Saturday’s contest between Alliance and Chadron in 8th grade football action came down to the final play. And when the whistle blew, it was the Cardinals surviving a late Alliance comeback to post a 28 to 20 win. The Bulldogs drop to 0 and 2 for the year. Down 28 to 12 with under a minute left. AMS got a big score by Dixon Bair to get to with 8 at 28 to 20. The Dogs then recovered the ensuing onside kick and had a chance to tie the game but were turned away. Besides Bair, Alliance got touchdown plays from Enzo Kappius and Mykey Valdovinos.
A big kick return by the hosts is how that contest started. Chadron had four chances to score from inside the 5 yard but a goal line stand by the Dogs ended the drive. From there, big gains by Bair and Kappius got AMS to midfield before a turnover stopped the possession. The period ended tied at 0. In the second, a 59 yard TD run by Valdovinos gave the visitors a 6 to 0. The AMS back broke several tackles to give the Bulldogs the lead. The play came at the 6:40 mark on the second. Chadron accounted with their best series of the half. A one yard TD carry plus a good PAT finished the half with Alliance down 8 to 6.
Play was even in the third with both clubs scoring 6 points. Valdovinos began things with a great kick return but AMS was then forced to punt. A fumble recovery by Bulldog Roy Torres gave AMS the rock right back. With 5:33 left in quarter #3, Kappius scored from the 6 yard line to give the Dogs the lead at 12 to 8. The teams then traded scoreless drives before a 74 yard Chadron TD run gave the hosts the lead at 14 to 12 with 31 seconds remaining in the third.
Period #4 began with AMS on the attack. A 40 yard pass from Bair to Aschen Fries got the Dogs close. Chadron responded with a goal line stand of their own as the Cards hung on to their 2 point lead. With 4:27 showing on the clock, an 86 yard TD run by the Cardinals gave the hosts some breathing room. The extra point was no good as AMS now trail 20 to 12. Alliance was turned away on their series and a 31 yard touchdown by the Cards with 58 seconds on the clock made it a 28 to 12 ball game. Bair would then race down the Alliance sideline on the following kick to pull AMS to within one score. The Dogs PAT was good thanks to a pass from Bair to Fries. Bair’s return went 80 yards. With under a minute left, the Alliance deficit stood at 28 to 20. Alliance then recovered the onside kick but couldn’t capitalize. Final Chadron 28 Alliance 20
AMS 0 6 6 8 20
CHAD 0 8 6 14 28
AMS will travel to Sidney on Tuesday.