Garfield takes down St. Clairsville 48-31 to advance in the OHSAA Division 5 playoffs

GARRETTSVILLE, OH- JAG Field in Garrettsville was the site for round two of the the OHSAA Division V playoffs as the #4 seed Garfield G-MEN hosted the #5 seed St. Clairsville Red Devils. Garfield had a first round bye last week while the Red Devils downed Pymatuning Valley 35-13 to advance to round two. A big turnover by the Red Devils in the 2nd half would help swing the momentum and propel the G-MEN to a 48-31 win.

St. Clairsville attempted an onside kick to open the game that was recovered by Garfield at the 48 yard line. They would chew up almost six minutes moving the ball with 11 straight runs capped off by a Ryder Cain 3-yard touchdown run. Hannah Timmons would knock through the PAT putting Garfield up 7-0.

Ryder Cain with the 3-yard TD run for Garfield to open the scoring

On the Red Devils first play from scrimmage, quarterback Sam McLean was picked off by Brandyn Bogucki. Garfield was unable to capitalize off the turnover and were forced to punt.

The Red Devils were unable to do anything on their next possession as a McLean pass attempt on 3rd and 6 was batted down by Garfield’s Colton Miller forcing a Red Devils punt. This time Garfield would get into the end zone as Jack Neikirk found William Simon over the middle for a 22-yard touchdown strike. Timmons PAT was blocked leaving it a 13-0 G-MEN lead with 9:43 to play 1st half.

Jack Neikirk finds William Simon from 22 yards out for the 2nd quarter TD

St. Clairsville would strike on their next drive as star running back Ollie Muhly would burst through the line for a 24-yard touchdown run. The PAT cut the Garfield lead to 13-7 with 6:51 to play in the half.

The Red Devils defense would come up big forcing Garfield to punt the ball back to them and give them a chance to take a lead into halftime. They would move the ball inside the G-MEN 20 yard line before a false start pushed them back. After spiking the ball with 1.1 seconds left in the half, Red Devils kicker Tyler Harris would nail a 35-yard field goal as time expired. Garfield would take a slim 13-10 lead into the half.

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The Red Devils would swing the momentum in the favor to open the 2nd half after Muhly bolted to the end zone from 51 yards out on the second play. The PAT gave the Red Devils their first lead of the game at 17-13.

Their defense would carry that momentum with them forcing a G-MEN three and a punt. Unfortunately for them a critical special teams error would turn the tides on the game. The ensuing kick return went through the hands of Muhly and was recovered at the 1-yard line for the G-MEN. Neikirk would run it in on the next play for a touchdown. Timmons PAT put Garfield back on top 20-17.

After a fumble recovery at the 1-yard line, Jack Neikirk scores from a yard out

The Garfield defense would carry their momentum over as Ryder Cain came up with two huge back to back sacks on second and third down to force a St. Clairsville punt. Garfield would find the end zone once again as this time it was Devin Bates running it in from 12 yards out. Timmons 3rd PAT made it a 27-17 game.

Devin Bates scores from 12 yards out to put Garfield up 27-17

The Red Devils answered right back as they went 75 yards in three plays ending with a 1-yard touchdown run from Muhly. The PAT made it a 27-24 lead.

It seemed like everytime Garfield took a punch from the Red Devils, they would punch right back.

Brandyn Bogucki took the ensuing kickoff 89 yards to the end zone and putting the G-MEN back up by 10 at 34-24.

After forcing a turnover Garfield would take two plays, a 12-yard run by Cain and then a 68-yard touchdown run by Bates made it a 41-24 lead after the Timmons PAT.

Each side would add a 4th quarter touchdown as Muhly took one in from 57-yards out and Cain from 10 yards out for Garfield to give us the final of 48-31.

Ryder Cain rushed for 112 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 sacks. Devin Bates rushed for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jack Neikirk was 4/5 for 72 yards and a touchdown along with 32 rushing yards and another score. Brandyn Bogucki had an 89-yard kick return for a touchdown.

Garfield advances to take on #1 seed Cardinal Mooney next Friday at Youngstown State.