For the third week in a row, Gallatin saw its hopes for a victory dashed in the second half of a tight ball game.
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Trailing, 14-6, late in the third quarter, the Bulldogs put together one of their best offensive drives of the season against the Polo Panthers. Sparked by a Corbin Toney run of 50 yards, Gallatin strung together runs by Toney, Tate Hancock and Wyatt Bird that took the ball down to the Panther five-yard line.
Polo’s Gunnar Martin attempted to hurdle Tate Hancock but the GHS senior cut him down in the open field.
Facing fourth and goal, Hancock took the handoff but was piled up for no gain by the middle of the Panther defense.
Polo took over and despite four straight penalties that eventually led to a second down and 37 and fourth and 17 situations for the visitors, the Panthers called the number of Gunnar Martin, who blasted ahead for a long gain to the Bulldog 12-yard line. Two plays later, Jake Leonard scored from the two-yard line to ice a 20-6 win for the Panthers.
Polo drove the length of the field to open each half of action. Gallatin’s lone touchdown came in the second period when Hancock took a pitch from Bird, pulled up near the GHS sideline and lofted a pass to a wide open Caleb Boyd, whose defender fell near the goal line.
The Bulldogs threatened again before the end of the first half but could not shake the penalty bug. Graydee Rains made a great catch of a low Bird pass for a first down at the Panther 13. Facing fourth and two with a minute left before the break, Gallatin drew a delay penalty that moved the ball back to the 18. Bird ran wide for the first down marker but was tackled at the 16 with seconds left in the half.
Like his brother, Wiley, who graduated last spring, Gunnar Martin proved to be a load for the Bulldog defense. The 5’11”, 218-pound junior ran for 213 yards on 21 carries to back the Panther effort.
Toney led Gallatin with 78 yards on 10 carries. Hancock added 60 yards on nine attempts.
The Bulldogs travel to Princeton this Friday to take on the 1-2 Tigers, who own a lone victory (14-12) over Milan. Sophomore quarterback Andrew Smith is averaging 80 yards rushing per game and 156 yards passing for the Tigers.