Staff photo / Greg Macafee Girard wide receiver Stephen Sims runs past a East defender during a scrimmage earlier this month at Arrowhead Stadium in Girard. After a stellar sophomore season, Sims will be a major contributor for the Indians.

GIRARD — The 2022 campaign was a tale of two seasons, Girard coach Pat Pearson says.

With a senior-laden and talented roster, the Indians surged out to an impressive 5-0 start, during which they outscored opponents 202-43, an average of 40.4-8.6 points per game.

And then came the injuries.

With multiple key pieces going down at various times, Girard limped to a 2-3 record in the second half of the year to finish the regular season at a still-impressive 7-3.

The Indians tacked on a 30-20 win over Northeast-8 rival Hubbard in the opening round of the Division IV, Region 13 postseason before falling to fellow NE-8 rival Jefferson 26-20, a team which Girard had beaten 21-6 in Week 3.

And while the injuries were a source of frustration a season ago, Pearson says they did provide valuable experience for those returning in 2023.

“It changed us to something different, and it took a minute to get our stride back, but I think we finished on a strong note with some of those younger guys,” Pearson said. “Now, some of those things that may have been tough for us last year have been more beneficial now because guys have a lot of playing time. We have guys with varsity experience, and guys that have a little bit of a chip and an edge on their shoulder from how it ended last year.”

Now, as the Indians enter Year 10 under Pearson, they’re hungry for the same levels of success to which they’ve grown accustomed.

“Here in the last maybe six or seven years of playing some postseason games, multiple postseason games, you add weeks to your season and time to get better and keep growing,” Pearson said. “It’s given guys a taste of what it is. Really, in that last playoff game (against Jefferson), we didn’t really finish the way we should have, and the kids felt that. I think that was a big push this offseason to make sure we don’t have that kind of feeling again at the end of this season.”

OFFENSE

The Girard offense brings back plenty of talent, but will be tasked with replacing its biggest stud from a season ago in Michael Palmer, who graduated after racking up 1,203 yards and 15 touchdowns on 181 carries in 2022. He averaged 100.3 yards per game.

The Indians also need to replace quarterback Nic Bengala, who started in the first half of last season before going down with an injury.

At both positions, Pearson says, there is talent and depth.

Under center, Dominick Tolone returns after being thrusted into action in 2022. As a sophomore seeing early action, he held his own, completing 28 of 51 passes for 516 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.

Girard also welcomed in Tuff McConahy, a 6-foot-4 senior from nearby Wilmington (Pa.).

“Dominick … finished a little bit last year as a sophomore for us and did a really nice job, and then we had Tuff McConahy move in from Pennsylvania. He’s a starter coming from over there, 6-4 kid that can run and throw it and has shown great leadership. We feel really good about that position,” Pearson said.

Meanwhile, at tailback, Pearson highlighted Ahmad Curd-Stephens, a senior with plenty of playing time at the linebacker position for Girard.

“He’s had one of the best offseasons that I’ve seen,” Pearson said. “He’s getting his body into shape and molding himself into a really good-looking tailback.”

In addition, Stephen Sims, who also features as a receiver, is versatile and can split carries as needed. Behind those two, Pearson says a handful of others are competing for playing time and spots on the depth chart.

Above all, Pearson wants his players to bring their own identities to the position.

“You’re not going to get another Mike Palmer. Mike was a special kid, but I don’t think our guys want to be Mike Palmer. They want to make their own name,” he said.

Staff photo / Greg Macafee
Girard quarterback Tuff McConahy throws a pass during a scrimmage against East.

At receiver, Sims will play slot as part of a talented group that also includes Domenico Simone and Anthony Bengala. That trio was part of Girard’s all-state caliber 4×100 team that placed fifth in Columbus back in June. Sims, a do-it-all player, ran for 689 yards and 10 touchdowns on 86 carries last season and also caught 16 passes for 411 yards and six scores in the air.

Simone added 23 receptions for 375 yards and three touchdowns, while Bengala hauled in 22 catches for 364 yards and four scores.

“We feel really good about our skill set (at receiver),” Pearson said.

With such a multitude of options, expect another season of high-octane offense that makes opposing defenses pick their poison.

“We’re going to play at an extremely fast rate, and we’re going to do whatever it takes to score points,” Pearson said. “The cool thing about this group is when you ask them quarterback-wise, running back-wise, wide receiver-wise, nobody cares (who scores). They want to score points. They want to move the ball and score points, so whatever we can do to have success, we’ll do. There might be games we throw it 40 times, there might be games we run it 40 times.”

Paving the way for that group is an offensive line that returns five players with starting experience. Isaac Griffith returns after missing the bulk of his junior season due to an injury, but was a starter during his sophomore campaign. Jordan Fedor, who received an all-state honorable mention last season, also is back. Joining them are Gaven Hanson at guard and Dominic Vince at center. Devin Hubbert returns at guard, as well, and Jaxon Strain will figure into the mix. In addition, Pearson says another couple younger players are vying for snaps.

