Gallatin grinds out a win to capture their first district title in 16 years

by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com

For much of the season, the Gallatin Bulldogs have been a quick strike offense.  They have been able to get out to big leads and play ball control offense in the second half to run out the clock.  Putnam County had different plans Friday night.  Gallatin did not even cross midfield until about the 7-minute mark of the second quarter.  Other than one long run by Draven Wright, most of Gallatin's offense came in small quantities.

Putnam County started the game with the ball and drove down the field before the Bulldogs stopped them on the Gallatin 3-yard line.  Gallatin was able to get to their own 44 yard line, but a 15-yard penalty stalled the drive.  After a 3-and-out by Putnam, Draven Wright got loose for a 66-yard touchdown run to put Gallatin up 7-0 with 7:19 left in the first half.  Neither team was able to do much on offense until the end of the half when Gallatin got the ball at their own 24-yard line and drove down the field.  Peyton Baker scored on a QB sneak from 1 yard with 13 seconds left.  Gallatin led 13-0 at the half after the PAT was blocked.

Gallatin got the ball at the start of the half, but on the first play, they fumbled the ball on a bad snap.  Putnam was able to take advantage of a short field and score on a 2-yard run by Blaine Perkins with 7:55 left in the third quarter to cut it to 13-7.

Gallatin shot themselves in the foot on the next drive with penalties and a bad snap on the punt, and Putnam once again had a short field starting at the Gallatin 31-yard line.  Trace Riediger connected with Vincent Jones on a pass up the middle.  Jones fumbled at the 1-yard line, and Gallatin recovered it in the end zone.  The Bulldogs then drove 80 yards for the score ending in a 5-yard run by Baker.  After a Wright 2-point conversion, Gallatin led 21-7. with 9:04 left in the game.

Putnam would not be able to threaten getting just past midfield a couple of times.  The game ended at 21-7.

I talked to both Gallatin coach Chris Holt and Putnam County coach Adam Huse after the game.

Statistics (Unofficial)

Gallatin

Passing

Peyton Baker, 3-10, 58 yds, 1 int

Rushing

Draven Wright, 121 yds, 1 TD

Payton Feiden, 55 yds

Peyton Baker, 50 yds, 2 TD

Stanley Hanson, 22 yds

Boston Bell, 3 yds

Receiving

Payton Feiden, 42 yds

Stanley Hanson, 16 yds

309 Total Yards, 251 Rushing Yards, 58 Receiving Yards

Putnam County

Passing

Trace Riediger, 7-17, 111 yds, 1 int

Rushing

Blaine Perkins, 48 yds, 1 TD

Chase Tomlin, 46 yds

Trace Riediger, 11 yds

Nico Lopez, 4 yds

Cole Moss, 2 yds

Receiving

Blaine Perkins, 56 yds

Nico Lopez, 24 yds

Vincent Jones, 16 yds

Jake Rouse, 15 yds

222 Total Yards, 111 Rushing Yards, 111 Receiving Yards