The wait is over for the East football team.
After so many years of frustration, the 2016 Dragons are City Series champions.
Garfield was East’s foe Friday night at the University of Akron’s InfoCision Stadium, and the rushing combination of senior Jemarulin Suggs and junior Devanier Floyd led the Dragons to a 32-14 win.
Suggs and Floyd proudly wore shirts that read “Dragons Just Did It. 2016 City Champs.” A short while later, JoeEitel.com reported East had clinched a Division III playoff spot.
“I am so happy right now,” said Suggs, who has more than 2,000 rushing yards this year. “I thank my linemen [Tanner Kelly, Ramon Fields, Kendrick Buckley, Armani Farrey, DeeArius Reese and Derell Glover], my coaches and God.”
The victory gave East (7-3, 6-0) a City Series football title for the first time since 1975.
“This is an amazing feeling,” East coach Marques Hayes said. “There are a lot of people in the East community who are very happy with this team. This is an amazing team that really came together and had a lot of resolve.
“I knew this was going to be an emotional game. This is our rivalry game where we play for the ‘Helmet.’ Garfield had a lot to play for with this being a possible last game for them [because of the upcoming merger with Kenmore]. They brought a lot of alumni out, so you know those guys were going to play hard.
“We tried to match them by playing hard, and also we had a lot to play for.”
Hayes praised Jaleel Ervin, Kerriyon Somerville, De’Andre Brimage, Marquess Callaway and Trey Kelly for their defensive effort.
Suggs (35 carries, 223 yards) rushed for first-quarter touchdowns of 11 yards (9:45) and five yards (6:12) to make it 12-0. The first scoring drive covered 80 yards on eight plays and the second went 50 yards on four plays.
Sophomore Kyre Williams extended the Dragons’ lead to 18-0 when he recovered a fumble and ran two yards for a score as time expired in the first quarter.
Garfield (3-7, 2-4) trimmed its deficit 18-7 with 12 seconds remaining in the first half when senior William Shropshire rushed for a 4-yard touchdown toward an end zone filled with former Golden Rams players preparing for a halftime ceremony.
The score capped an 11-play, 70-yard drive set up by senior Brian Moody-Carter’s interception. Freshman Bengally Kamara kicked the extra point.
East bumped its lead to 26-7 with 1:13 to go in the third on a 10-yard touchdown run by Floyd and a two-point conversion pass from sophomore Ryan Collins to junior Daishawn Brimage. Floyd (12 carries, 142 yards) added a 22-yard touchdown run to cap a six-play, 53-yard drive with 6:42 remaining to give East a 32-7 lead.
Garfield senior Greg Levy rushed for a 5-yard score and Kamara nailed the PAT with two seconds left to cap the scoring.
“It has been a very emotional three weeks after what we were told, and then what kind of popped out of nowhere [with the merger],” Garfield coach Bob Sax said. “The kids handled it pretty well and we had a lot of support. We have talked a lot and had a lot of things going on today. I thought the kids gave a great effort.
“Hats off to East High School. They are a very good football team. Coach Hayes has done a great job.”