Girard’s well isn’t dry just yet

By BRIAN DZENIS

bdzenis@vindicator.com

GIRARD

The Girard High School football team graduated 12 seniors from its 2018 state runner-up team, but there is still enough star power for the Indians to make noise this season.

Mr. Football candidate Mark Waid and two-way stud Jack DelGarbino are continuing their athletic careers at Youngstown State (football) and Princeton (wrestling), respectively, but there’s a pair of college football commits to highlight nine returning starters.

Wide receiver/defensive back Nick Malito is a Toledo commit and two-way lineman Haeden Gump is committed to YSU. The pair join Morgan Clardy and Jimmy Jones as four-year starters.

“We have a lot of younger guys that are hungry for their opportunity to show people who they really are,” Malito said.

OFFENSE

Girard will platoon the quarterback position this fall with Jones and junior Drew DelGarbino. Jones has spent the previous three years at wideout and has never played the position prior to this fall.

“It’s been going pretty well,” Jones said of adjusting to his new position. “I was nervous those first few times back there, but after a few snaps, I got used to it.”

Clardy returns at running back along with Tyler Maddox and Jones.

Three starters return along the offensive line in Gump at tackle, senior Connor Moore at center and senior Ben Lileas at guard.

Khalil Hughley will make his debut on the O-line this season after exclusively playing defensive line last year and Nassim Lloyd is in the mix as well. There could be three or four additional athletes vying for time.

Malito leads the wideout group and he’ll be joined by his younger brother, Dominic, who’s a sophomore. Jones also can play slot when he is not playing quarterback.

Indians coach Pat Pearson said it’s a possibility Jones could throw, rush and catch a touchdown pass all in a single game.

“He’s a talent. We’re going to use him every way we can,” Pearson said. “He’s really done a great job this summer picking things up on offense and playing quarterback has made him a better receiver because he understands why and how we do things.”

DEFENSE

Gump and Moore are the two returning starters on the defensive line following the graduations for Jack DelGarbino and Daryl Smith. Hughley, Lloyd, Jared Koch and Anthony Dinard are figured to be in the rotation.

“We got a nice line. We’re going to be quick. We’re going to get to the ball,” Gump said. “We’re going to be a different team than we were, but we’re going to be the same team.”

Linebacker is one of the thinner positions at Girard in that it does not have any returning starters from last year. Maddox, Lileas and Drew DelGarbino are slated to fill those spots.

Jones and Jordan Grant are the starting cornerbacks. Nick Malito is the strong safety and Dominic Malito and Clardy will see time at safety.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Nick Malito will be the punter and Stephen Gamble comes over from the soccer team to serve as the kicker.