Football 2006: Gallatin vs. Polo

Line play powers Bulldogs to 43-8 romp over Panthers

What was billed as a test of power in the Grand River Conference last Friday quickly turned into a rout as Gallatin dominated Polo in every phase of the game, on its way to a 43-8 conference victory.

Bulldog offensive and defensive lines won the battle of the trenches, and backs and receivers were the beneficiaries.

Stephen Wood rushed for 174 yards and three scores while averaging 12 yards per carry. Nic Burrell added 115 yards rushing and a TD, and threw for 131 yards and a TD. The Bulldogs totaled nearly 500 yards of offense, while holding an opponent to under 150 yards for the second straight week.

Gallatin’s varsity failed to score only once, and that with their best starting field position after Andrew Adkison recovered a fumbled snap from center by quarterback Matt Huntley on Polo’s 10-yard line.

Despite one failed offensive series, the Bulldogs flirted with a perfect first half. Burrell capped Gallatin’s first possession with a one-yard scoring plunge and Corey Lee added the extra point. The drive featured a pair of 20-yard plays, a Burrell to Adkison pass connection, and Wood breakaway run.

Wood added a one-yard scoring run near the end of the first quarter, and took a quick pitch and outran pursuit down the Panther sideline for an 80-yard score. Burrell added the two-point conversion.

With 3:15 left in the half, Wood rolled over from three yards out. A 26-yard screen pass from Burrell to Derrick Love helped set the stage for a 29-0 Bulldog lead after Burrell picked up a bad snap and threw to Adkison for the two-point conversion.

Polo’s lone moment in the spotlight came with an eight-yard scoring pass from Huntley to Andy Ahart as time elapsed on the clock. Josh Duncan ran for a two-point conversion, but the Panthers were out of scoring opportunities for the night.

Gallatin scored on its opening possession of the third period when Burrell kept on the option on fourth down and ran 34 yards to the end zone after juking Huntley in the open field. Adkison caught his second two-point conversion pass of the game and Gallatin led, 37-8.

Gallatin’s final score came on the first play of the fourth quarter when Burrell connected with Andy Ward for a nine-yard strike.

Bulldog defensive efforts were led by linebackers Burrell, Duffy and Love, and Lee at tackle.

Gallatin travels to Maysville on Friday to take on the winless Wolverines. Maysville sports one of its smallest squads in recent seasons, with only one senior on the roster.

GHS Football Stats – Week 5

GALLATIN 43, POLO 8

SCORING SUMMARY

G: Burrell 1 yd. run (Lee kick).

G: Wood 1 yd. run (kick failed).

G: Wood 80 yd. run (Burrell run).

G: Wood 3 yd. run (Burrell to Adkison).

P: Ahart 8 yd. pass from Huntley (Duncan run).

G: Burrell 34 yd. run (Burrell to Adkison).

G: Ward 10 yd. pass from Burrell (conversion failed).

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: Gallatin — S. Wood 14-174, Burrell 14-115, Croy 3-34, Love 7-13, Rains 1-12, Selby 1-8, Ward 1-0. Polo <197> Duncan 17-78, Bowlin 4-17, Ahart 3-9, Huntley 11-(40).

Passing: Gallatin — Burrell 7-13-131, Ward 0-1-0. Polo — Huntley 7-15-73.

Receiving: Gallatin — Adkison 3-72, Love 1-26, Ward 2-17, Wilkinson 1-16. Polo — Hufford 2-44, Ahart 3-21, Segar 1-7, Bowlin 1-1.

GHS takeaways: Fumble recovery — Adkison, Selby. QB sack — Toney.

Leading GHS tacklers: Burrell 8, Lee 7, Love 5, Duffy 5, Selby 4, Brown 4, Bohannon 3, Adkison 3.

GRC Standings — Week 5

Sept. 29 Results

Gallatin 43, Polo 8

Hamilton 45, Maysville 14

Princeton 26, King City 0

Albany 19, Tarkio 14

Mid-Buchanan 30, S. Harrison 0

Oct. 6 Schedule

Gallatin @ Maysville

Albany @ Polo

Tarkio @ Hamilton

King City @ South Harrison

Princeton @ Trenton