Games like Friday night’s contest between Cozad and Alliance usually come down to a few plays. Unfortunately, for the Bulldogs, it was the Haymakers who made the plays. The hosts scored on three long TD passes and defeated the Bulldogs 20 to 0. With the loss, AHS now has a three and two record on the year. The shutout ended Alliance’s three game win streak.
Cozad got the ball first and quickly found success thru their air game. The Haymakers needed just three plays to get on the board. A 35 yard pass play was followed by a 27 yard TD pass that made it 6 to 0 with 10:38 remaining in the first. Cozad’s PAT was good, making it 7 to 0. The teams then traded turnovers. AHS had a fumble on the ensuing kick return while a pick by Bulldog Braeden Clarke got the ball back to the guests. Using a 65 yard scamper by running back Trini Trejo, AHS advanced to the Cozad 16. After a good pass from quarterback Jackson Shelmadine to Smiley Valdovinos got the Dogs to the 10, the AHS drive was stalled after a pair of incomplete passes. The Haymakers were also denied of their next series thanks to a sack by Alliance’s Ethan Schulze. The quarter came to a finish with Alliance getting nice ground gains from Trejo and Caysen Robertson but turning the ball over on bounds. After one, the Dogs were down 7 to 0.
Defenses were again tough in the second. Alliance got tackles for losses by Robertson and Lucas Weber to stay close. An option play from Shelmadine to Trejo that covered 20 yards gave the visitors good field position on the Bulldog’s next possession. Alliance got the ball to the Cozad 20 before their drive stalled. Both teams would have the ball 2 more times later in the period but were turned away, Heading to the half, AHS trailed 7 to 0.
A 70 yard kick return for a touchdown by Bulldog Jackson Devlin got AHS back into the affair. Unfortunately, a questionable holding penalty by Alliance brought the play back. The Dogs had a three and out series following the penalty. Starting at the 29, it would again take just three plays for the Haymakers to increase their advantage. A 32 yard TD pass at the 9:50 mark made it 13 to 0. Cozad added the extra point to go up 14. The rest of the quarter had both squads go scoreless. AHS got successful pass plays from Shelmadine to Valdovinos and Jaden Guerra but no scores. On defense, AHS received tackles for losses from Robertson and Trey Carter to keep CHS from scoring. Cozad led 14 to 0 after three periods of play.
Fourth quarter action had Alliance getting a QB sack by Guerra and a punt by the hosts. AHS also had trouble moving the ball on their next drive and were forced to punt. Strong defensive stops by Robertson and Carter on the Haymaker’s next 2 series gave AHS hope. Unfortunately, Cozad’s defense was up for the challenge as the Bulldog’s offense had no luck in getting into the scoring column. Late in the contest, a 30 yard TD pass by Cozad on a fourth and long play made it 20 to 0. AHS’s Jett Childers would block the following point after kick keeping the score at 20 to 0. Childers would have a 20 yard kick return on the ensuing play as the Dogs got to midfield. Good passes from Shelmadine to Tanner Salcido, Wyatt Stabnow, and Guerra got Alliance close. But a sack and an incomplete pass ended the drive and the game.
Final Cozad 20 Alliance 0
All 0 0 0 0 0
Coz 7 0 7 6 20
It is homecoming week for Alliance with a home game scheduled for Friday against Chadron.