Staff photo / Brian Yauger Garfield receiver Will Simon gets past a pair of defenders during a 7-on-7 passing scrimmage.

GARRETTSVILLE — The goals never change at Garfield.

Why fix what isn’t broken?

Since 2018, the G-Men have compiled a record of 45-10, four playoff berths, four wins, got hosted their first-ever playoff game and achieved their first-ever postseason win a year later.

Heading into 2023, the goals are no different.

“The goals don’t change,” Garfield head coach Mike Moser said. “Defend home field, compete for a league title, and qualify for the playoffs. That’s kind of always where we start everything from and we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves. We’ve got to have a good camp and get ready for Middlefield Cardinal in Week 1. That’s all we’re worried about right now.”

Garfield’s senior class has been a staple of the program the last couple years, with players like Eric Geddes and Keegan Sell dominating on both sides of the ball. The G-Men have reached new heights and now it’s the seniors’ turn to take the lead.

“It’s been great to watch them, you know, to have the success they’ve had in football, and it’s been great to watch them become the young men that they’re becoming,” Moser said. “That’s the real rewarding thing.”

They’ll get the chance to make one last push together as a group this season to complete their yearly checklist of goals, and maybe set an even better standard for the program.

Every group is different, every team is different. This year’s group hangs its hat on its team focus. From top to bottom, Moser says this group is locked in.

“These kids are focused,” Moser said. “You can push them really hard, but you don’t have to. They’ve been pushing themselves pretty good. I think it’s a focused group.

“They’ve just bought in. They’ve been like this for four years. Their attendance is great. Their work ethic is strong. We’ve got strong leadership amongst that senior class. It’s been a special group all the way through.”

To keep up the high standards that the program has for itself, Garfield tests itself with its schedule each year. In addition to the year-in and year-out tests of Brookfield and Crestview, the G-Men have their yearly bout with Kennedy as well as welcoming Division II Normandy to town. The primary focus though is on their Week 1 matchup with the Cardinal Huskies.

“It’s going to be challenging,” Moser said. “Obviously our league (is tough). With Brookfield and some of those teams, it’s going to be a challenge every week. So, we only worry about the one that we’re playing right now and the other things will take care of themselves.”

OFFENSE

At quarterback, rising senior Geddes will be the go-to option. Geddes returns to the role from last season, completing 31 passes for 678 yards and seven touchdowns. He also ran for 252 yards from under center with an additional three touchdowns. The running game is the staple of the game at Garfield. If your name is on the roster, don’t be surprised if you register a carry. Last season 15 players registered at least one.

Geddes, Sell, Deacon Sommer, Leo Grandizio and Devin Bates are just a handful of names expected to move the ball, but the skill positions are pretty interchangeable. Cade Rock, Aiden Hill, Bill Simon are names in the wide receiver mix, but they could move into the backfield as well as out wide.

The G-Men also have a strong tradition at offensive line with several great units over the years.

This year should produce another solid group for Garfield. Senior Jonathan Wiczen is one of the headliners. Aiden Kissell, Michael Huebner, and Kaid Turnbull are also returning. Richard Shackelford, Christian Gallagher, Mark Cusick, Gavin Mason and Charlie Ursitti will all be in the mix.

DEFENSE

Huebner will be a big part of the defensive line as well. As sophomore who started last season, the G-Men expect big things from him.

“He was a kid that we got last year as a freshman, and he played and he lettered for us as a freshman last year,” Moser said. “We look for big things out of him on the line both ways.”

Wiczen, Kissel, Turnbull, Shackelford and Mason are all guys to watch for on the defensive side as well.

Garfield’s linebacker unit is going to be a key part of the team’s defense, especially with the return of Sell. He is one of the team’s statistical leaders in several categories, both offensively and defensively, and returns as a senior to anchor the unit from the middle He is a first-team All-State player and is coming back to the gridiron after winning a state title in wrestling last winter. Sell brings experience and skill to the position.

Lining up alongside Sell are going to be a mix of players battling for the spots. Aidan Gallagher and Rock will occupy the outside linebacker spots with the last inside spot serving as a toss-up right now. The camp battle will consist of senior Alex Carter, junior Harper Troyer and a handful of others that are in the mix.

The G-Men also return their entire secondary from last year’s playoff team. There’s been a little mix and match, but the core four are all still in the defensive backfield.

Brandyn Bogucki is one of those four, along with Geddes, Sommer, and Grandizio. Bogucki was showing real promise last season before an ankle injury sidelined him.

“That was a freshman who broke his ankle early on in the year but was playing for us,” Moser said. “He’s going to be one of those guys on both sides of the ball. He’s a skilled guy and he’s going to be a good secondary guy.”

SPECIAL TEAMS

Ethan Bittence will serve as the team’s kicker and punter this season once again.

“This is an all-northeastern Ohio kid coming back again,” Moser said of Bittence.

“He’s going to play football this year as well. He’s another kid that could work his way into that secondary.”

2023 Schedule

Aug. 18 at Cardinal 7 p.m.

Aug. 26 at Warren JFK 7 p.m.

Sept. 1 Normandy 7 p.m.

*Sept. 8 at LaBrae 7 p.m.

*Sept. 15 Champion 7 p.m.

*Sept. 22 Campbell Memorial 7 p.m.

*Sept. 29 at Liberty 7 p.m.

*Oct. 6 at Newton Falls 7 p.m.

*Oct. 13 Crestview 7 p.m.

*Oct. 20 Brookfield 7 p.m.

*-Conference game

2022 Results (9-3)

Cardinal (5-6) W 40-12

at Lakeview (3-7) W 17-7

John F Kennedy (13-2) L 21-22

at LaBrae* (1-9) W 34-0

at Newton Falls (3-7) W 40-7

at Champion (3-7) W 54-14

Campbell Memorial (2-8) W 56-14

at Crestview (4-5) W 62-22

Brookfield (10-2) L 14-35

Liberty (4-6) W 56-27

#at Conneaut (8-3) W 48-21

#at South Range (16-0) L 10-49

#-OHSAA playoffs

Coaching staff

Head coach: Mike Moser, 11th season, 73-35 record

Staff: Randy Ward, Mike Paes, Jarrod Lewis, Howie Moore, Eric Cardinal, Jeff Brown, Mike Finney, Ethan Roman, Austin Roman

Team facts

Division V, Region 17

Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference-Gray Tier

Players on roster: 60

Returning letterwinners (16): Cade Rock, Brandyn Bogucki, Eric Geddes, Christian Gallagher, Leo Grandizio, Ethen Bittence, Alex Carter, Deacon Sommer, Keegan Sell, Richie Shackelford, Michael Huebner, Kaid Turnbull, John Wiczen, Ivan Trent, Mike Markusic, Gavin Peska

2022 season: Garfield put together another successful season, with two of its losses coming against teams, Kennedy and South Range, that reached the state finals. That third loss came in a battle against Brookfield.