Girard loses lead, but wins game

By Brian Dzenis

bdzenis@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

With the game on the line after squandering a 21-point lead in the third quarter, Girard stayed calm and collected.

The patience was rewarded when Indians quarterback looked to his second option — wideout Jimmy Jones — on a screen pass. Jones caught the ball, broke a tackle and ran 24 yards for the go-ahead touchdown for a 34-30 Division IV, Region 13 playoff win. The winning score came with 1:31 left to play.

“We were calm. We were cracking jokes in the huddle. We knew we were going to get it done,” Waid said. “We had that confidence and it showed.”

Jones’ TD put an end to an impressive rally from East (7-4), which scored four straight touchdowns in the third quarter.

“They had some grit and they fought. I’m disappointed that we came up short,” East coach Brian Marrow said. “It’s a shame someone had to lose the game. Girard has a great team and a great program and I wish them the best.”

Sophomore quarterback Delshawn Petrosky drove the Golden Bears down the field on the opening drive of the second half and capped it with an 18-yard touchdown run. Girard’s Nick Malito fumbled on the ensuing kickoff to put the Golden Bears in Indians territory and Petrosky scored again on a QB sneak. Girard (10-1) later botched a snap on a punt and and East’s Terrance Yeboah recovered to put his team at Girard’s 10. One play later, Gei’Vonni Washington found the end zone.

In the final two minutes of the third quarter, Golden Bears defensive lineman Blaine Spires strip-sacked Waid at Girard’s 18. Van Michael Barnette punched in a 1-yard score a few plays later.

“It went as bad as it could for us in the third quarter. The best part was when we made the mistakes that we did, there was no pointing fingers, no blaming each other,” Girard coach Pat Pearson said. “In fact, they were bringing each other up.”

Girard fumbled the ball five times and lost four of them. East fell behind with the same problem, losing three fumbles. East also struggled with special teams as the Golden Bears did not convert a single extra point or a two-point conversion.

East saw its historic season come to a close. The Golden Bears were in their first playoff contest since 1997, capturing Youngstown’s imagination.

“It’s been a lot of love. It’s been great,” East senior Chris Fitzgerald said. “There’s nothing to complain about. We had so much support and we loved it.”

East senior Kevin James kneeled as the Golden Bears’ marching band played the national anthem. The team’s starting center stepped away from his teammates and knelt just behind Marrow.

Marrow said he wasn’t aware of James’ actions in advance, but said he would speak with him.

The act was popularized by former San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick to protest police brutality against African-Americans. Marrow said he had no issue with James kneeling. Both Marrow and James are black.

“If a kid has certain feelings, I’m not going to make any kid do something that they don’t believe in,” Marrow said.

Girard advances to play Perry on Saturday.