By MARK GLESINGER
Coach
The traditional season opener was held Saturday in Gering for the Alliance Middle School seventh grade football squad. Gering grabbed an early two touchdown lead and never looked back, downing Alliance 30 to 8. With the win, Gering begins the year at 1 and 0 while AMS falls to 0 and 1. Alliance and Gering would tie in the b game. A late score by AMS ended the game with the score knotted at 12.
AMS would get the ball first and found the going difficult. After 3 plays the visiting Bulldogs were forced giving Gering great field position. Gering went to their strong running and scored with a few minutes left in the period. Their point after try was good and the quarter ended with Gering ahead 8 to 0. The hosts would force another AMS three and out on the next series.
Once again using the short field, Gering marched down the field and scored again. Midway through the opening half, Alliance was down 14 to 0. Nice runs by Alliance’s Trini Trejo and Mike Johnson gave the visiting Dogs a chance right before half. Unfortunately for AMS their drive would stall inside the Gering 20. The half came to an end with Gering up 14 to 0.
In the third quarter, play was very even. Gering took the opening possession and scored, surging ahead 22 to 0. AMS quickly answered back. A nice kick return by Kegan Nelson gave the Dogs the ball at midfield. From the 35 it was Alliance’s EJ Garcia getting the Bulldogs on the board with a strong touchdown run. A pass from Johnson to Riley Best was good for the PAT and the period ended with Gering up only 22 to 8. The fourth stanza saw the hosts score one more time and stop the AMS without any points. Final Gering 30 AMS 8
AMS 0 0 8 0 8
Gering 8 6 8 8 30
Two touchdowns run by Braedon Clarke helped AMS tie Gering in the b game. Clarke scored in the second quarter and late in the final period, ending the contest at 12 all. Solid runs from Clarke and Hunter Bridges helped AMS keep the game close. Clarke found Kash Shrewsbury for a pair nice pass plays, setting up the Alliance scores.
AMS b team 0 6 0 6 12
Gering b team 6 0 6 0 12
Coach Mark Glesinger’s said, “It was the most competitive game we have played in Gering in five years. We started out slow as Gering controlled both lines of scrimmage. Late in the second quarter we had a nice drive stall deep in Gering territory which would have made things very interesting. The second half was very even.”
AMS hits the road again on Saturday, playing in Scottsbluff. Kickoff is 9:00