Staff file photo / Preston Byers Crestview’s Mikey Proctor listens to a coach during a practice in Columbiana on Sept. 24.

In last year’s de facto Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference (MVAC) Grey Tier title game vs. Garrettsville Garfield, Crestview dominated the first quarter and began to do the same in the second, forcing two turnovers and two three-and-outs to jump out to a lead.

From there, the Rebels just needed to hold on to the lead, which had not been a problem previously, considering they had blown out their five previous MVAC opponents by an average of 45 points.

But the G-Men were unlike any of Crestview’s other league foes, and instead of holding on to earn a share of the title, Crestview watched as Garfield erased the 16-point deficit, as well as a six-point disadvantage in the second half, to complete the comeback win 23-22 and ensure the league trophy would not leave Garrettsville.

“The biggest thing we learned from last year’s game is adversity,” Crestview head coach Dominic Perry said. “We had Max Hawkins, our one-back, go out in that game, and we didn’t really handle the adversity with losing him on both sides of the ball very well.”

Now, with the circumstances almost identical, the two teams are set to meet tonight with the tier championship hanging in the balance once again.

With Hawkins gone, much of the Rebels’ offensive workload has been left to senior quarterback Jake Noling, who has thrown for 1,309 yards and 14 touchdowns and has become the Rebels’ leading rusher, having run for 819 yards and another 14 touchdowns. Mikey Proctor, Wyatt Hart and Trevor McElhaney have also combined for more than 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground.

“They’re a really good football team,” Garfield head coach Mike Moser said. “Good schemes, well-coached, good players. The quarterback’s having a great year. He’s got a lot of weapons around him, and they’re good up front. So it’s going to be a real challenge.”

Crestview also managed to overcome some of the adversity that befell it last year.

On Sept. 12, in their conference opener, the Rebels overcame a fourth-quarter deficit and scored a game-winning touchdown in the final two minutes to defeat Liberty on the road.

Garfield knows a thing about that, too.

Two weeks ago, the G-Men also fell behind at Liberty, trailing by as much as 20 in the second half and by 14 with under three minutes to play. But, much like it did a year ago in Columbiana, Garfield orchestrated a comeback, stunning its host with a 26-yard touchdown and game-winning extra point with 1.7 seconds remaining.

“As important as it is to start fast, which you’d always rather do, it’s also important to have confidence that you can stay in the fight, and if you have to, you can come back later on,” Moser said.

“We’ve had years where you don’t have a lot of close games – until you do. And sometimes you’re not used to playing in one of those, and it costs you. But I think this year, we have confidence that we can come back. We have confidence in a lot of different kids that can make plays. So I think it helps you. It’s a little harder on the coaches; it’s harder on your heart. But in the end, I think it helps you to play games like that.”

Tonight’s clash in Garrettsville will go a long way in deciding this year’s winner – or, potentially, winners – of the MVAC Grey.

For Garfield (7-1, 5-0), a win tonight would guarantee them at least a share of their third consecutive league title and fourth in the five years they have been eligible to win it. Additionally, it would be the G-Men’s 21st straight MVAC victory, having begun the streak on Oct. 21, 2022.

Crestview (8-0, 5-0), the southernmost member of the conference, would reclaim its place atop the league after sharing the inaugural Grey Tier championship with Brookfield in 2020. Since then, the Rebels have finished either second or third in the standings.

The teams will share the championship if the winner of tonight’s game loses next week and the loser wins. Garfield hosts Brookfield in Week 10, and Crestview hosts LaBrae.

Neither coach, though, is giving even a whiff of consideration to next week, and they’re not trying to draw much attention to the divisional implications of this week’s game either, even though they know – and they know their players know – that tonight means a lot.

“The kids want to beat them,” Perry said. “It’s just like any other year; it’s a big game. They’ve got a heck of a program. They do things right. They’re the reigning league champs for the last couple of years. And the kids would like to knock them off.”

“We know it’s going to be a real challenge for us,” Moser said. “Our kids know that, and I think they’re up for the challenge. It’s gonna be a great night for the MVAC; you’ve got big games in both divisions. So it’s a night for our league to shine.”