2011 Football: Dogs defeated in the red zone; Hornets grab 28-8 victory

The Hornets came away with a 28-8 win in the final Grand River Conference matchup between the two Highway 13 rivals, but they surely walked away with respect for a Bulldog team that kept the game in doubt until well into the second half.

The Bulldogs moved the ball well in the opening quarter but coughed it up twice inside the Hornet 40, by fumble and interception. Gallatin’s lone touchdown came by way of a payback when Chad Ness intercepted an Andrew Bottorff pass and returned the ball to the Hornet 19. A big fourth down pass from Zack Lollar to Isaac Mattis set up Lollar’s one-yard TD plunge. Lollar linked up with Jordan Jeffers for a two-point conversion pass that tied the score at 8-8.

Gallatin’s offense grew more frustrated as the game wore on. An initial second quarter possession ended on downs at the Hornet five-yard line. A second series likewise ended on fourth down at the Hornet 16. A third possession came up short on Hamilton’s 15 as the first half ended.

The Hornets took a 22-8 lead into intermission thanks to a 40-yard run by freshman Kellen Overstreet. Hamilton’s try for a two-point conversion was stopped aggressively when a pair of Bulldog defenders popped Devan Hughes’ out of bounds short of the pylon.

Jeffers returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield. Lollar passed to Ness for a first down to the Hornet 36. Later on fourth down Lollar connected with Mattis on a pass close to the first down marker, but a pass interference call against the Hornets moved the ball to the 15.

Lollar scrambled inside the 10. On fourth and two, Lollar zipped a pass to Mattis but the connection came up just short of a first down on the five.

Gallatin penetrated as far as the Hornet six-yard line on its next possession but a quarterback sack, delay of game penalty and two incomplete passes halted the drive on the 16.

Hamilton went up by two scores with 3:18 left in the second quarter on a Derrick Hughes 12-yard run. Once again the Bulldogs answered with a drive deep inside Hornet territory, only to come up empty as time ran out.

Gallatin opened the second half with a long possession handcuffed by penalties. A Lollar to Ness pass of 17 yards took the ball to the Hornet 13 but a holding penalty would later bring on a replay of third down. Lollar tried to connect with Wes Cole but Hamilton’s Overstreet intercepted and returned the ball across midfield. The Bulldogs would hold, however, one fourth and eight from their own 20.

Overstreet grabbed his third interception in Hornet territory early in the fourth quarter. Derrick Hughes salted the game away with 4:15 remaining with a 30-yard scoring run.

Lollar finished with 184 yards passing on 13 completions. Mattis and Ness combined for 145 yards in receptions, with the former catching seven balls for 79 yards.

Jeffers led the Bulldogs on the ground with 54 yards on 12 carries.

Defensively, Jeffers led with 10 tackles, followed by Dexter Daniel with nine and Hayden Bott with eight.

Gallatin looks to get back on the winning track on Friday with a trip to Albany to face the 1-4 Warriors. Albany’s lone win thus far came against Braymer.

GRC Standings — Week 5

Sept. 23 Results

Hamilton 28, Gallatin 8

S. Harrison 36, Maysville 7

Princeton 22, King City 12

Polo 53, Albany 0

Sept. 30 Schedule

Gallatin at Albany

Braymer at Maysville

Princeton at Polo

S. Harrison at Hamilton

King City idle