By Brian Dzenis

bdzenis@vindy.com

GIRARD

After two years of tough lessons, it’s time to show what Girard’s football team has learned.

The Indians went a combined 5-15 in the last two seasons, but those teams used mostly underclassmen in their starting lineups. Those same starters are now an experienced corps of juniors and seniors.

“We’ve taken our lumps last year and the year before that. We’ve come back now and we know what it takes to win and what it takes to grow,” junior quarterback Mark Waid said. “I know this team is ready. I know my brothers are ready and I’m excited.”

The Indians finished 2016 at 3-7 after starting the season with a five-game losing streak. The focus this season is getting better at finishing games.

“In the last two years, I don’t think our record has depicted the type of team we have, but we haven’t finished games the way we wanted to,” coach Pat Pearson said. “This team has grown and learned through that. They’ve taken bumps and bruises and right now this is a focused group trying to get better.”

OFFENSE

Waid has a decent case to say he’s the best returning quarterback in Trumbull County — if not the Mahoning Valley. He’s coming off a season in which he put up 2,600 passing yards, 725 rushing yards and 38 total touchdowns.

“He has all the physical tools. He’s been showing that on Friday nights for the past two years,” Pearson said. “The biggest thing is with Mark is that he’s still growing, still learning and still maturing. He’s got leadership skills and he’s learned to read defenses and scouting reports and it separates him from the average high school football player.”

His top target, senior Michael Belcik, is back and so are fellow seniors Anthony Backus and Devin Wilson and junior Aiden Warga.

“Everyone is on the same page. Not to say anything bad about last year, but we were nervous going into games last year and we felt like underdogs,” Belcik said. “This year, we’re underdogs, but you know what? I love being the underdog and that motivates us.”

Four of last year’s starting offensive line return. Junior Jack DelGarbino is the leader of that unit. He’s joined by 6-foot-3, 340-pound senior Marcus Caudill, sophomore Haeden Gump (6-5, 250) and senior Pat Ledenko.

Up to five players could be in the rotation for carries out of the backfield. Junior Jamil Bannister and senior Daryl Smith Jr. are power backs that can serve as fullbacks. Senior Michael Kornegay and sophomores Morgan Clardy and Jimmy Jones work exclusively as tailbacks.

DEFENSE

DelGarbino’s name is familiar to those who follow Mahoning Valley wrestling. He had a breakout season at 220 pounds, climbing as high as No. 3 in the state for his class and making the state semifinals. Over the course of this offseason, his weight is up to 270 pounds and a big year on the gridiron could be in store.

DelGarbino and Caudill will lead the defensive line and are joined by senior Andrew Mohn and sophomore Anthony Pratt. Senior Collin McClurkin and Gump should also see time.

Four linebackers return — Smith, senior Nino Mayle, Bannister and senior Carlos Bach.

The wideouts on offense will flip over to the defensive side. Belcik, Backus, Warga, Wilson and Kornegay all start in the secondary. Junior Terrance Davis is also an experienced starter. Juniors Tyrese Cato and Michael Johnson round out the secondary.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Nick Maledo was an all-conference punter as a freshman in 2016 and he returns to the team. Junior Bailey McDermott pulls double duty with the soccer team and with the football team’s kicking duties. Wilson, Kornegay, Jones and Backus are capable of returning kicks and punts.

OUTLOOK

Pearson has been patient in rebuilding Girard during his first two seasons at Girard. It’s time to see what those underclassmen starters have learned.

The Indians have a couple of big pieces in Waid, Belcik and a senior heavy defensive front seven. They can put up big numbers, now they have to deliver the wins.