Santa Fe scored two of three touchdowns off turnovers and defeated Gallatin, 20-12, last Wednesday night
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Santa Fe scored two of three touchdowns off turnovers and defeated Gallatin, 20-12, last Wednesday night in Class 1 sectional action on the GHS field. The Bulldogs, who saw their season end at 7-4, were in the game until the very end, despite turning the ball over six times.
Gallatin outgained Santa Fe, 257 to 218 in total yards and outrushed the #8 state-ranked team by healthy margin. Santa Fe sported a reputation as a power running team behind a huge offensive line, but the Bulldogs held the Chiefs to just 142 yards rushing, and gave up no gain greater than 16 yards. On the flip side, Gallatin pounded away for 199 yards on the ground to offset limited success in the passing game.
Gallatin head football coach Mark Cole ran the gambit of emotions after the game as he tried to comfort and console Bulldog players and fans.
“Initially, I was disappointed and let down because we came up short,” said GHS head coach Mark Cole. “As we moved into our huddle on the field after the game, I felt sad saying goodbye to some great young men that mean so much to me,” he added. “Gradually, my mood swung to happiness, for what we accomplished and for the fact that we were able to play that game. The kids can be very proud of the way they hung in there”
As much as turnovers proved damaging to Gallatin’s bid for an upset, it was Santa Fe’s ability to convert crucial third and fourth down plays that kept an otherwise fired up Bulldog defense off balance. The Chiefs were able to convert fourth and 14 and fourth and goal situations on their first scoring drive. Later, in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs scored again after picking up fourth and three yardage twice, and third and six near the goal line.
Santa Fe scored with 11:55 to play in the second quarter on a four-yard, fourth down run by Ben Owen. The big play of the possession, set up by a Zach Brown interception deep in GHS territory, came when Brown, at quarterback, bobbled a snap from center but delivered a 14-yard, fourth down pass to Cody Smith to the GHS ten-yard line.
The Bulldog offense fought it out twice inside Santa Fe territory in the first half, but came away empty. Recovering the game’s initial kickoff, the Bulldogs moved down to the Chief 28-yard line before stalling. A Nic Burrell interception gave Gallatin a start at the SF 42, but the Dogs quickly went four and out.
The Bulldogs entered second half play with two goals in mind holding the Chiefs to one score and, offensively, finding that big play that eluded them in the first half. Things started well.
On the second play of their first possession of the half, the Bulldogs popped a 30-yard gain when Burrell hit Dillon Bird down to the SF 48. Three plays later, Burrell found Bird again for eight yards and a critical third down pickup.
The Chiefs did a good job of closing down the running gaps between tackles, but Jason McGee picked up a yard on fourth and inches to keep the drive alive….temporarily. Santa Fe senior Clay Michael, brilliant on the evening on both sides of the ball, picked off a Burrell sideline pass meant for Kyle Hefley.
The Chiefs took over on the Bulldog three-yard line but three plays later Jacob Gardner forced a punt by sacking Brown for a three-yard loss. Gallatin fumbled the punt. Santa Fe recovered, but gave the ball back on the next play when Burrell intercepted Brown for the second time.
Burrell bounced out of two would-be tackles and picked up 23 yards. McGee carried for nine. Hefley clicked for a 26-yard gain on an end around after cutting inside a Gardner block down field. On second and goal from the one, McGee went airborne over center Sean Wood. Justin Duffy’s extra point kick, following an illegal procedure penalty, clanged off the left goal post. However, had it cleared, the PAT wouldn’t have counted because of another illegal procedure called against the Dogs.
Michael’s 16-yard scoring grab on third and six put the Chiefs up, 13-6, with 8:58 left in the game. Fifteen seconds later, Michael snagged another scoring pass, this time from Burrell. The All-I70 Conference performer leaped for the interception and ran 26 yards to the end zone. Big Jarod Moenkhoff added his second extra point kick for a 20-6 SF lead.
But the Bulldogs weren’t done. Burrell shrugged off the interception by keeping on the option for a 48 yard gainer before being caught from behind by Michael at the Chief 18. Two plays later, Burrell hit tight end Andrew Adkison with a dump pass over the middle and Adkison waltzed into the end zone from 16 yards out. The conversion attempt failed but the Dogs had moved to within one possession at 20-12.
Gallatin forced Santa Fe to punt from the Bulldog 30, but a fumbled pitch play gave the Chiefs new life on offense. Burrell picked off his third SF pass near Gallatin’s goal line. Justin Duffy dashed 12 and 11 yards to move the ball out of the shadow of the Bulldog goal posts, but with two minutes remaining, Gallatin was facing third and ten near mid-field. Michael, shadowing Hefley yet again, grabbed his third interception of the game off a deflection.
Gallatin’s offense faced one final insurmountable task when it took over on the Bulldog six yard line with 56 seconds left. Four plays netted no yards and the Chiefs were able to kill the clock with one last snap of the football.
Even as he tried to put the loss into perspective, Coach Cole was already thinking about next season’s prospects for a return to the playoffs.
“We have a very talented group at the skill positions and two linemen who played most of the time,” he said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to see those kids mature. We need to develop some linemen,” he added. “If we work hard, there’s no reason we won’t be back in this position again next year.”