Indians stifle JFK’s offense

By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI

abartolomucci @vindy.com

warren

The Girard High School football team showed off its defensive prowess against the defending Division VII state champions.

The Indians dominated Warren JFK, winning 42-7 Saturday at Mollenkopf Stadium.

The Eagles’ offense never got untracked.

“I think the story of the night for Girard is the way they played defense,” Warren JFK head coach Jeff Bayuk said. “I think they really did a great job shutting down just about everything we had.”

Girard (3-0) got on the board first with a 41-yard run touchdown by Morgan Clardy.

Devin Wilson and Michael Belcik each scored a touchdown in the second for the Indians, adding 14 more points.

“I made a note to myself that whenever I touch the ball, I was going to stop thinking,” Wilson said. “I’ve made mistakes in the past and I’ve always had that mentality to come back and get better from my mistakes.”

Warren JFK’s touchdown came late in the second quarter. Greg Valent made an 18-yard run to score for the Eagles.

Girard quarterback Mark Waid scored the lone touchdown in the third quarter on a 2-yard run.

“Our offensive line came out tonight and performed amazing,” Waid said. “They’re opening holes that anybody could run through.

“Don’t get me started on our defense, our defense was locked down.”

Girard head coach Pat Pearson said he and his team have respect for Warren JFK and the championship program they have.

Pearson said it was a complete team effort they way they competed against a strong team and were able to walk off the field with a win.

“We have the most unselfish group of kids right now that love playing the game,” Pearson said. “They love going after it and all they care about each other and doing what’s best for the team.”

In the fourth quarter, Belcik and Wilson each scored a touchdown within two minutes of each other.

Belcik scored off an 18-yard run and Wilson received a 38-yard pass from Waid.

“We’re proud of our group growing up as young men and making this community proud,” Pearson said.

Waid and Wilson said the team has been working hard since summer.

“We’ve worked so hard and it almost brings tears to my eyes the success we are having right now,” Wilson said. “We have big dreams.”

Waid is looking ahead.

“The way that our team is working I’m really excited,” Waid said. “But we can’t worry about down the line, we have to worry about the next game.”