by Plains, Ohio- the Athens Bulldogs took on the Gallia Academy Blue Devils on Friday August 27th, 2021 in a non-conference game.
Due to COVID-19 precautions, Athens City School District decided to cancel in-person classes from August 27th- August 31st. Athens City School District made a statement via Facebook that stated,
“I am very sorry to have to make this phone call and to have to make this decision, however the Athens City School District will now be closed beginning tomorrow, Friday, August 27th through Tuesday, August 31st. I am hopeful we will be able to return to school on Wednesday, September 1st. I will update families on Monday”.
After consideration Athens City School decided to play Fridays game against Gallia.
The Bulldogs and Blue Devils were ready to have a friendly rivalry game on a hot evening at the Joe Burrow Stadium.
The young Bulldogs had a lot of motivation after losing their home opener the previous weekend.
In the first quarter the Bulldogs had a six-minute drive, with good plays, but none amounted to any points.
The Bulldogs started the game with a good 20-yard kickoff return by Braxton Springer. Then offense moved the football with runs by Luke Brandes, who ran the ball 11 and 15-yards. While Marcus Stevers ran the ball 14-yards, but the drive stalled at the 35-yard line and Gallia took over on downs.
The Blue Devils had a 53-yard drive in four minutes. Which resulted in Hudson Shamblin scoring a touchdown and a two-point conversion. The first points on the board were made by Gallia, making it 8-0.
Then the Blue Devils, Paola Jones, intercepted a tip ball on the Bulldogs 43-yard line.
The first quarter ended 8-0, Gallia in the lead.
The Blue Devils, Joey Darnbrough, completed a 24-yard pass down to the one-yard line on their first drive of the second quarter.
The Blue Devils, Hudson Shamblin, then scored the touchdown and the two-point conversion was not good. 14-0, Gallia.
At the beginning of the second quarter the Bulldogs, Luke Brandes, had a 36-yard punt with no return.
The Blue Devils, Briar Williams, had a 55-yard run and brought the ball down to the two-yard line.
Hunter Shamblin had a two-yard touchdown for the Blue Devils and the extra point by Caleb Stout was good making the score 21-0, Gallia.
Brody Fellure executed a flip into the Blue Devils end zone, resulting in a touchdown, the point after was not good making the score 27-0, Gallia at halftime.
At the start of the third quarter, the Blue Devils, Paola Jones scored a touchdown. Preslee Reed made the extra point, 34-0 Gallia.
The Bulldogs, Luke Brandes, had another good 36-yard punt.
The third quarter ended 34-0, Gallia.
The Bulldogs defense played better in the second half, only giving up six points.
In the last drive of the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs got stopped on the 29-yard line. Making the final score 34-0, Gallia winning.
Although Athens didn’t come out with a win, the Bulldogs surely showed motivation and determination to keep moving forward. The Bulldogs will take on Marietta next Friday in their first away game of the season.
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