For the first time since 2011, the Alliance football team is 2 and 0 to began the season. A hard fought 28 to 14 win over Holdrege on Friday at home put the Dog’s record at 2 and 0. Alliance got a two touchdown, 138 yard effort from running back Trini Trejo in picking up victory #2. Quarterback Jay Shelmadine completed 10 passes and a score as the Dogs hung on for the W. On defense, linebacker Caysen Robertson again was the leader with 4 first half tackles for loss. A late TD run by Robertson of one yard was the nail in the Duster coffin. Up only by 8, the Dog defense rose to the occasion in the final moments to stop a Holdrege comeback. An interception by Espen Lanik finished off the contest.
Both squad’s defense were stout in the first period. The first 12 minutes saw neither side having any luck on offense. Alliance received the ball first and was forced to punt. A tackle by Robertson for minus 4 yards then forced a punt by the guests in their first series. Pass completions by Shelmadine to Jackson Devlin and Lanik on the Dog’s second possessions got Alliance past midfield. The drive was plagued by a Bulldog penalty and the quarter close with no scores.
Sacks by Ethan Schulze and Robertson helped the Dogs get the ball back in the early minutes of the second. An 11 yard pass to Carson Swenson got the ball inside the 40. From there it was Shelmadine connecting with Lanik for the Dog’s first score. The pass covered 37 yards. Alliance tacked on the PAT on a pass from Jett Herian to Nason Thompson and with 9:20 showing on the clock, the Dogs were up 8 to 0. Tackles for losses by Robertson on the Duster’s next 2 series helped the Bulldogs maintain their lead. Right before half, a TD run of 43 yards by Trejo pushed the Holdrege deficit to 14. Robertson added the extra point and with under 3 minutes left in the half, the Alliance advantage was 16 to 0. Alliance would have one more possession before halftime. A 34 yard completion to Wyatt Stabnow was followed by a successful hook and ladder as the Dogs threaten again. A Duster pick ended the drive and the half with Alliance ahead 16 to 0.
Holdrege used a strong rushing attack on the game’s first series in period #3. The Dusters drove deep into Alliance territory before a fumble recovery by Thompson stopped the guests. Holdrege then return the favor as an interception by the visitors gave HHS the ball inside the 10 yard line. A 6 yard TD run followed which put the score 16 to 6 with under 6 minutes left in the quarter. Big gains on the ground by Shelmadine and Trejo on the next Bulldog series gave the hosts great field position. But an incomplete pass would stop the drive. Right before the period concluded, a TD scamper by Trejo of 67 yards made the score 22 to 6. Things then got very interesting. On the Duster’s next drive, a 58 yard td pass put the score at 22 to 14 as the period ended.
In the finale, the Dogs got big gains by Robertson and Shelmadine but no scores. A nice punt by Robertson pinned the Duster deep inside their own territory. Alliance’s defense was then up for the challenge. Tackles by Cole Stoike and Thompson stopped the next Holdrege series. Getting the ball back at midfield, AHS got a big gain by Lanik as the Dogs took minutes off the clock. The series finished with no points but when the guests got the ball back, they were inside their own 10 yard line with 1:18 left in the contest. Nice defensive efforts by Schulze and Thompson stopped any kind of comeback as the Dogs got the ball back at the one yard line. From there, Robertson scored and with 52 seconds remaining, Alliance led 28 to 14. A pick by Lanik then finished off the Dusters. Final Alliance 28 Holdrege 14
HOLD 0 0 14 0 14
ALL 0 16 6 6 28
Stats Rushing Trejo 28 carries 138 yards 2 scores Robertson 17 carries 45 yards 1 score Shelmadine 4 carries 30 yards overall 52 attempts 214 yards Passing Shelmadine 10 completions 128 yards 1 score Lanik 3 catches 60 yards 1 TD
Gering comes to town on Friday.