GRC unbeaten, Gallatin and Bethany, set to clash Friday
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For the third time in four weeks, Gallatin spoiled Homecoming festivities for a Grand River Conference school. The Bulldogs would really love to continue that spoiler role this week as they face South Harrison in a key conference and district showdown.
Gallatin, 5-0 in the GRC and 7-0 overall, hosts South Harrison, 5-0 in the conference and 6-1 overall, in a game that could decide both conference and Class 1, District 9 titles. Previously unbeaten Princeton, another member of District 9, suffered an unexpected setback to Hamilton last week and now stands 4-1 in league play.
Both Gallatin and South Harrison have struggled to stay healthy in recent weeks. Gallatin defeated King City, 41-6, last week, with three starters – Andrew Adkison, Derrick Love and Jacob Gienapp, on the sideline in street clothes.
South Harrison struggled against Polo last week, coming away with a one-point victory, 15-14, thanks to a two-point conversion. Quarterback Matt Shipers, who sustained a knee injury Sept. 29 against Mid-Buchanan, came back with limited mobility two weeks ago against King City, and was not yet at 100% against the Panthers.
Even with his injury, Shipers has thrown three touchdown passes in the last two weeks.
Gallatin beat South Harrison, 28-7, last season to end a string of six straight losses to the purple and gold Bulldogs, who last won a conference football title in 2004.
Gallatin completely overwhelmed King City last Friday, piling up 41 first-half points and allowing the Wildkats only a single first down in the opening half. Stephen Wood scored three touchdowns on the ground, and Nic Burrell ran for another and passed into the end zone to Brett Wilkinson and Ethan Merrigan.
King City scored with 16 seconds remaining against Bulldog reserves.
Wood rushed for 118 yards and upped his season rushing total to 935 yards. He has scored 17 touchdowns on the season. Burrell gained 94 yards on the ground and increased his season totals to 668 yards and seven touchdowns after missing the opening game of the season. He has thrown for 528 yards and seven scores.
According to statistics from the St. Joseph News-Press, SH junior runningback Logan Kelim had amassed 799 yards and 10 touchdowns heading into the Polo game.
Gallatin 20 21 0 0 41
King City 0 0 0 6 6
GAL KC
First downs 11 5
Rushes-yds. 32-238 37-93
Att.-com.-int. 5-8-0 3-13-1
Passing yds. 72 18
Fumbles-lost 6-4 1-1
Penalties-yds. 4-30 0-0
Punts-avg. 1-49 7-24
SCORING SUMMARY
G: Wood 8 yd. run (kick blocked).
G: Wood 5 yd. run (conversion failed).
G: Wilkinson 9 yd. pass from Burrell (Wood run).
G: Merrigan 17 yd. pass from Burrrell (Wood run).
G: Burrell 29 yd. run (Lee kick).
G: Wood 10 yd. run (kick failed).
KC: Stitt 1 yd. run (conversion failed).
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: Gallatin — S. Wood 12-118, Burrell 11-94, Duffy 2-12, Hefley 2-9, Croy 4-4, Pottorff 1-1. King City — Sprague 12-53, Cochran 12-36, Stitt 6-12, Hutchcraft 1-3, Slayden 6-(9).
Passing: Gallatin — Burrell 5-8-72. King City — Slayden 2-8-12, Hutchcraft 1-5-6.
Receiving: Gallatin — Ward 2-31, Merrigan 1-17, Chadwick 1-15, Wilkinson 1-9. King City — Sprague 1-10, Rainey 1-6, Hutchcraft 1-2.
GHS takeaways: Fumble recovery —: Atkinson. Interception — Rains. QB sack — Burrell (½), Croy (½), Deutschman.
Leading GHS tacklers: Cody Selby 13, Deutschman 6, Atkinson 6, Lee 5, Croy 5, Duffy 4, Pottorff 4.
GRC Standings — Week 7
GRC ALL PF PA
Gallatin 5-0 7-0 272 46
S. Harrison 5-0 6-1 178 77
Princeton 4-1 4-3 140 126
Hamilton 5-2 5-2 178 109
Polo 4-3 4-3 203 105
Albany 2-3 3-4 118 164
Maysville 1-5 1-6 95 260
King City 0-6 0-7 19 198
Tarkio 0-6 0-6 44 214
Oct. 13 Results
Gallatin 41, King City 6
Hamilton 20, Princeton 0
S. Harrison 15, Polo 14
Maysville 27, Albany 13
Tarkio open
Oct. 20 Schedule
S. Harrison @ Gallatin
Hamilton @ Polo
Albany @ Princeton
King City @ Rock Port
Maysville @ Tarkio