Bulldogs Get Another Crack At Hamilton
Photo courtesy of Macon Schweizer
Peyton Baker scrambles away from Milan’s Deric Doporto during Gallatin’s 34-14 victory on Friday at Bulldog Stadium.
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The Gallatin Bulldogs didn’t expect to jump on Milan with two touchdowns inside the first 30 seconds like they did in their Grand River Conference meeting last month.
Still, trailing the visiting Wildcats 7-0 after a quarter of play Friday night in the Class 1, District 7 semifinals was a little unnerving. But, it was also no problem for a team that has had an answer for adversity at nearly every turn.
Gallatin trailed, but never wavered, going on to oust Milan with a 34-14 victory. The win punched the Bulldogs’ ticket to the district championship game where they will get another crack at Hamilton — one of only two teams to defeat Gallatin this season.
After Milan took the first lead of the game late in the first quarter, Gallatin was able to come back with a touchdown pass from Peyton Baker to Isaac Bird, but a missed point-after kick kept Milan in front. Gallatin’s second touchdown would come just four minutes later. Baker hooked up with Payton Feiden for this touchdown and found him again on the 2-point try to send the Bulldogs into the locker room up 14-7.
The lead stayed at seven until late in the third quarter when Feiden blocked a Milan punt and Gabe Parker pounced on it in the end zone for a Gallatin touchdown. Draven Wright booted the point-after kick and Gallatin’s lead was two full scores at 21-7.
Just when it felt like Gallatin was in the clear, however, Milan came back, scoring to cut the lead back to one possession. Gallatin thwarted the threat, though, scoring one minute later on Baker’s third touchdown pass, his second to Feiden. Baker added a rushing touchdown for good measure with under a minute to play and the Bulldogs were championship-game bound.
Gallatin dropped its first meeting with Hamilton 28-0, but the Bulldogs are a vastly different team now. Baker was making just the second start of his career in that first matchup with the Hornets, long before he became a quarterback that has thrown for 2,000 yards and rushed for another 500.
The district championship game at Alumni Field in Hamilton will kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday.
