By MARK GLESINGER
Coach
In a game similar to their opener last week versus Gering, the Alliance Middle School seventh grade football were defeated Saturday by Scottsbluff 28 to 6 in a battle at Bearcat Stadium. The Bulldogs now see their record drop to 0 and 2 on the year. Alliance and Scottsbluff would tie the b game at 8 in the second ball game of the morning. Both games with Gering and Scottsbluff followed the same pattern with AMS falling behind early but fighting back and making the contests very competitive.
Receiving the ball first, the Bulldogs just missed picking up a first down and turned the ball over to the Cats. The Alliance was up to the challenge and stopped the Bluffs on their first series. The period ended tied at 0. In the second, the Bearcats went to the air and scored on a 20 yard touchdown pass. Cats lead 8 to 0. Right before half, AMS was stopped again. The hosts used the good field position and scored. AMS was down 14 to 0 at half.
More big offensive plays would dominate the play in the third period. On the Bluff’s first play, the Bearcat running back raced 65 yards for another Scottsbluff touchdown. Alliance quickly answered back. Bulldog returner Jaxon Poss took the Cat kick and sprinted down the Bearcat sideline, before getting tackled inside the Scottsbluff 5 yard line. AMS back Trini Trejo scored on the following play as the Alliance deficit went to 22 to 6. The period ended with a Bearcat fumble but AMS returned the favor with a turnover of the own. Heading to the fourth, Alliance was down 22 to 6. Two more Bulldog turnovers would ruin any Alliance comeback dreams in the final minutes while the Bluffs added one more score. Final 28 to 6 Scottsbluff
AMS 0 0 6 0 6
Bluffs 0 14 8 6 28
Stars of the B game were defensively Ethan Schulze and Connor Cardiff while backs Braedon Clarke and Hunter Bridges led the Bulldogs to 8 to 8 tie versus the Bluffs. Down 8 to 0 late in the contest, Alliance got big runs from Bridges to get close. A score by Bridges from the 10 yard and a PAT from Clarke knotted the game at 8. Meanwhile, Schulze and Cardiff controlled the play from their linebacker position.
AMS B 0 0 0 8 8
Bluffs B 0 8 0 0 8
Coach Mark Glesinger said, “Another very competitive game. A play here or there might have changed the outcome. We had three costly turnovers in the second half which hurt our chances. The Bearcats made some nice plays in the passing game to make things difficult. Our kids are playing hard and we have high hopes for our games down the road.”
Sidney is next on the Bulldog schedule. The Raiders come to town on Saturday with a 9:00 start time set.