Dogs overwhelm Panthers with 6 second-quarter TDs in opening victory

Gage Wright forces a fumble, recovered by Gabe Parker in the end zone for a Bulldog touchdown.

Gallatin and North Platte battled to a 0-0 draw in the first quarter of Friday night’s 2020 football opener, but that’s where the similarities ended.
Looking nothing like the team that struggled against Mid-Buchanan in its pre-season jamboree, Gallatin blasted North Platte for 44 second-quarter points on the way to a 58-0 win that featured big plays on both sides of the ball.
“We learned from the jamboree that we were not where we wanted to be for week one,” says Coach Patrick Treece. “I think the team understood this and I noticed a change in our effort and demeanor last week leading up to the North Platte game,” he added. “I believe the motivation from Friday’s performance comes from the will to be successful by this young group.”
The Bulldog defense provided the spark in the second period. Following a Brinley Vandiver TD pass to Kevin Weeks and Jagger Gray two-point conversion, linebacker Rodell Sperry recovered a fumbled snap on the Panther 26. Gray needed just one burst up the middle to score and he added another conversion to up Gallatin’s lead to 18-0.
Less than two minutes later, Gallatin’s defense came up big again when Gage Wright popped the ball loose from a Panther and Gabe Parker recovered in the end zone for the third Bulldog TD in three minutes. Wright added the two-point conversion.
The Bulldogs were far from being done piling up points on the scoreboard. Sperry scored on a 36-yard scamper. Gray recovered a fumble near mid-field and Vandiver connected with Meeks for a gain to the Panther one-yard line. Vandiver kept for the score to increase the gap to 38-0.
A Meeks punt return touchdown with just over a minute to play in the first half was denied due to a penalty but the Hamilton transfer student would find the end zone on a 49-yard run with one second left on the clock.
Getting the ball to open the second half, Vandiver and the Bulldogs came out chucking. The 6’5″ Bulldog quarterback hit Isaac Bird on the very first play for a 41-yard gain to the Panther 17. That would lead to a Vandiver to Bird scoring pass of three yards.
Gallatin’s defense continued to shine in the second half. The Panthers executed a long kickoff return to the Gallatin four-yard line, but the Bulldogs would yield only two yards on four plays before taking over within the shadow of their goal post. Bird leaped high for a pass reception to the 43-yard line where the Bulldog jayvee took over.
Taking a page out of the varsity playbook, Boston Bell returned a fumble for a touchdown for the Bulldog jayvee eleven. Reserve quarterback Peyton Baker carried for the two-point conversion for the final 58-0 score.
The reserve offense nearly cracked the goal line again in the closing moments. Logan Bottcher rattled off 19 yards to the Panther 16. Baker carried to the 8. Baker packed the ball again to the 2 but a penalty nixed another play thanks to the running clock.
The Bulldogs hope to keep their winning ways and make it two in a row against Hamilton this Friday. Higginsville downed Hamilton, 51-14, last week in the first of four straight road games for the Hornets. The Bulldogs last season snapped a losing streak to the Hornets dating back to 2008 with a 20-14 victory at Hamilton.
“We understand that Hamilton is a different caliber of opponent and they will be tough, as always,” Coach Treece advised. “I anticipate a lot of guys rising to the occasion this week and coming into their own as football players and leaders.”

Gallatin 58, N Platte 0

Gallatin 0 44 6 8 58
N. Platte 0 0 0 0 0
Scoring Summary
G: Vandiver 5 yd. pass to Meeks (Gray run).
G: Gray 26 yd. run (Gray run).
G: Parker fum. rec. in end zone (Wright run).
G: Sperry 36 yd. run (pass failed).
G: Vandiver 1 yd. run (Gray run).
G: Meeks 49 yd. run (kick failed).
G: Vandiver 3 yd. pass to Bird (run failed).
G: Bell fum. rec. for TD (Baker run).
GRC East Standings-Week 1
GRC ALL
Gallatin 0-0 1-0
Maysville 0-0 1-0
Milan 0-0 1-0
Polo 0-0 0-1
Princeton 0-0 0-1
Putnam Co. 0-O 0-1
S. Harrison 0-0 0-1
Trenton 0-0 0-1
*StJ. Christian 0-0 0-1
*St. Joe Christian will not play at GRC schedule
Aug. 28 Results
Gallatin 58, North Platte 0
Maysville 66, StJ. Christian 14
Plattsburg 7, Polo 0
East Buchanan 34, South Harrison 28
Milan 35, South Shelby 0
Highland 48, Putnam Co. 19
Brookfield 50, Trenton 0
Mid-Buchanan 41, Princeton 6
GRC West Standings-Week 1
GRC ALL
North Andrew 1-0 1-0
Pattonsburg 0-0 1-0
Stanberry 0-0 1-0
Albany 0-0 0-0
Braymer 0-0 0-1
Worth County 0-0 0-1
King City 0-1 0-1

Aug. 28 Results
Pattonsburg 80, LeBlond 40
North Andrew 50, King City 26
Stanberry 58, Appleton City 18
S. Holt/Nod. Holt 78, Worth County 22
Hughesville 66, Braymer 14
Pattonsburg Statistics:
Passing: Zane Reed 24-41-484, 8 TD, Int.; Gage Iddings 1-2-9.
Rushing: Zane Reed 14-72, 2 TD; Brody Langfitt 5-58, 2 TD; Gage Iddings 4-26; Cameron Jones 1-23.
Receiving: Brett Emig 1-237, 4 TD; Cameron Jones 7-158, 3 TD; Kaden Locker 1-34; Gage Iddings 1-33; Brody Langfitt 3-17, TD; Sam Coin 1-7.
Takeaways: Interception <197> Gage Iddings, Brody Langfitt, Sam Coin. Fumble recovery <197: Kaden Locker, Cameron Jones.
Leading tacklers: Cody Langfitt 4-2, Brett Emig 3-5, Cameron Jones 3-3, Tyson Gibson 3-0, Sam Coin 2-2.

August 28
Gallatin 58, North Platte 0
Maysville 66, StJ. Christian 14
Milan 35, South Shelby 0
Plattsburg 7, Polo 0
Mid-Buchanan 41, Princeton 6
Highland 48, Putnam County 19
East Buchanan 34, South Harrison 28
Brookfield 50, Trenton 0
September 4
Hamilton at Gallatin
Maysville at Mid-Buchanan
Harrisburg at Milan
Polo at Slater
Princeton at Midway
Putnam County at South Shelby
StJ. Christian at Plattsburg
West Platte at South Harrison
Trenton at East Buchanan
September 11
Gallatin at South Harrison
Maysville at Polo
Milan at Putnam County
Trenton at Princeton
StJ. Christian at Westran
September 18
Polo at Gallatin
South Harrison at Maysville
Princeton at Milan
Trenton at Putnam County
StJ. Christian at Scotland County
September 25
Maysville at Gallatin
Milan at Trenton
Polo at South Harrison
Putnam County at Princeton
NE Kansas City at StJ. Christian
October 2
Gallatin at Milan
Princeton at Maysville
Trenton at Polo
South Harrison at Putnam County
StJ. Christian at Marceline
October 9
Putnam County at Gallatin
Trenton at Maysville
Milan at South Harrison
Princeton at Polo
October 16
Gallatin at Trenton
Maysville at Putnam County
Polo at Milan
South Harrison at Princeton
St. Mary’s at StJ. Christian
October 23
Princeton at Gallatin
Milan at Maysville
Putnam County at Polo
Windsor at StJ. Christian
South Harrison at Trenton