2011 Football: Dogs can make playoffs with victory over Polo

In all likelihood, the winner of Friday’s Gallatin-Polo game will make the Class 1 playoffs. That alone makes it the biggest game of the year for the Bulldogs.

Gallatin’s 40-0 victory over Braymer, and South Harrison’s 21-20 win over Polo, puts both winners in the district driver’s seat, but the Bulldogs need this game on Friday. Should the Bulldogs lose to the Panthers, they would need a final week win over South Harrison to force a three-way tie in district standings, and then hope the tie-breaker point system points in their favor. A win on Friday would likely lock up a playoff spot, regardless of how the Dogs do against South Harrison.

Gallatin had no trouble defeating a Braymer team facing adversity. The Bobcats made the trip with only 11 eligible players after disciplinary action benched a half dozen players. Braymer’s gutsy play, however, belayed the fact that they had to finish the game with nine after injuries forced two players to the sidelines.

Braymer’s willingness to go toe-to-toe was evidenced early in the contest. The Bobcats executed a successful on-side kickoff to open the game, but couldn’t move the football. A fumbled punt return put Braymer back in business on Gallatin’s 17, but that drive stalled on the one-yard line, and marked the end of Braymer’s threats for the remainder of the game.

Jordan Jeffers bounced outside on a 75-yard run to put Gallatin on the board. A Zach Lollar to Isaac Mattis scoring pass covered 17 yards inside the final minute of the first quarter. Jeffers ran in the two-point conversion.

Ness scored twice in succession on runs of 73 and 17 yards. Wes Cole put one of two extra point kicks through the uprights. With two minutes left in the first half, Mattis broke a 76-yard run for a score. Cole again added the PAT for a 34-0 halftime spread.

Injuries hit Braymer early in the second half. Quarterback Dalton Owen went out for a few plays, forcing the Cats to play with 10. Ness returned a Bobcat punt 45 yards for a touchdown and another Bobcat player fell, never to return.

Bobcat freshman David Campbell went out with an injury at the 5:18 mark of the fourth quarter, leaving Braymer with nine healthy bodies on the field.

Gallatin spread 355 rushing yards among Ness, Jeffers and Mattis. Ness finished with 150 yards. Mattis rushed for 116 and Jeffers added 89. Lollar finished with 61 passing yards.

Defensively, the Dogs registered quarterback sacks from Dexter Daniel, Hayden Bott, Jim Dale and Devlin Smith.

Daniel led the defense with 11 solo tackles and 10 assists. Bott chalked up seven solos and four assists. Peter Steele chipped in three solo stops and 10 assists.

GRC Standings — Week 8

Oct. 14 Results

Gallatin 40, Braymer 0

S. Harrison 21, Polo 20

Maysville 20, Albany 16

Milan 35, Princeton 16

Hamilton 49, Plattsburg 6

King City 27, Rock Port 6

Oct. 21 Schedule

Gallatin at Polo

S. Harrison at Braymer

Maysville at Rock Port

Putnam Co. at Princeton

King City at Albany

Trenton at Hamilton