Girard topples previously unbeaten LaBrae

By STEVE RUMAN

sports@vindy.com

GIRARD

An old adage in football suggests offense sells tickets, but defense wins games.

In front of a jam-packed Arrowhead Stadium crowd on Friday night, two of the most potent offenses in the state squared off when LaBrae (55.9 points per game) visited Girard (50.1 points per game).

When the dust settled, Girard coach Pat Pearson was eager to talk defense following the Indians’ 35-21 win over the previously unbeaten Vikings.

With the victory, Girard (8-1) bolstered its playoff hopes. The Indians need a win next week against Liberty to advance to the postseason in Division IV, Region 13. Girard also took over sole possession of the Blue Tier in the All American Conference with a 5-0 mark.

Despite the loss, LaBrae (8-1, 5-1) is headed to the playoffs in Division V, Region 17.

“I’m so proud of our defensive effort tonight against an explosive team,” Pearson said. “Our offense gets a loss of press as it should, but our defensive unit is so unselfish. Guys do whatever it takes. They fly around on that field making plays, and they are so unselfish in what they do. They stepped up in a huge way tonight to get our win.”

Defense was the name of the game for both teams in the first half. LaBrae mustered just 52 yards in the first two quarters. Its only score of the half was Walt Allie’s 39-yard run in the latter stages of the first quarter to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead

Girard scored its lone points of the first half when Marco Donatelli pulled in a 16-yard pass from Mark Waid to tie the game at 7 with 4:26 left in the second quarter.

Girard produced 166 yards of offense in the first half, but the Indians also committed eight of their 17 penalties (135 yards) before the break, slowing their momentum.

“That first half was just a case of two very good teams taking away what the opposition does best,” said LaBrae coach John Armeni. “I wasn’t surprised to see things that close and that low-scoring. Both teams were well-prepared. But I also expected some offense in the second half.”

LaBrae took a 14-7 lead midway through the third quarter when Kent Wolford (10 of 25, 167 yards) hooked up with Tyler Stephens on a 26-yard pass.

But Girard needed just three plays to tie the game at 14 when Waid hooked up with Terrance Davis on a 75-yard strike. It marked the first of four straight scoring possessions for the Indians.

The two teams traded TDs again to tie the game at 21, but then Girard scored twice in a span of one minute 22 seconds to seal the win.

Waid finished with 326 passing yards and three TDs. He also rushed for 140 yards and a score.

Davis made the most of his four receptions. He accounted for 168 yards and a pair of TDs. Waid also connected with Aiden Warga seven times for 68 yards.

“I made so many mistakes in the first half, but football is a game of mistakes, it’s how you bounce back,” Waid said. “We came back as a team after halftime. This was a huge win.”

Despite the loss, Armeni was upbeat about his team’s future.

“We came in here to win, we had our sights set on perfection,” Armeni said. “But this one loss doesn’t define us. We battled against an extremely talented, extremely experienced team. We have the playoffs to look forward to, so we have to bounce back next week and be ready for Week 11.”

LaBrae visits Jefferson to close out the regular season.