Friday nights in Garrettsville are about more than just football. They’re about the roar of the crowd, the drumline echoing through the bleachers, cheerleaders firing up the sidelines, and a team that carries the weight of tradition on its shoulders. For seniors Mike Huebner, Colton Miller, and Carter Hoover, this season is their last chance to write themselves into that story.
All three have been around the sport for most of their lives. Huebner picked it up in seventh grade, while Miller remembers watching college and pro players and wanting to be just like them. Hoover’s start was less optional. “Honestly, my dad made me play,” he laughed. “But now I couldn’t imagine not doing it.” For Hubner, the dream began with visions of Ohio State. “Every kid from Ohio tells himself he’s going to go play at Ohio State. I didn’t realize how hard that was going to be,” he admitted. Miller, meanwhile, looked up to former Garfield stars. “Those guys that were playing on that field—those were my heroes. Anthony Demma, Brody Swigonski—those guys.” Hoover pinpoints one specific spark: the 2017 Garfield vs. Windham game. “They won by one point at the end of the game, and that was definitely my moment. That’s when I knew this is what I want to do.”
The jump from middle school to varsity was an adjustment. “Three-hour practices every day for the entire week—it hits you right in the face when you’re a freshman,” Hoover explained. Miller agreed: “A big jump in the workload. You’re working a lot harder, a lot more days. That’s something I noticed immediately.” Hubner transferred in as a freshman from Rootstown and immediately noticed how different the culture was. “School to school, culture to culture—everything’s totally different.” The work doesn’t end when the season does. “As soon as we got done with last season, we were back in the weight room,” Miller said. Huebner added: “Last January, right after Christmas break, we started our lifts. It never really ends. It’s the grind.”
When asked what to expect from Garfield this year, Hubner didn’t hesitate: “Domination.” He said attendance at summer workouts was the best it’s ever been. “Everyone’s showing up, everyone’s putting in the work. I think it’s going to be a great year.” As for rivals, the answers came quickly. “Warren JFK is our skill-level rival,” Miller explained. “But on a local, historical level, Southeast is probably a good one. A little bit of bad blood there.” Hoover added, “They’ve just wanted to beat Garfield—that’s all it’s been.” The unknown challenge? “Springfield Local,” Hoover said. “We’ve never played them before, we’ve never seen them before. That’s going to be one of the tougher ones this year.”
The seniors know setbacks shape a team just as much as wins. “The reason we were better last year was because of that JFK loss,” Hoover reflected. “Losses are where you get better.” Huebner agreed. “We were a different team going into JFK than coming out with the loss.” Hoover summed it up: “Every team we’ve lost to has gone on to do something great. It kind of gives you a glimpse of where you’re at and gives the team room to learn.”
Some of their favorite memories come from the drama of close games. Huebner recalled one win against Normandy: “We took our knee and the rain was pouring down. It was really cinematic. Jack took the knee, I turned around, and we just hugged right there on the 40-yard line.” But blowouts have their perks too. “It’s fun beating a team 60-0, but after a while you’re just like, can we get on the bus already?” Hoover admitted with a laugh. He pointed to the Crestview game as a favorite: “That was the most fun I’ve seen the entire team ever have.” Pregame rituals are another part of the story. Huebner‘s is unexpected: “Before every game, I listen to ‘Crazy’ by Patsy Cline. It’s not a song you’d expect someone to prep with.” Hoover keeps things simple with what he calls “the two C’s: Christ and caffeine.”
While the players put in the hours, they’re quick to credit the community for what makes Garfield football special. “The band is amazing,” Hoover said. “They just keep playing and it pumps you up.” Huebner agreed: “We were coming back from practice and heard the band in the parking lot—it got me so excited to play.” Miller added, “Those guys and gals that show up every game—those nice people in our community—they make the difference.” They also shouted out the cheerleaders, who keep energy high on the sidelines and help the student section stay loud. “It’s not a one-man band,” Huebner explained. “It’s a unit. One heartbeat.”
Now, as seniors, all three feel the responsibility of being role models. “Guys look up to you more when you’re a senior,” Miller said. Hoover noted that the goal is always to leave the program stronger: “You teach the underclassmen right and leave them with what you’ve got, and you’re going to have the same aggressive, good football team.” Huebner quoted a favorite line from the coaches: “Leave the program better than you found it.” Looking ahead, Huebner hopes to continue playing in college. Miller said he “lives and breathes this game” and wants to keep it in his life. Hoover doesn’t see himself playing past high school but imagines carrying on his dad’s coaching legacy with his own kids someday. Their advice to younger players was simple. “Don’t hold back. If you don’t do it, you’re going to regret it,” Huebner said. Hoover put it another way: “It’s the most amount of fun I think I’ve ever had in my entire life. Just going out with your friends, playing your best, win or lose—you’re there for each other.”
The G-Men opened their season August 22 at Edgewood, and return home August 28 vs. Warren JFK before hosting Springfield Local on September 5 . With seniors like Huebner, Miller, and Hoover leading the way—and the backing of the band, cheerleaders, and community—the 2025 Garfield football season promises to be one to remember.