Staying healthy an early concern
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Staying healthy an early concern
A year ago this week, Gallatin’s varsity football team was relishing the chance to be the host team during the school’s first ever jamboree experience. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans, in the form of a driving rainstorm and dangerous show of lightning that drove players and fans alike under cover, and canceled the evening’s festivities.
Despite a chance for rain and thunderstorms on Friday, the Bulldogs are once again anticipating the beginning of a new season as they get ready to travel to Polo for a jamboree featuring teams from Polo, Gallatin, Albany and Wentworth Military Academy.
The Bulldogs head to Polo having dealt with injuries and eligibility issues for some key starters in pre-season practices, but head coach Mark Cole says things are starting to shake out in good order.
“Probably what I’m most pleased about is the fact that we have 42 players out for the team,” Coach Cole stated. “I’ve asked around and it might be clear back to the days of Coach (Joe) Battles since Gallatin has suited up that many players to start the season,” he added.
Offensively, the Bulldogs will work on timing and blocking techniques. Defensively, Coach Cole said Friday’s jamboree will help decide starters at some positions, particularly the defensive secondary, where a battle has raged among five players for three spots.
“Basically, we’ve had three days to prepare for three different offenses and three different defenses, and those could have changed from what we knew a year ago” Coach Cole advises. “That’s the nature of a jamboree, and one of the big challenges it presents,” he added. “The jamboree will help us get up to game speed, and hopefully we’ll see a big boost in our intensity from practice.”
Gallatin heads to Polo near, but not at full strength. There have been some concerns along the way with members of a short list of returning starters.
Junior quarterback Nic Burrell is coming off knee surgery but is ready to start the season as signal caller. Junior runningback Justin Duffy is nursing a sore hamstring that has kept him out of many pre-season drills. Junior runningback/linebacker Derrick Love and senior lineman Daniel Horvatin have worked hard to establish their eligibility in time for the season opener. Horvatin has also been plagued by a sore knee. Senior lineman Clayton Baker, who missed several games a year ago with a bum shoulder, broke his collarbone during summer camp, but is healthy enough to resume starting duties.
“We’re going to be a little shorthanded Friday night, so if we get some of our kids bumped and bruised, we may be putting some sophomores on the field before the night’s over,” Coach Cole said.
Captains for the 2005 Bulldogs are Burrell, Duffy, Baker, junior Andrew Adkison and senior Dillon Bird.
Gallatin’s first regular season opponent, Tarkio, will be taking part in a jamboree in Hamilton, along with Braymer, Gallatin’s opening district opponent on Oct. 21. Sixteen of Tarkio’s 30 members are returning lettermen. The Indians’ only conference victory a year ago came against winless Albany. Tarkio must replace its quarterback (Tyler Rohlfsen), two best runningbacks (Jeremiah Riggins and Ben Hurst) and best lineman (David McEnaney) from a year ago.