GARFIELD COMES THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH

CORTLAND, Ohio – In a rematch from week 2 of last season, the Lakeview Bulldogs (1-1) played host to the visiting Garfield G-Men (2-0). While last season the G-Men needed just four minutes to break the seal, tonight’s matchup in Cortland took twenty-three minutes and fifty-five seconds to see its first points of the night.

Outstanding defense from both Lakeview and Garfield left the teams to combine for an even one-hundred yards of first half offense. The only trip to the red zone for either team came from Garfield in the closing seconds of the half, which would be capped by a thirty-eight-yard field goal off the right foot of Ethan Bittence with five seconds before the break.

Coming out of the break Garfield head coach, Mike Moser, made a change to the offensive game plan that had mostly failed in the first half, giving the Bulldogs a heavy dose of running backs Jesse Grace and Keegan Sell. The new gameplan paid off quickly for the G-Men as their opening drive of the second half would chew up seven and a half minutes of the third quarter clock before Keegan Sell would put the exclamation point on the drive from two yards out.

Lakeview would go three and out to start their second half. Garfield would put together a solid drive before turning it over on fourth down in Lakeview territory. The Bulldogs would go three and out again, but would flip field position on a solid punt by Owen Vlk. After a holding call would set the G-Men back on first down, Garfield would be forced to punt the ball away. The ensuing punt would be blocked by junior Nolan Toth. The ball would roll into the endzone where Sam Balest would fall on it for the score, drawing the Bulldogs to within a possession.

Garfield would respond however with another long-sustained drive to put the game on ice with a twenty-six-yard touchdown run from Jesse Grace. The ensuing extra point was good, bringing the score to it’s final, 17-7 in favor of the G-Men.

BIG PERFORMERS

LAKEVIEW:

Nolan Toth: 1 blocked punt

Sam Balest: 0-yard return of Blocked Punt for TD

GARFIELD:

Jesse Grace: 19 carries, 110 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD

Keegan Sell: 13 carries, 54 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD

UP NEXT

Lakeview: On the heels of their tough loss, the Bulldogs will regroup for another Region 17 opponent, the Liberty Leopards (0-2). Since the start of the 21st century, the Leopards lead the series over the Bulldogs 13-8.

Garfield: After gutting out a victory on the road, the G-Men will return home next Friday night for a matchup with the Warren JFK Eagles (2-0). These two schools have faced off three years in a row, with Garfield coming out on top in each bout, with no game ending in more than two scores difference.