By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

In a showdown for first place in the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference’s Grey Division, the G-Men fell short in a 35-14 loss to Brookfield.

The Warriors scored in every quarter, including a 14-point first quarter, to keep distance from the G-Men.

It is the most points allowed by Garfield since allowing 36 in a 43-36 victory over Liberty on Oct. 22, 2021.

Both teams entered 7-1 overall and undefeated in league play.

Brookfield scored first and took a 7-0 lead that the G-Men quickly answered to tie the score 7-7 on a 1 yard run by Keegan Sell.

The extra point was kicked through by Ethan Bittence.

The Warriors scored the next two touchdowns to push ahead 21-7.

The first came with 2:28 remaining in the first quarter on a pass play from Donovan Pawlowski to Aiden Jones for 39 yards. The touchdown gave Brookfield a 14-7 lead that they made 21-7 midway through the second quarter (5:23) when Pawlowski and Jones hooked again — this time on a game-breaker of 86 yards.

The G-Men were next to score and used their defense to do it.

Vinnie Grandizio stepped in front of a Brookfield pass and ran it all the way to the end zone. Bittence, once again, kicked the extra point to make it 21-14.

Pawlowski and Jones then connected for the third time in the game. A 19-yard score gave Brookfield a two-score lead in the third quarter, 28-14, then a fourth TD pass of the game — this one from Pawlowski to Brett Carsone.

The Warriors were stout defensively.

While they gave up 266 yards of total offense to Garfield, the Warriors were able to slow down the G-Men’s single-wing offense.

Garfield entered Friday’s game averaging around 250 yards rushing per game.

On Friday, Brookfield held Garfield to only 147 yards on 37 attempts (4.0 yards per carry).

Keegan Sell was the leading rusher for the G-Men with 62 yards in 11 carries.