him to paydirt.

“The first two plays, they stuffed us, but I told them ‘Come on, just push me through,’ and I knew they would,” Bello said. “I had no doubt I’d get in. We needed this win, because week one wins are huge in high school football.”

Following a scoreless first quarter, Niles struck first when Corey Hayes took a Tyler Srbinovich handoff and raced 68 yards down the Girard sideline. Hayes (12 rushes, 134 yards) broke several tackles along his route to the end zone.

Girard struggled to gain any momentum offensively in the first half, and went into the locker room with just 65 total yards.

However, the Indians took the opening possession of the second half and ate up 9:38 of the third quarter with a 17-play, 56-yard drive. Though the Indians eventually turned the ball over on downs at the Niles seven, Pearson believed it was the drive which turned things around for his club.

“We started to gain some energy and some confidence on that series, and I also think it wore (Niles) out a bit,” Pearson said. “That really changed things.”

Following a three-and-out for Niles, the Indians regained possession inside Dragon territory. That’s when Bello connected on a screen pass to Jacob Ryser, who split the defense for a 49-yard game-tying score.

On Niles’ ensuing possession, the Dragons marched down to the Girard two, but on a first-and-goal they lost possession on a fumble which was recovered by Treyvon Mills.

Bello (76 rushing yards, 125 passing yards) and Ryser (67 rushing yards, 58 receiving yards) provided most of Girard’s offense.

Sirbinovich completed 3-of-5 passes for 13 yards and carried the ball 20 times for 53 yards.