A touchdown with 35 seconds left plus a successful point after try powered Gering past the Alliance JV squad 8 to 7 in the season finale. Alliance led 7 to 0 heading into the fourth quarter but a Gering TD gave the guests the win in battle played Monday in Alliance. Quarterback Jay Shelmadine connected with receiver Nason Thompson for the lone Alliance score.
A nice return by Smiley Valdovinos on the opening kick gave Alliance the ball at midfield to began the action. AHS was then turned away without points following a Bulldog turnover. On defense, the A Dogs were solid on Gering’s first drive. A tackle for a loss by Alliance’s Mikey Johnson would force a punt by the visitors. Taking over on the 30, the Alliance offense sputtered following a Gering sack and the Bulldogs were forced again to punt. The Bulldog defense was then up for the task. A Gering fumble recovered by Alliance’s Dan Pfannenstiel gave AHS the ball at the 35 yard line. Big runs by EJ Garcia and a pass from Shelmadine to receiver Carson Swenson that went 16 yards got the hosts within striking distance. But another Gering sack ended the drive with Alliance failing to score. The period would come to an end with both teams not finding the end zone.
In the second, strong defensive plays by Bulldog Coy Childers and Johnson stopped a Gering possession. Swenson then helped AHS get great field position with a 15 yard punt return. Starting at 27, Alliance failed on a fourth down try that gave the ball back to the guests. A sack by Bulldog Jadon Guerra for 7 yards followed as Gering had to punt the ball back to the Dogs. The Alliance offense then went on a role. Passes to Valdovinos covering 8 yards and 11 yards placed the ball on the Gering 33 yards line. On fourth and long, a strike from Shelmadine to Thompson was good for 17 yards and continued the Alliance series. But a fumble ruined the opportunity for an Alliance tally as Gering got the ball back. With under four minutes left in the half, Garcia recovered a Gering fumble inside the 20. The AHS offense cashed in the Gering mistake on the next play with Shelmadine hitting Thompson for an 18 yard TD pass. Kicker Devan Graham added the extra point that put AHS ahead 7 to 0. The half came to a close with no more points and Alliance up 7 to 0.
Both teams’ defense remained stubborn in the third. A tackle for a loss by Thompson stopped Gering’s first drive. On offense, Alliance again found success in the air with passes to Valdovinos and Thompson that went a combined 46 yards. AHS was unfortunately turned away scoreless as an interception in the end zone by the guests kept the score at 7 to 0. Gering went three and out on their next drive but an Alliance fumble gave the ball right back to the visitors. The Alliance defense returned the favor as Guerra intercepted a Gering pass and the period came to a close with AHS still leading 7 to 0.
In quarter #4, play remained tight. An interception by Gering kept the game close. Gering then was turned away with a tackle for a lose by Thompson keeping the Bulldog’s lead in tack. A 10 yard pass to Johnson ensued with AHS taking time off the clock. Alliance’s drive then stalled and the Dogs gave the ball back to Gering. Starting at the 36, the guests went to their passing game. A touchdown pass covering 21 yards with 35 left in the contest sliced the Gering deficit to one. Gering then went ahead with a successful PAT run that gave the G Dogs the lead at 8 to 7. On Alliance’s final attempt, the hosts were denied following a Gering pick. Gering 8 Alliance 7
GER 0 0 0 8 8
AHS 0 7 0 0 7
Shelmadine ended the contest with 196 yards on 15 completions. Top receiver was Valdovinos who caught 6 for 52 yards. Thompson closed with 4 grabs for 73 yards and one score. Jett Childers had 2 catches for 41 yards.