Pirates magically turn playoff games from 4 quarters into 2

Playoff football is one of the most exciting times in high school football athletics. The playoffs are usually filled with exciting games that get closer and more competitive as teams march along the tournament playoff trail.

However, for the Garaway Pirates, each of their first four games that propelled them to the school’s first state semifinal appearance have been eerily similar.

See if this rings a bell.

The Pirates score quickly, and then the defense takes control. Quarterback Brady Geibel leads the Pirates to several quick scores, mostly coming in a second quarter that has proven to be Garaway’s best friend, and the Pirates hammer their way to a convincing lead at the half.

Each of the second-half performances then go by quickly because of the running clock rule that kicks in when a team leads by 35 points or more.

The Pirates have fashioned four Division VI, Region 23 playoff victories, and each has followed that exact script. Among their victories, in order of appearance, were a 45-7 win over Rock Hill to open the playoffs, followed by a 49-7 victory over East Knox, and then a 42-7 dusting of Northmor before Garaway cast aside West Jefferson 42-7 to set up a date with annual state power Kirtland in the state semis.

Asked what the key has been, head coach Jason Wallick said it is a team that is focused on winning in every aspect of the game, combined with unselfish players who are simply doing their respective jobs, not worrying about who gets credit.

“Know your role. Do your job. That has been our mantra this season,” Wallick said. “We play nameless, faceless opponents, so know your individual roles, fly around making plays and don’t be afraid to make mistakes because we will just move on to the next play where we have the same objective all over again.”

He also said they have gone into each of the four games as heavy favorites, and his team is simply following the game script that placed the team in that situation.

“We knew we were the better team entering each of the games,” Wallick said. “We understood that West Jefferson was a quality program that has made the playoffs and been to the state finals just two years ago, but we still felt we had the better team and if we played the way we are capable of playing we’d be OK. Now that we enter the Final Four, it becomes a new game where everyone is really good, so the challenges are different.”

In its most recent victory over West Jefferson, the band had barely ushered in the Pirates for the opening kick before Bronson Speedy hauled in a 21-yard scoring strike from Geibel to start the fireworks.

When Roughriders’ quarterback Austin Buescher went out with an injury in the opening offensive series, things went from bad to worse for West Jefferson, although Wallick said that injury was a major change for the Pirates.

“We had prepared for a throwing quarterback, and all of a sudden, we’re facing a running quarterback, so we had to adjust on the fly, but our kids did a good job of understanding their new roles in defending and adjusted quickly to make plays. Either way it didn’t make a 35-point difference.”

A Payton Keller sack forced a punt, and Garaway’s defense shut down WJ, forcing three straight three-and-outs.

Then Wyatt Wallick hoofed it around the left end on a punt return for a 38-yard return for a score.

Another three-and-out and Jenson Garber’s 25-yard punt return had Garaway poised to score again. A connection from Geibel to Speedy on third-and-17 set up a 25-yard Dillon Soehnlen scoring run.

The Roughriders marched past midfield but were forced to punt, with little time left in the half, but the Pirates didn’t need much time because Soehnlen reeled off a 65-yard touchdown run to make it 28-0 at the half.

West Jefferson turned the ball over on downs near midfield to begin the second half, and Brandon Raber’s acrobatic 26-yard catch set up another Soehnlen score, this one from 17 yards out.

Following the script, it set the running clock in motion, but it was in danger when the Roughriders marched to Garaway’s 30. However, in stepped Garaway’s senior defensive back Cameron Gazboda, who made an interception on the Garaway 19.

The Pirates were forced to punt, and when the ensuing snap on the first play from scrimmage went awry, Wallick was there to scoop it up from his linebacker spot and cruise the final 3 yards to pay-dirt to cap the Pirates’ scoring.

WJ forced a Garaway punt, but the ensuing punt was muffed. And who should be there to fall on it? The ever-present Gazboda.

As has been the script, a late opponent score would make the final score look less damaging, but the game was over long before that ever occurred.

“A lot of these guys have waited a long time for this opportunity, having played behind a big and talented group of seniors last year,” Wallick said. “We’re so excited to be playing beyond Thanksgiving for the first time, and we are proud of the way this team has come together.”