Kyle Hefley outjumped Maysville’s Matt Jundy for a Nic Burrell pass in the back corner of the end zone to break a 29-29 tie and give Gallatin a stunning, 35-39, last minute victory
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Kyle Hefley outjumped Maysville’s Matt Jundy for a Nic Burrell pass in the back corner of the end zone to break a 29-29 tie and give Gallatin a stunning, 35-39, last minute victory in Grand River Conference action Friday night in Maysville.
The Burrell to Hefley combination came with 28 seconds remaining and capped an 11-play, 65-yard drive that featured nine carries by all-purpose back Jason McGee. The Bulldog senior carried the ball for 31 of Gallatin’s 59 running plays and finished with a career high 202 yards rushing. The Bulldogs converted twice on fourth down during the drive and steadily moved down the field behind the blocking of Andrew Adkison, Adam Strein, Chris Barnes, Sean Wood, Jacob Gardner and Daniel Horvatin.
Gallatin’s defense needed to protect the lead. The Wolverines completed a 23-yard pass from quarterback Travis Ellis to Matt Jundy after an ensuing out-of-bounds kickoff by the Bulldogs. With nine seconds showing on the clock, Ellis dropped back from center and nearly went down at the hands of Bulldog linebacker Kevin Black, but he managed to get the ball away to runningback Aaron Bridgeman. Justin Duffy made the tackle on Gallatin’s 32-yard line. A holding penalty against Maysville was declined.
Maysville scored first off a Bulldog turnover. Gallatin answered. The Wolverines moved in front, 21-7, but the Bulldogs fought back to take a 22-21 lead midway through the third quarter. Gallatin added an early fourth quarter score to take an eight-point lead but Maysville used a trick play to set up a game-tying score with 4;29 to play. It was that kind of a night.
Four of five Gallatin touchdown plays came on fourth down situations. Facing fourth and goal and trailing 7-0 in the opening quarter, Burrell threw eight yards to Hefley, who made the catch going to his knees in the end zone. The Wolverines answered barely a minute later when Bryant Kagay took a counter reverse 22 yards to paydirt. Maysville put Gallatin in a 21-7 hole late in the first half when Travis Ellis hit Matt Jundy with a perfectly thrown sideline pass that covered 54 for the score.
A 78-yard scamper by Justin Duffy, sprung by a Helfey block on the outside, set up a Bulldog touchdown with 39 seconds left before intermission. Facing fourth and goal from the five, Burrell lofted a pass to Bird, who made a good over-the-shoulder catch in the end zone. Hefley threw to Jason McGee for the two-point conversion off a fake kick.
Gallatin established the running game in the third quarter. McGee bounced outside for a 40-yard gain on the Bulldogs’ first possession. On the next play, he took the ball up the gut behind a surging GHS line and scored from 14 yards out and the Bulldogs led, 22-21.
A fumble recovery by Drayson Leeper set up a nine-play, 46-yard scoring drive that appeared to put the Wolverines up against the ropes. McGee carried again for the score on a fourth down call from the nine-yard line. Duffy added his third PAT of the game.
Playing catch-up football, Maysville went back to the passing game. Ellis handed off to Jundy on an end-around. Jundy pulled up at the line of scrimmage threw back across the field to Ellis, and the MHS quarterback rambled 43 yards before being tackled at the Bulldog 10-yard line. Two plays and three penalties later, Maysville knotted the game at 29-29 on a six-yard Ellis to Jundy pass and two-point conversion. However, Gallatin would answer with one of its most powerful scoring drive of the season.
@10left = Tigers buck trend
Okay. You’re only three students away from being the smallest football school in the conference. You lost 10 seniors to graduation off a team that won a GRC title for the first time in 25 years.
You started the season with a roster of 26 players, 17 of whom are underclassman. By the way, you have a new coach, as well. The pre-season verdict you’re in for a long season. Not so for the Princeton Tigers.
The Tigers invade Gallatin this Friday not having lost a step off last season’s winning pace. Princeton comes in 4-1 in the GRC and 4-2 overall, and is the only team in the league to thus far test South Harrison’s resolve. Against South Harrison two weeks ago, Princeton was just one yard away from a victory when wideout Tyler Roberts was tackled on the Bulldog one-yard line as the clock expired.
Roberts, along with all-state lineman Brock Donelson, runningback converted to quarterback Jeff Lutzen and runningback Clint Moore, are holdovers from last season’s championship team. Adam Clark also returns on the line.
With South Harrison at 5-0 and set to take on winless Tarkio this Friday, both Gallatin and Princeton are playing for second place in the league in what will be a final tune-up for district play, which rolls around next week.