The Gallatin Bulldogs were able to keep the North Platte Panther offense off-balance on Friday by picking off four passes, recovering a fumble and chalking up three quarterback sacks. More of the same would greatly help their chances this week against a Hamilton team that has controlled the Highway 13 series since 2008.
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The Hornets have built one of the best Class 1 programs in Missouri with a well-rounded offense accustomed to putting up big numbers. This year’s version could be no different judging by last week’s start . Junior running back Sawyer Morrow, coming off a 1,873 yard, 26 touchdown season, racked up 177 yards and 3 TDs last week against Maysville. Senior quarterback Ryan Cook rushed for 137 yards last week with one TD after running for 625 yards (4 TD) and passing for 12 TDs in 2018.
“Hamilton’s offense is still potent with Cook at quarterback and Morrow at running back,” said GHS Coach Patrick Treece. “Both do a tremendous job running the football and we will have to keep them bottled up to slow down their offense,” he adds. “I think our team speed will serve us well in that effort.”
Hamilton enters the contest ranked #9 in the Class 1 media poll and #6 by Max Preps. Gallatin also has a #7 Class 1 ranking by Max Preps.
Gallatin spotted Hamilton a 14-0 first quarter lead in last year’s meeting, only to fall short, 21-13, in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs would love to make the Hornets play catch-up football this time around.
“The key to picking up our first win against Hamilton since 2007 is believing that we can do it,” says Coach Treece. “I don’t know if that belief has always been there in the past,” he added. “Playing Hamilton within one score last year was a huge step for our guys in realizing that they can hang with them. I know that this team is different because I can feel it.”
Gallatin grabbed an early lead against North Platte on Friday and the Bulldog defense kept the opposing offense off the field. Aidan Adkison scored on a first quarter run and quarterback Brinley Vandiver tossed a TD pass to Ross Critten to stake the Dogs to a 12-0 lead in the opening quarter.
The Panthers cut their deficit to 12-6 in the second period but Critten added a touchdown run in the third quarter and the Bulldogs salted the game away with another Adkison scoring run and Drayton Harris interception and run back.
Five Bulldog runners <197> Adkison, Critten, Rodell Sperry, Jagger Gray and Gage Wright combined to average 6.7 yards per carry against the Panthers. Vandiver averaged 17.5 yards on four pass completions.
Tristen Gibson picked off two Panther passes, the second setting the Bulldogs up on the Panther one yard line. Adkison and Harris chalked up interceptions. Harris forced a fumble, recovered by Carson Lang. JJ Waters registered 3 sacks from his defensive end position.
“I think that I was most pleased with our defensive effort against North Platte,” said Coach Treece. “in particular, the way that our entire defense played as a unit and gave outstanding effort. I do have to say that as good as our tackling was at times, it was equally bad at times. We must work to improve our consistency when it comes to making tackles in the open field.”