Two teams with similar records met Friday night in Alliance.
The 2 and 2 Ogallala Indians used a big first half and downed the Alliance Bulldogs 48 to 22 in a homecoming matchup at Bulldog stadium. With the win the Indians see their record improve to 3 and 2 on the year while the Dogs dropped to 2 and 3. Down 40 to 6 in the third period the Bulldogs would rally to score 16 points in a row to reduce their deficit to 40 to 22. A late score in the third by the Indians stopped the rally as Ogallala was able to pull out the victory.
In a very entertaining opening quarter saw the guests use a punishing running attack to score early in the contest. Ogallala got the ball first and used a series of trap plays and sweeps out of their double win formation to score first on a 26 yard touchdown run. The extra point was good and with 7:08 left in the period the Indians led 8 to 0. Alliance responded with a score on their opening series started with a nice kick return Espen Lanik. Solid runs by Bulldog Trini Trejo gave AHS the ball deep into Ogallala territory. From the 24 it was Alliance quarterback Landon Crowe connecting with receiver Tristen Timbers for the Bulldogs first score. The pat was no good. With 4:31 showing on the clock the Alliance deficit was reduced to 8 to 6. A long Ogallala kick return to midfield help the Indians set up shop at the 43. It would take the guests just 5 plays as Ogallala scored on a 10 yard touchdown run. The period ended with AHS down 16 to 6. Alliance’s offense would stall in the second. Ogallala had a 7 play drive covering 71 yards and ended with a 25 yard scoring pass. Right before the visitors scored again on an 11 yard run. At half Alliance was down 32 to 6.
Ogallala’s winning formula of traps and sweeps continued in the third. Following an unsuccessful opening Bulldog series Ogallala took over at the 20. The Indians needed 8 plays and scored on an 8 yard run to increase their margin to 40 to 6 with 7 minutes remaining in the period.
Alliance answered right back as Crowe connected with Lanik on a scoring pass covering 54 yards. Crowne add the extra point on a 3 yard run which the score 40 to 14 with 5:47 left in the period. OG would be denied on their next drive and AHS quickly went on the offensive.
Crowe got loose on a long run but fumbled. The ball was recovered by Timbers for the Dog’s third score of the contest. The play went for 54 yards and following a good pat pass from Crowe to Lanik the Indian lead shrunk to 40 to 22 with 3 minutes in the quarter. On the period’s last play the Indians used a fancy counter play which caught the Dog defense off guard. The touchdown run went 43 yards and the quarter closed with Ogallala ahead 48 to 22. The final 12 minutes saw the Ogallala defense up for the challenge as the Dogs didn’t score. AHS’s defense was also strong and the game to an end with the Indians winning 48 to 22.
OG 16 16 16 0 48
AHS 6 0 16 0 22
Stats had Crowe passing 27 times, completing 17 for 209 yards and 2 scores. Timbers ended with 6 catches for 67 yards and one touchdown. Seth Meyring finished with5 grabs for 65 yards while Lanik caught 4 for 76 yards and one score. Jonah Amill had 2 catch for 21 yards. Trejo led the Dogs in rushing with 11 attempts for 36 yards.
Alliance will be at home next Friday when Mitchell comes to town.