By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

THE TEAM

• Head Coach: Mike Moser, 12th year, 85-35 career record.
  

  MIKE MOSER

• Coaching Staff: Randy Ward, offensive line; Mike Paes, quarterbacks, defensive backs, passing game coordinator; Jarrod Lewis, defensive coordinator, wide receivers; Eric Cardinal, defensive line, running backs; Howie Moore, linebackers; Mike Finney, offensive line, defensive line, special teams coordinator; Rich Stark, defensive line; Trey Shirkey, blocking backs, outside linebackers; Jeff Brown, offensive and defensive lines; Ethan Roman, offensive and defensive lines; Austin Roman, offensive and defensive lines.
• League: Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Grey Division.
• Playoffs: Division V, Region 17.
• 2023 Record: 12-1 overall; 7-0 MVAC Grey Division, league champions.
• Returning Lettermen (16): Aiden Hill, sr.; Cade Rock, sr.; Ivan Trent, sr.; Harper Troyer, sr.; Jack Neikirk, jr.; Will Simon, jr.; Brandyn Bogucki, jr.; Colton Miller, jr.; Richie Shackelford, jr.; Mike Huebner, jr.; Lucas Neihiesel, jr.; Charles Ursitti, jr.; Collin McGranahan, soph.; Devin Bates, soph.; Mason Kurtzman, soph.
• Lettermen Lost (11): Keegan Sell, Eric Geddes, Deacon Sommer, Leo Grandizio; Christian Gallagher; Aiden Kissell; Ethan Bittence, Alex Carter, Kaid Turnbull; Aiden Turnbull, Jon Wiczen.

OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK

The kings of the Single Wing have no reason to change now.

The G-Men rushed for 4,500 yards as a team last year, using a multitude of runners, deception, fast and downhill running and powerful and precise offensive line work.

Garfield have become the technicians of the Single Wing and opposing defenses continue to be a step – and sometimes many steps — behind the G-Men.

The team loses its top three rushers (Keegan Sell 1,389 yards, Eric Geddes 1,226 and Deacon Sommer 614), but return the next batch of runners ready for their opportunity.

Brandyn Bogucki rushed for 416 yards, Devin Bates for 308, Collin McGranahan for 223 and Harper Troyer for 205 last year. The quartet averaged 9 yards per carry in 2023.

QUARTERBACK

Jack Neikirk jumps into the starting role following Geddes’ graduation. 

McGranahan and Jace Vanek will serve as the team’s backups.

RUNNING BACKS

Garfield’s offense is designed to spotlight multiple runners and veteran coach Mike Moser has his team ready for another bright spotlight.

Coming out of the backfield this year will be Troyer, Bates, Bogucki, McGranahan, Tyler Lutz, Ryder Cain, Nate Baczkowski and Logan Sell.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The group of Ivan Trent, Richie Shackelford, Lucas Neihiesel, Mike Huebner, Mason Kurtzman, Chase Phifer, Gavin Barnhard, Jared Cardinal, Charles Ursitti, Caden Roman, Chris Winningham and Bella Quickle will all have an impact on the team’s push in the trenches this season.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT END

The G-Men feature some very athletic, and very tall, players at both tight end and receiver.

Aiden Hill and Cade Rock, both 6-foot-4, lead the group, while Will Simon, Colton Miller, Henry Veccia and Oliver Walker will be key aerial threats.

DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK

Garfield will have a base defense that shuffles between a 3-4 and a 4-2-5.

The team has created a trademark style of flying to the ball and being very aggressive.

LINEBACKERS

Keegan Sell, and his 200 tackles per season output defensively, graduated and there is no way to replace a generational player of his caliber with another singular player. The G-Men will need a full group effort.

That effort will be led by Troyer, Bates, Lutz, Hill, Rock and Logan Sell, while Carter Hoover, Kaleb Lewicki, Sam Strahan, Evan Martin, Colton Miller, Cole Miller and Jack Timmons will have an opportunity to earn minutes.

DEFENSIVE LINE

A familiar group of names from the team’s offensive line will also be featured across the defensive line, according to Moser.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

The G-Men have plenty of depth in the secondary, with Neikirk, Bogucki, McGranahan, Simon, Baczkowski, Cain, Walker, Kline, Simones, Vanek and Mormille all included.

UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH

Colin McGranahan, Devin Bates, Nate Baczkowski, Ryder Cain, Henry Veccia.

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

“Our depth up front,” Moser said.