Football 2006: Gallatin vs. Princeton (Districts)

Dogs write 44-0 finish to 10-0 regular season; playoffs unfold

Foremost in the minds of Bulldog seniors before last Friday night’s game was this. Gallatin led Princeton near the end of their two previous meetings, but the Tigers managed to win each game. But not this time.

Gallatin locked up both Grand River Conference and Class 1, District 9 titles Friday night with a convincing, 44-0, romp over the defending league champion Tigers. The Bulldogs became just the eighth GHS team to finish undefeated in league play, and GHS seniors celebrated their first victory over the Tigers.

Gallatin, 10-0, travels to Rock Port, 9-0, tonight (Wednesday) for a battle of unbeaten, state-ranked teams. The Blue Jays walked through District 10 by handily beating King City, Tarkio and Maysville. The Bulldogs are seeking to return to the state quarterfinal round, and are hoping to get at least one more home game out of the deal.

The Gallatin-Rock Port winner will face the winner of the West Platte-Braymer sectional being played at Braymer. If Gallatin wins, the Bulldogs would host Braymer, if the Bobcats prevail. If West Platte proves victorious, the Bulldogs will travel to Weston next Monday night.

West Platte, 4-6, has dealt with injuries and a tough KCI schedule. The West Platte Blue Jays, coached by former Gallatin skipper Danny Brown, lost to undefeated Orrick, Salisbury (9-1) and Lawson (8-2), all 2006 playoff teams.

Braymer, 7-3, owns three losses to Class 1 playoff teams, including a 32-21 setback to Gallatin in the second week of the season. The Bobcats fell to Rock Port by three points, and were dealt a 16-point loss by Salisbury. Braymer takes a four-game winning streak into tonight’s sectional in Weston.

The Bulldogs dominated Friday night’s game from the outset, scoring 30 points in the first half to assure a head start toward a running clock in the second half. A quick burst around left end by Stephen Wood produced a 15-yard scoring run to get the ball rolling in the opening period. Wood and quarterback Nic Burrell executed a great dive fake and Burrell kept the ball for a 53-yard score with seconds left in the first quarter. Burrell added a two-point conversion at the end of the first TD. Corey Lee kicked Gallatin’s second PAT.

Gallatin’s defense continued to smother the Tigers and produce good field position for the offense. Burrell connected with Andrew Adkison for a 26-yard scoring strike as Adkison out-jumped a Tiger defender in the end zone. A 48-yard punt by Justin Duffy penned the Tigers inside their five and Gallatin took over deep in PHS territory after a three and out series. Burrell kept on an option run and followed a block by Adkison to the one-yard line. He polished off the series with the score and Lee’s extra point kick made it 30-0 at the break.

The Bulldogs lost little time adding to their lead in the third quarter. On the first play from scrimmage, Derrick Love ripped off a 76-yard run to the end zone that broke the "mercy rule" into effect.

Princeton entered Gallatin territory just once in the second half, and that on a late jayvee series that stalled on the GHS 48 as time elapsed.

The Bulldogs’ final TD came four plays into the fourth quarter as Burrell dove ahead from three yards out. Lee, who has made 10 straight extra point kicks, tacked on the final point.

Burrell finished with 128 yards on 13 carries. Love packed for 91 yards on just five attempts. Wood picked up 38 yards in nine tries. Burrell spread his passes around to three receivers: Adkison (26), Love (29) and Brett Wilkinson (14).

Defensively, Love led the way with eight solo tackles, followed by Duffy and Riley Rains with seven each.

GALLATIN 44, PRINCETON 0

SCORING SUMMARY

G: Wood 15 yd. run (Burrell run).

G: Burrell 53 yd. run (Lee kick).

G: Adkison 26 yd. pass from Burrell (Lee kick)..

G: Burrell 1 yd. run (Love run).

G: Love 76 yd. run (Lee kick).

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

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: Gallatin — Burrell 13-128, Love 5-91, Wood 9-38, Rains 1-5, Ward 1-0. Princeton — Meinke 6-24, Duff 4-10, Martin 3-7, Wilson 2-6, Moore 2-2, Ormsby 12-(9).

Passing: Gallatin — Burrell 3-9-69. Princeton — Meinke 10-23-51.

Receiving: Gallatin — Love 1-29, Adkison 1-26, Wilkinson 1-14. Princeton — Mi. Ormsby 4-3, Moore 2-25, Duff 1-17, Myers 2-3, Ma. Ormsby 1-3.

GHS takeaways: Interception — Burrell.

Leading GHS tacklers: Love 8, Duffy 7, Rains 7, Bohannon 5, Brown 5, Burrell 5, Adkison 4, Cody Selby 4, Wilkinson 4.

GRC Standings — Week 10

Nov. 3 Results

Gallatin 44, Princeton 0

S. Harrison 49, Albany 6

Rock Port 35, Tarkio 0

Maysville 33, King City 20

Lathrop 38, Hamilton 20

Braymer 33, Polo 16

Nov. 8 Class 1 Schedule

Gallatin @ Rock Port