“The reality of it is if our offensive line plays well, we have a chance. When the offensive line play isn’t good, we’re going to be in trouble,” Pearson said. “We do a lot of empty stuff and put those five guys on an island. When they can play, it makes us really explosive offensively.”

DEFENSE

That same group will spearhead Girard’s defensive line, while Allen Hess-Cardona returns after an impressive freshman season. Hess-Cardona garnered All-Northeast-8 honors after making 102 tackles, three sacks and eight TFLs for the Indians last season.

“He’s one of the best young kids I’ve ever coached,” Pearson said.

Hubbert also fared well, making 37 stops and seven TFLs.

At linebacker, Curd-Stephens will be a starter on the inside for the third consecutive season. In 2022, he led Girard with 107 tackles and also made five TFLs and forced a fumble.

“We feel like he’s one of the better players in the area,” Pearson said.

Hanson, a backup linebacker last season, will see time this season, too, while Santino Barone, Tucker Steiner and Rodney Robinson are looking to provide depth and compete for snaps.

The defensive backfield figures to be a strength for Girard this season. Bengala is back at corner after leading Girard with four interceptions last season to go with 58 tackles, while Mykel Collier-Dixon and Nick Rafferty have experience at the position.

“All those guys can really run and are physical kids,” Pearson said.

Sims, Simone, McConahy, Tyler Wilson and Will Hynes will factor in at safety. Simone had three interceptions and 11 PBUs last season, and also made 46 tackles.

Given the makeup of the roster, Pearson expects to play in a 4-2-5 scheme, but the fundamentals remain the same.

“Our core principles never change,” he said. “We want to run. We want to hit. We want to be excited. We want to pressure. We want to cause turnovers and create plays on defense. But how you get to it changes by who you are and what you are, and right now I think we’re pretty heavy in the DBs more than maybe a traditional outside standup linebacker type, so we’re going to morph into that type of world but still be us and do what we do.”

And with the offense anticipating scoring plenty of points, a premium is on getting those critical stops, Pearson added.

“The years that we can play defense are the years we have a chance at winning championships,” he said. “So the boys are focused in.”

SPECIAL TEAMS

Zach Morris returns at placekicker after going 51-of-52 on PATs last season. He connected on both field goals he attempted. Andrew Whitfield will punt for the Indians after doing so as a sophomore last year. He averaged 36.3 yards per punt.

Pearson anticipates a rotation among the punt and kick returners between Sims, Simone and Bengala.

“Those guys are pretty explosive in the back end, so those guys will rotate that duty,” he said.

2023 Schedule

Aug. 18 Jefferson Area 7 p.m.

Aug. 25 at Liberty 7 p.m.

Sept. 1 at West Branch 7 p.m.

Sept. 8 *Struthers 7 p.m.

Sept. 15 Pymatuning Valley 7 p.m.

Sept. 22 *Lakeview 7 p.m.

Sept. 29 *at South Range 7 p.m.

Oct. 6 *Poland 7 p.m.

Oct. 13 *at Hubbard 7 p.m.

Oct. 20 *at Niles 7 p.m.

*Conference game

2022 Results (8-4)

at Streetsboro (6-5) W 42-24

Liberty (4-6) W 48-0

at Akron Ellet (4-6) W 42-13

*at Jefferson Area (11-4) W 21-6

*at Lakeview (3-7) W 21-6

*South Range (16-0) L 56-12

*at Poland (5-6) L 21-19

*Hubbard (6-5) W 49-14

*at Struthers (7-5) L 42-28

*Niles (2-8) W 35-33

&Hubbard (6-5) W 30-20

&Jefferson (11-4) L 26-20

*Northeast-8 Conference &-Playoffs

Coaching staff

Head coach: Pat Pearson, 10th season, 61-42 overall

Staff: John Latell, John Foster, Jim Tedesco, Dave Barone, Nick Cochran, Aaron Alejars, Tyler Suich, Jamont Ware, Mike Diaz, Bobby Ovesny, Brian Rafferty

Team facts

Division IV, Region 13

Northeast-8 Conference

Players on roster: 60

Returning letterwinners (17): Ahmad Curd-Stephens, Dominick Tolone, Will Hynes, Allen Hess-Cardona, Tuff McConahy, Stephen Sims, Nick Rafferty, Domenico Simone, Anthony Bengala, Santino Barone, Zachary Morris, Andrew Whitfield, David Hall, Gaven Hanson, Devin Hubbert, Isaac Griffith, Jordan Fedor.

2022 season: Girard began the season 5-0 and was outscoring opponents 202-43 before injuries slowed the Indians down. Girard finished the back half of the season 2-3 to enter the playoffs at 7-3 overall. The Indians topped Hubbard in the opening round before falling to Jefferson 26-20 in the second round.