A Tale of Two Halves: Garfield Heights Rallies to Defeat Lutheran East
In a game that was postponed due to stormy weather, Lutheran East played host to Garfield Heights on a sunny Saturday afternoon. The two teams had previously clashed in a high-scoring game last year, with Garfield Heights emerging victorious, 46-38. In week 1, both teams had completely different fates. Garfield Heights sought redemption after a 28-0 loss to Lutheran West in Week 1, while Lutheran East aimed to continue their winning streak following a 42-0 thrashing of John Adams.
The first half was a testament to both teams' defensive capabilities. The only score came when Lutheran East's Levi Hunter and Johnthan Deal tackled Garfield Heights' Tyrez Lawson in the end zone, resulting in a safety. The halftime whistle blew with Lutheran East leading 2-0.
The second half, however, was a different ball game. The action got started when Lutheran East's Ja’Rell Melton intercepted a pass (his 2nd of the day), only to fumble it. Matt Valentine, in a moment of quick thinking, scooped up the ball and ran it in for a 45-yard touchdown. A successful two-point conversion extended Lutheran East's lead to 10-0.
Garfield Heights responded swiftly. D’Corey Martin caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Nehgel Pickett, marking Garfield's first touchdown of the season. The momentum continued to swing in Garfield's favor. After a blocked punt, Tyrez Lawson punched in a 10-yard touchdown, giving Garfield Heights a 12-10 lead.
A series of turnovers from both teams left the game's outcome hanging in the balance. Yet, with just over a minute remaining, Lawson's determined dive to the pylon increased Garfield's lead to 18-10. While this might have seemed like a decisive blow to the Falcons, they still had 1:20 left to potentially level the score. Quickly capitalizing on the opportunity, Raymone Austin connected with Deony Wells for a 42-yard reception.
After a strategic spike to halt the clock, Austin targeted the endzone and successfully linked up with Ja’Rell Melton for an acrobatic touchdown. However, a missed two-point conversion ensured Garfield Heights maintained an 18-16 advantage. Lutheran East's subsequent onside kick attempt fell short, cementing Garfield Heights' hard-earned win.
Reflecting on the game, Garfield Heights' Da’Ronn Black said, "After a great talk with my defensive coach, the key aspects were to play till the whistle blows, take no plays off, and trust one another as a family and teammate." He added, "This win is just another team off the board, and we're on to the next."
Tyrez Lawson, who played a pivotal role in Garfield Heights' win, shared, "My coach AJ really guided me into not putting my head down and to keep trying hard out there. This win means everything coming off a blowout loss. I feel like my performance helped the team win when it mattered the most."
Looking ahead, Garfield Heights will travel to face Valley Forge (0-2), while Lutheran East will host Oberlin (0-2) in their next matchups.