Week 8 GRC Power Poll

by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com

Gallatin and North Andrew win big games to capture GRC titles.  Milan moves up 1 spot in this week's poll.

11-Man Power Poll

1. Gallatin (8-0; 6-0 GRC; Last Week #1; d. Trenton 46-6; Week 9 - vs. Princeton) Gallatin got off to a quick start with Petyon Baker hitting Isaac Bird from midfield on the 1st drive of the game to go up 7-0.  Gallatin scored on every drive of the first half and the first drive of the second half to win 46-6.  Payton Fieden had two rushing TDs and one receiving.  Draven Wright also added two rushing TDs.  Quarterback Baker had a rushing TD as well.  Gallatin clinched their 2nd consecutive (11-Man) conference championship with the win.  With a win next week, they will become the first GRC team to win back-to-back outright titles for the first time since South Harrison in 2012 and 2013.  Gallatin's GRC Championship is their 13th in school history.

2. Trenton (7-1; 5-1 GRC; Last Week #2; lost to Gallatin 46-6; Week 9 - vs. South Harrison) Trenton could not stop Gallatin all night, falling behind 40-0 in the first half.  They were plagued by turnovers with 4 fumbles lost and 1 interception.  They did get on the board in the 2nd half with a 75-yard TD run by Gabe Novak, but it was too little as they fell 46-6.

3. Putnam County (6-2; 4-2 GRC; Last Week #3; d. Maysville 48-24; Week 9 - at Polo) Putnam County had a strong first half outgaining Maysville 246-9.  Chase Tomlin and Trace Riediger had 2 TDs each for the Midgets in the 1st half.  The lead propelled Putnam County to a 48-24 win.

4. Milan (4-4; 3-3 GRC; Last Week #5; d. Polo 38-6; Week 9 - at Maysville) Milan got behind Polo early, but scored 38 straight to knock off Polo.  A key play was an 80-yard run to go up 20-6 at the end of the first half to give the Wildcats momentum.

5. Maysville (4-4; 3-3 GRC; Last Week #4; lost to Putnam County 48-24; Week 9 - vs. Milan) Maysville was not able to get any offense in the first half falling behind Putnam County 28-8.  The Wolverines ultimately fell 48-24.

6. South Harrison (2-6; 2-4 GRC; Last Week #6; d. Princeton 28-19; Week 9 - at Trenton) The Bulldogs had a 14-7 lead late in the 1st half and were able to get a key TD run from quarterback Jad Cornett to go up 22-7 with 3 sec left in the half.  Neither team scored again until 6 min left in the game when Grant Williams scored his second rushing TD of the game to go up 28-7.  Princeton scored two quick TDs to cut it to 28-19, but South Harrison hung on.  Trevor Lisle also had a 52 yard TD reception in the game.

7. Princeton (1-7; 1-5 GRC; Last Week #7; lost to South Harrison 28-19; Week 9 - at Gallatin) Talan Holt had a TD reception early in the 2nd quarter, but the Tigers fell behind 28-7 with 6:01 left in the game.  But Princeton still had some fight in them.  They struck quick when Andrew Rhoades raced past a defender and caught a 52-yard pass for a TD with 5:52 left.  They then converted an onside kick and Talan Holt made a nice spin move to get in the end zone after catching the ball from 11 yards out.  However, they ran out of time and South Harrison won the game 28-19.

8. Polo (2-6; 0-6 GRC; Last Week #8; lost to Putnam County 48-24; Week 9 - vs. Putnam County)  Polo got an early lead again, but only scored one touchdown for the 6th consecutive game.  They stayed close for most of the game, but gave up some late scores to fall 38-6.

8-Man Power Poll

1. North Andrew (7-0; 6-0 GRC; Last Week #1; d. Worth County 56-48; Week 9 - vs. Southwest Livingston) North Andrew edged Worth County in a back-and-forth game.  The Cardinals fell behind 28-14 early in the 2nd quarter, but rallied to take a 30-28 lead with no time left in the half.  After Worth County cut the lead to 2 with 3:45 left in the game, North Andrew scored a 32-yard touchdown from Hayden Ecker on 4th down to go up 56-48.  The stopped Worth County on their final drive to clinch the win.  Ecker finished with 297 yards rushing.  The win clinched the (8-Man) GRC Championship for the Cardinals.  It was their third 8-Man title.  They also won in 2016 and 2020.

2. Albany (7-1; 4-1 GRC; Last Week #2; d. King City 46-12; Week 9 - at Pattonsburg) Kemper Cline started the game fast with 41 yard TD run on the first drive, but then Albany fell behind King City 12-6.  The Warriors tied the game 12-12 with another Kline TD.  It was still tied at 12 when Albany stopped the Wildkats on the Warriors 2-yard line.  Albany started a drive with 1:06 left in the half.  Kline was able to connect with Porter Davis on two long passes before he ran it in from 4 for his 3rd TD of the night to put Albany up 18-12 at the half.  Albany recovered an on-side kick to start the 2nd half and Kline scored his 4th rushing TD.  Albany ultimately won the game 46-12.  Kyle Burke scored two TDs (One with a TD reception and one with a pick six) and Jerrid Bunton had a TD reception.

3. Worth County (6-2; 3-2 GRC; Last Week #3; lost to North Andrew 48-56; Week 9 - at Stanberry) Worth County got out to an early lead, but gave up a lead right at the end of the first half.  However, they were able to stay close the entire game, cutting it to 50-48 with 3:45 left in the game.  After North Andrew went up 56-48 with 3:45 left in the game, Worth County had one last opportunity to tie the game.  They were unable to connect on a long pass on 3rd down and North Andrew came away with the victory.  Tyler New was 17-23 with 239 yards and 6 touchdowns on the night.

4. King City (5-3; 2-3 GRC; Last Week #4; lost to Albany 12-46; Week 9 - vs. St. Joseph Christian) King City hung touch with Albany, taking a 12-6 lead in the first half.  Eaton had two TD passes (Ron Pulliam and Samuel Derks being the beneficiaries).  However, a late TD put the Wildkats down 18-12 at the half and they were not able to stop the Warriors losing 46-12.

5. Stanberry (3-3; 2-3 GRC; Last Week #5; lost to East Atchison 44-20; Week 9 - vs. Worth County) Stanberry fell behind East Atchison 28-6 in the first half on the way to a 44-20 loss.

6. Pattonsburg (3-5; 1-4 GRC; Last Week #6; d. St. Joseph Christian 78-48; Week 9 - vs. Albany) Pattonsburg was in a tight game with St. Joseph Christian during the first half, but scored 38 straight to start the 2nd half to propel them to a 78-48 win.  Landon Preston led the Panthers with 3 TD Receptions, Samuel Coin and Brody Langfitt both had 2 TD Receptions and Dalton Sperry had 1.  Gage Iddings also added 2 TD runs.

7. St. Joseph Christian (1-7; 0-5 GRC; Last Week #7; lost to Pattonsburg 78-48; Week 9 - at King City) The Lion were able to match Pattonsburg score for score in the 1st half.  They had the Panthers tied at 32 at halftime.  They were not able to keep up with Pattonsburg in the 2nd half; however.  Pattonsburg pulled away for the win 78-48.  Jacob Clabaugh and Cy Carlson both had a TD Reception and TD Run.  Peyton Hausman added a TD Run and Logan Hubble had a TD Reception.