Last Monday, the Alliance JV football team played hosts to the Bearcats from Scottsbluff. The Bulldogs fought hard and never gave up but fell to the Cats 37 to 8. Scottsbluff scored 21 points in the second quarter in gaining the win. Alliance’s lone score came late in the contest on a touchdown pass from quarterback Jay Shelmadine to receiver Jackson Devlin.
Alliance received the first and disaster struck early on their opening drive. A Bluffs interception on an Alliance pass was return for a 35 yard touchdown. The PAT was good and with 9:12 left in the quarter the Dogs trailed 7 to 0. Alliance’s Coy Childers then had a nice kick return as the Bulldogs got ready for their next possession. Unfortunately it was a three and out series and the Dogs punted the ball back to the Bearcats. This time it was the Bulldog defense turn to shine. Tackles for a loss by Jaden Guerra and Smiley Valdovinos would force a Bearcat punt on their next series. On the Bulldog ensuing series, Alliance also went three and out and were forced to punt. The period concluded with another stop by Alliance and a nice 25 yard completion from Shelmadine to receiver Devin Graham for 25 yards.
The second period started with a solid 15 yard run by Alliance’s Caysen Robertson as the Dogs moved into Bearcat territory. A sack by the Bluffs ruined the Dog drive and the Cats got the ball back. Later in the quarter a fumble by the Bulldogs gave SB great field position. A tackle for a loss by Childers started the series but a 20 yard td run by the Bluffs gave the guests a 14 to 0 lead with 5:40 left in the half. Scottsbluff would then increase their lead with another pick 6 that covered 24 yards. The point after was good and with 4:16 remaining in the half the Alliance deficit stood at 21 to 0. Another three and out followed for the Dogs as Alliance would have to punt. The half ended with another SB touchdown on a 43 yard run and the Bulldogs down 28 to 0.
Alliance’s defense took the field first in the start of the third period. Tackles for a loss by Childers, Nason Thompson, Colter Tolstedt forced a Bearcat punt. The boot was downed deep in Alliance territory and would result in the game’s next points. A safety by the Cat defense gave the visitors 2 more points and the ball back at the 5 minute mark. Bulldog D was up for the challenge. Stops by Robertson, Colton Johnson, and Preston Flores turned the Cats away with no point. The period came to an end with another Alliance three and out and another td by the Cats. A 46 yard touchdown run with a successful PAT made the score 37 to 0 after three periods of play.
Both teams were forced to punt of their first series of period #4. Another tackle for a loss by Thompson forced another Cat punt. On the Bulldog’s final possession, Alliance got into the scoring column. It was a nice punt return by Childers that followed which gave the Bulldogs the ball at midfield. Three completions by Shlemadine to Thompson and Antonio Valdovinos got the Dogs close. From the 20, a td pass by Shelmadine to Devlin with 23 seconds left got the Bulldogs on the scoreboard. Shelmadine culminated the drive with a successful pat run. Final score Bluffs 37 Alliance 8
SB 7 21 9 0 37
ALL 0 0 0 8 8
Robertson was Alliance’s top rusher with 21 yards while Shlemadine completed 8 passes for 102 yards and one score. Graham, Antonio Valdovinos, and Thompson led the Bulldogs in receiving with 2 catches each.
The JV club traveled to Sidney on Monday.