Gallatin rode the ups and downs of Friday night’s showdown with South Harrison to a 23-22 come from behind victory that kept them even with Milan in Grand River Conference standings heading into week six.
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Each game moving forward carries equal importance as the Bulldogs drive toward their first conference championship since 2006. Gallatin travels to Milan this Friday to try to derail an impressive success story in the making. The Wildcats have progressed from 1-9 in 2016, 2-8 in 2017 to today’s 6-0 mark that puts them on the cusp of a Class 1 state ranking.
Senior Jamuel Pagan, a 5-11, 200 pound fullback, leads Milan’s strong ground attack. He has rushed for over 100 yards in each of his team’s six games.
Gallatin struggled early to get its offense in gear but South Harrison decided to play less than mistake-free football. An opening drive stalled inside South Harrison’s 20-yard line and led to a missed field goal attempt. South Harrison failed to move the ball on its first possession and when a high punt snap rolled into the end zone, Tom Crouse covered the punter to give Gallatin a safety and 2-0 lead.
South Harrison capitalized on a GHS fumble and was able to score late in the first period after successfully covering two of their own fumbles. Strong-armed freshman quarterback Cody Weller made decisions both good and bad in the contest, but this time connected with Collin Haffey for a 10-yard score. Haffey added the two-point conversion.
An off-target throw by Weller fell into the hands of linebacker Graydee Rains, who plucked the ball out of the air and ran 10 yards for the defensive touchdown, giving Gallatin a 9-8 lead after Adrian Hernandez’s extra point kick.
Gallatin’s lead lasted only two minutes. Weller guided his team down to the GHS 4 yard line, where Haffey took the ball in for the go-ahead score. A Weller to Grady Linthacum pass tacked on a two-point conversion.
A Homecoming victory for Gallatin was in serious doubt when South Harrison opened the second half with a quick score. Haffey got behind the secondary and sprinted 44 yards after hauling in Weller’s second TD pass of the game. The conversion attempt failed but South Harrison led, 22-9.
Needing a spark, Gallatin got it from Aidan Adkison, who moved to quarterback and used his speed on a 44-yard touchdown run early in the fourth period. Hernandez again added the extra point.
Moments later, Rains scored his second interception and ran again for a 10-yard touchdown. The point after kick by Hernandez broke the tie and accounted for the final score.
Gallatin’s defense continued to come up with big stops. With three minutes left in the game, South Harrison put together a drive to the GHS 45-yard line but faced fourth and one to sustain the series. Linthacum got the call on a dive play off the left side but he met a wall of Gallatin defenders. An officials’ measurement awarded the ball to Gallatin.
Gallatin tried to hold onto the ball long enough to run out the clock but South Harrison got the ball back with 15 seconds left after a Tristen Gibson punt to the SH 14. An incomplete pass took five seconds off the clock. A sideline pass to Haffey moved the ball forward but left no time for another play.
Adkison led the winners with 91 yards on 11 carries. He also completed an important 15-yard, fourth quarter pass to JJ Waters that gained a first down and allowed Gallatin to use more time off the clock while protecting a one-point lead.
South Harrison’s Braydon Sunderman makes a pass catch over the top of Gaven Gray.
Morgan McBroom chased South Harrison quarterback Cody Weller out of bounds to record a sack in early action Friday night.
In addition to two interceptions returned for touchdowns, Rains led Gallatin with 11 solo tackles and 6 assists. Gaven Gray also scored an interception. Morgan McBroom chalked up a quarterback sack early in the contest.
Gallatin 23, South Harrison 22
Gallatin 2 7 0 14 23
S. Harrison 8 8 6 0 22
Scoring Summary
G: Crouse tackle in end zone for safety.
SH: Weller to Haffey 10 yd. pass (Linthacum conversion).
G: Rains 20 yd. INT return (Hernandez kick).
SH: Linthacum 4 yd. run (Weller to Linthacum).
SH: Weller to Haffey 44 yd. pass (conversion failed).
G: Adkison 44 yd. run (Hernandez kick).
G: Rains 10 yd. INT return (Hernandez kick).
Bulldog Statistics
Passing: Adkison 1-2-15, Harris 1-3-2.
Rushing: Adkison 11-91, TD; Rains 13-72, Bradford 4-6, Gray 1-(-2), Harris 3-(-10).
Receiving: Waters 1-15, Adkison 1-2.
Leading tacklers: Rains 11/6, Wayne 4/6, Critten 4/4, Bradford 4/3, Crouse 2/5, Wright 2/5.
Takeaways: QB sack: McBroom. Interception: Rains (2), Gray. Forced fumbles: Rains, McBroom.
GRC 11-Man Standings (Week 6)
GRC ALL
Milan 4-0 6-0
Gallatin 4-0 5-1
S Harrison 3-1 4-2
Princeton 3-1 4-2
Trenton 1-3 1-5
Maysville 1-3 1-5
Putnam Co. 0-5 1-5
Polo 0-4 0-6
Sept. 28 Results
Gallatin 23, S. Harrison 22
Maysville 24, Polo 18
Princeton 42, Putnam Co. 15
Milan 43, Trenton 22
Oct. 5 Schedule
Gallatin at Milan
Maysville at Princeton
Polo at Putnam Co.
Trenton at S. Harrison
GRC 8-Man Standings (Week 6)
GRC ALL
Stanberry 6-0 6-0
Worth Co. 4-0 6-0
Pattonsburg 5-1 5-1
King City 2-3 3-3
N Andrew 1-3 3-3
Albany 2-2 3-3
Braymer 0-4 0-6
StJ. Christian 0-5 0-5
Sept. 28 Results
Pattonsburg 60, Norborne/Hardin 8
Worth Co. , StJ. Christian
Stanberry 44, North Andrew 36
Albany 66, Braymer 18
King City 66, Rock Port 20
Oct. 5 Schedule
Pattonsburg at Worth Co.
Orrick at StJ. Christian
Stanberry at N. Shelby
N Andrew at Albany
King City at Braymer
Class 1, District 8 Standings