Football 2006: Gallatin vs. South Harrison (Districts)

Gallatin turns back S. Harrison, 25-14, to win long-awaited showdown

Big games often prompt big efforts from team captains, and that’s what the Gallatin Bulldogs got Friday night from senior quarterback/linebacker Nic Burrell and senior wide receiver Andrew Adkison.

Burrell passed for a career-best 150 yards and a touchdown, scored twice more on the ground, and accounted for a pair of turnovers to lead #2 ranked Gallatin past South Harrison, 25-14, in a key showdown of unbeaten Grand River Conference teams. Adkison, on the receiving end of five clutch passes, made an over-the-top reception to ice the game in the second half. He also sacked SH quarterback Matt Shipers twice in crucial situations.

Gallatin, now 6-0 in the conference, 8-0 overall and 1-0 in Class 1, District 9, can claim the GRC title and second straight post-season playoff spot with victories in its final two games. The Bulldogs travel to Albany on Friday to face the 3-5 Warriors, who fell to Princeton, 47-0 last week.

The Bulldogs will look to avenge last season’s 21-20 loss to the Warriors and set up a potential game for all the marbles in two weeks against Princeton, depending upon the Tigers’ outcome this week against South Harrison.

South Harrison bloodied Gallatin’s nose off the opening kickoff with a 76-yard scoring drive that featured a pair of 20-plus yard runs. The purple and gold Bulldogs netted 68 yards on the ground in their first series, plus an 8-yard penalty for a late hit, but would net just 12 more yards rushing through the remainder of the contest.

The quality of special teams play reflected a feast or famine scenario for Gallatin. The Bulldogs took advantage of a 60-yard Justin Duffy punt that eventually led to offensive field position on the SH 28-yard line. Burrell connected with Adkison on a fourth-down pass that kept the drive alive and Burrell packed over from the three to tie the score at 7-7 following Corey Lee’s extra point kick.

South Harrison netted negative yards in its next drive and Gallatin gained another start inside SH territory. On the second play from scrimmage, Stephen Wood blasted off the left side for 41 yards and the go-ahead score. A high snap prevented the PAT.

South Harrison’s second and final touchdown was essentially a gift. Linebacker Cody Suddeth dropped Burrell for a rare sack and loss of 14 yards. A fourth down punt snap sailed over Duffy’s head to the Bulldog four-yard line. South Harrison regained the lead, 14-13, with quarterback Matt Shipers’ one-yard run and Logan Kadolph’s extra point kick.

A Burrell to Adkison sideline connection covering 32 yards took the ball deep inside South Harrison territory. Burrell, Wood and Derrick Love alternated runs to the SH goal line. Burrell carried for nine yards and the score. Adkison caught a Burrell two-point conversion pass out of the end zone, but Gallatin led, 19-14.

The final margin of victory came after Gallatin’s opening drive of the second half. Adkison hauled in a 35-yard pass over the top of two SH defenders in the end zone. The drive also featured pass catches by Kevin Chadwick and Brett Wilkinson.

The two teams traded turnovers halfway through the third period. Love jarred the ball loose from Matt Higley and Burrell recovered, but two minutes later Gallatin lost the ball on a fumble inside the South Harrison red zone.

South Harrison took nearly four minutes to drive 36 yards with the opening series of the fourth quarter, only to see a fourth down screen pass fall short of its intended target. Gallatin ran five minutes more off the clock before another possession by the visiting Bulldogs. South Harrison picked up a first down on Gallatin’s 27 by mere inches, but Burrell picked off a Shipers pass two plays later to kill a final threat.

Wood finished with a team-high 87 yards rushing and topped the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight season. His 18 touchdowns are tops in the Grand River Conference.

Corey Lee registered a sack and 10 solo tackles while anchoring Gallatin’s defensive line. Duffy rang up 10 tackles, as well, from his linebacker position. Jon Brown chalked up nine tackles along the defensive front. Love added seven tackles at linebacker, and Colt Bohannon had five stops along the defensive front.

GALLATIN 25, S. HARRISON 14

SCORING SUMMARY

SH: Higley 6 yd. run (Kadolph kick).

G: Burrell 3 yd. run (Lee kick).

G: Wood 41 yd. run (conversion failed).

SH: Shipers 1 yd. run (Kadolph kick).

G: Burrell 9 yd. run (conversion failed).

G: Adkison 35 yd. pass from Burrell (kick failed).

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: Gallatin — S. Wood 13-87, Burrell 22-54, Love 5-15, Ward 1-13, Rains 1-(8). South Harrison — Higley 13-59, Wilson 5-27, Kelim 4-3, Shipers 5-(5), Ramey 2-(10).

Passing: Gallatin — Burrell 11-15-150. South Harrison — Shipers 9-20-133.

Receiving: Gallatin — Adkison 5-88, Wilkinson 2-18, Chadwick 2-15, Ward 1-13,

GHS takeaways: Fumble recovery — Burrell. Forced fumble — Love. QB sack — Adkison (2), Lee, Selby. Interception — Burrell.

Leading GHS tacklers: Duffy 11, Lee 10, Brown 9, Burrell 8, Love 7, Bohannon 7, Chadwick 6, Rains 5, Adksion 4, Wilkinson 4, Ward 4.

GRC Standings — Week 8

Oct. 13 Results

Class 1, District 9

Gallatin 25, S. Harrison 14

Princeton 47, Albany 0

Class 1, District 10

Rock Port 35, King City 14

Tarkio 12, Maysville 8

Class 1, District 12

Hamilton 35, Polo 32

Braymer 20, Lathrop 12

Oct. 27 Schedule

Gallatin @ Albany

S. Harrison @ Princeton

Braymer @ Hamilton

Polo @ Lathrop

Tarkio @ King City

Rock Port @ Maysville