By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Mike Moser and his Garfield G-Men football coaching staff were staring at a big question mark entering the 2024 season.

Garfield place-kicker Hannah Timmons, a sophomore, prepares to connect on an extra-point attempt during Garfield football’s Week 6 victory over the Southeast Pirates.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

They needed a kicker.

Veteran kicker Ethan Bittence graduated off the 2023 season after a record-breaking season, when he converted on 77-of-78 extra points in Garfield’s undefeated 10-0 regular season. The G-Men then pushed into the Division V regional final before the curtain fell on a superb campaign.

When planning for the 2024 season, Moser found returning lettermen and talented players across almost all positions.

Except kicker. 

Then stepped in Hannah Timmons.

Timmons, a sophomore, earned a varsity letter as a freshman girls soccer player in 2023 and she decided to give place-kicking a try while also playing soccer again as a defender.

As the preseason workouts progressed, Moser said that Timmons earned her role as the football team’s starting kicker “by being our best kicker by far.”

On the season, Timmons has connected on 20-of-26 extra points (the fourth-most made XPs this season in Portage County) for the 6-1 G-Men, who host Newton Falls on Friday in Week 8 in a Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference matchup.

“Hannah plays a huge role for us and provides us with a reliable kicker,” Moser said. “This was a real concern for us before Hannah decided to give it a try.”

The team has embraced Timmons since she joined the team.

“The team and the coaching staff really enjoy having Hannah on the team,” Moser said. “She works really hard at her craft, and we love seeing her succeed.

“Hannah’s work ethic and her natural ability, as well as her positive attitude, earns her the trust of her teammates and coaches,” Moser added. “We are lucky to have her with us. She is a great example of a student-athlete and a role model to others.”