Gallatin races past Trenton, Princeton knocks off South Harrison, in Friday night action

The Gallatin Bulldogs won at Trenton 54-14, while the Princeton Tigers grabbed one of the biggest victories of the 2020 season, beating South Harrison 28-6, as part of Friday night’s high school football action across northern Missouri.

In Gallatin’s win over Trenton, broadcast locally on Hot Country Z 101.7, the two rivals traded touchdowns in the first quarter, with a five yard pass from Brinley Vandiver to Payton Feiden for Gallatin answered by a two-yard plunge by sophomore fullback Sam Gibson of Trenton, leaving the score, midway through the first quarter, tied at 6.

Gallatin took only 71 seconds to rip the lead back, with a 30 yard strike from the potent air combination of Vandiver and sophomore wideout Isaac Bird giving Gallatin, after a two-point conversion catch by Kevin Weeks, grabbing a 14-6 lead.  That advantage ballooned to 20-6 by the half, as Vandiver had a two-yard scoring run midway through the second quarter.

Trenton had hopes, entering the third quarter, of getting back into the game, but the Gallatin Bulldogs potent offense ripped those thoughts away, as a 66 yard touchdown run by Meeks was followed by a nine yard scoring run by Jagger Gray, with a pair of successful conversion passes pushing the lead to 36-6.

Trenton, attempting a punt with 2:39 to go, snapped the ball over the head of Coleman Griffin and through the end zone, resulting in a safety and a 38-6 Gallatin lead.  On the ensuing possession, Gallatin struck on a 17 yard pass from Vandiver to Feiden, with a Gray two-point run extending the lead to 46-6.

Back-to-back kickoff returns for touchdowns finished the scoring, as a 75 yard jaunt by Kayden Spencer of Trenton was followed by a 70 yard return by Meeks.  Payden McCullough had a PAT run and Bird a two-point conversion catch for their respective sides, leaving the final score at 54-14.

Trenton continues to show steady improvement with its ground game, a staple in Kevin Hixson’s offense, with Gibson rushing 16 times for 62 yards in the loss.  McCullough led the Bulldogs with 20 carries for 87 yards.

The win improves Gallatin to 5-3 overall and 4-2 in GRC play, dropping Trenton to 0-6 overall and 0-4 in conference play.

Trenton’s bout with COVID-19, resulting in the loss of two road games for the Bulldogs, could see a direct effect on the final league standings, particularly after Princeton’s 28-6 win over South Harrison on Friday night, pulling the Tigers even with the Milan Wildcats and South Harrison Bulldogs with one loss in GRC play.  However, Princeton is one win shy of Milan and South Harrison, having lost the opportunity to host the Bulldogs in Week #3, a cancellation that could cost the Tigers a potential share of the GRC title.

The Tigers grabbed by far their most significant win of the 2020 season with the 28-6 victory over visiting South Harrison, heard on KTTN FM 92.3.  Here is Tiger head coach Nathan Powell, speaking about the significance of the win over a state-ranked (#9 in Class 1) foe: 

The Princeton victory moves Milan into position to share a piece of the conference title, after the Wildcats rebounded from a loss to South Harrison with a 49-3 win over Polo at Cal Hubbard Field.  Here is Wildcat head coach John Dabney: 

Here is the complete scoreboard for Friday, October 16, 2020: 

Gallatin Bulldogs 54, Trenton Bulldogs 14

Princeton Tigers 28, South Harrison Bulldogs 6

Milan Wildcats 49, Polo Panthers 3

Maysville Wolverines 22, Putnam County Midgets 0 

St. Pius X Warriors 16, Lafayette Fighting Irish 14

Cameron Dragons 42, Benton Cardinals 0 

Maryville Spoofhounds 40, Savannah Savages 17

Chillicothe Hornets 33, KC East Bears 14

Richmond Spartans 42, Knob Noster Panthers 0 

Carrollton Trojans 42, Holden Eagles 14

Lexington Minutemen 36, Higginsville Huskers 25

Lawson Cardinals 13, East Buchanan Bulldogs 12

Lathrop Mules 43, North Platte Panthers 27 

Mid-Buchanan Dragons 63, Atchison County (KS) 7

Penney Hornets 49, West Platte Blue Jays 14

Marceline Tigers 45, Westran Hornets 6

Fayette Falcons 63, Salisbury Panthers 12

Harrisburg Bulldogs 22, Scotland County Tigers 6

Clopton Hawks 19, Paris Coyotes 14

Brookfield Bulldogs 32, Highland Cougars 14

Centralia Panthers 34, Macon Tigers 18

Moberly Spartans 28, Mexico Bulldogs 21

Hannibal Pirates 48, Marshall Owls 14

Kirksville Tigers 33, Fulton Hornets 0 

8 MAN

Albany Warriors 56, King City Wildkats 36

North Andrew Cardinals 30, Worth County Tigers 14

Stanberry Bulldogs 20, East Atchison Wolves 18 

Pattonsburg Panthers 94, St. Paul Lutheran Saints 50

North Shelby Raiders 78, Orrick Bearcats 22

Santa Fe Chiefs 48, Braymer Bobcats 20 

Drexel Bobcats 63, Jasper Eagles 26

Bishop LeBlond Golden Eagles 37, Schuyler County Rams 24

Southwest Livingston Wildcats 76, Northwest Nodaway Muskets 26

Mound City Panthers 40, DeKalb Tigers 12

Stewartsville-Osborn WildCards 40, Platte Valley 16