The Gallatin Bulldogs withstood a Trenton third-quarter surge, scoring the game-tying touchdown and game-winning two-point conversion on the legs of Caleb Boyd with 5:06 to go in the final quarter, winning the “Bronze Bulldog” trophy for the second consecutive season, 14-12 on Friday night at C.F. Russell Stadium.
In the regular season finale, broadcast on Hot Country Z 101.7, Trenton had two first-half fumbles, both in the “red zone”, stifle scoring opportunities. Gallatin took a 6-0 lead into the locker room on a 2 yard touchdown run by quarterback Cole McBee with 1:33 to go in the second quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
Buoyed by renewed spirit coming out of the locker room, Trenton dominated the third quarter, tying the game on a “senior to senior” connection with 6:41 to go in the third stanza. Tom Johnson had the play-by-play call:
Just over five minutes later, Croy, Trenton’s senior quarterback, called his own number, giving the home team their only lead of the night:
Trenton took a 12-6 advantage to the fourth quarter, but was unable to lead to the lead, as Gallatin slowly got momentum back to an even stage. Midway through the final quarter, with the knowledge that one play, or one successful drive, could tie the game, GHS got a drive going. As Gallatin moved inside the 10, the Trenton defense stiffened, leaving Gallatin with a 4th-and-1 attempt from the 7 yard line with just over 5 minutes to play:
While the touchdown run saw the snap bounce off McBee over to Boyd, the two-point conversion, was much cleaner, as the hand-off went to Boyd, who moved behind the left side of the Bulldogs offensive line to give GHS a 14-12 lead.
Trenton had a late fourth quarter drive stall on the Gallatin side of mid-field. A controversial offensive pass interference penalty, whistled against Trenton after originally being called against Gallatin, played a key role in slamming the door on the Trenton Bulldogs for Senior Night.
Trenton, in falling to 4-5 overall, and 4-3 in the Grand River Conference, gave the football to junior fullback Carson Radcliff 29 times in the game, for 159 yards. Gallatin’s Caleb Boyd had 21 carries for 152 yards, as the Bulldogs improve to 6-3 overall, and 5-2 in the GRC.
With the win, Gallatin sews up the #3 seed in Class 1, District 8, and will host Putnam County on Friday night at 7 o’clock in quarterfinal district play. Trenton had an outside chance to move up to the #5 seed in Class 2, District 8 with a win. Instead, with a loss, Trenton is relegated to the #6 seed, and a rematch with Lathrop on Friday night at 7 o’clock from Lathrop High School. Lathrop beat Trenton in the season opener 23-0. The Bulldogs ended Lathrop’s season a year ago in the very same district quarterfinal round game as this year will bring. Friday night’s game will be broadcast on Hot Country Z 101.7.
