Waid saves the day as Girard rallies to take down Hubbard

September 2, 2017 at 12:08a.m.

By BOB ETTINGER

GIRARD

After coughing up what was a 19-point first-quarter lead, the Girard football team was backed into a corner entering the final 12 minutes of action on Friday night at Arrowhead Stadium. That was until Mark Waid emerged from his phone booth and carried the Indians to a 39-28 victory over Hubbard.

“He’s become such a team guy,” Girard coach Pat Pearson said. “It wasn’t about Mark Waid tonight. It was about getting the win. He rallies around the team and the team rallies around him.”

Girard trailed, 28-25, to open the fourth period, but Waid covered more than 130 yards on just two carries to put the Eagles away.

The first, a 54-yard scamper, gave the Indians (2-0) a 32-28 advantage with 11:32 to play. The second, on which he ran 87 yards untouched right through the heart of the Hubbard defense, delivered the knock-out blow with 6:43 remaining.

“Those were great runs [Waid] made,” Pearson said. “But I think maybe I could have made those two runs. The O-line was incredible for the way they took ownership. Mark was going to make every effort he could, but the line said to follow them and to run the ball.”

Waid was responsible for all six Girard scores and for 391 yards of offense.

A 1-yard run from Waid made it 7-0 with 8:39 left in the opening period, though Ray Minniti answered with a 46-yard jaunt to get the Eagles (1-1) to within one, 7-6, after the PAT was blocked with 8:31 to go in the first.

Girard got its next two scores through the air as Waid connected with Nick Malito from 19 yards out with 8:14 left in the opening quarter. Later, it was Waid’s toss to Michael Belcik from 16 yards out as the Indians went ahead, 19-6, with 2:37 remaining in the first. Waid’s 10-yard run made it 25-6 with a little more than a minute to play in the period.

Davion Daniels scored three touchdowns over the next two quarters as he lifted Hubbard to a 28-25 advantage with 1:01 to play in the third. He scored on a run of one in the second period and on runs of 29 and 17 in the third.

“At halftime, we had a simple message,” Hubbard coach Brian Hoffman said. “We had to play disciplined, sound football and execute the offense. We did that in the third. Davion made some big plays with his legs.”