Sports
Athens Pummels Gallia On The Road
By: Brad Friedman
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Junior quarterback Joe Burrow, along with the rest of the Athens Bulldogs, flexed their muscles in their 2013 opener, topping Gallia Academy, 62-19.
The Bulldogs had revenge on their minds after the Blue Devils took their 2012 season-opening matchup, 52-34 in The Plains.
It seemed as if the Blue Devils were on track to top the Bulldogs for the second year in a row when Logan Allison returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, getting the home crowd fired from the start.
Athens wasted no time responding to the score.
After a failed onside kick, it took Athens eight plays, seven of which were runs, to punch it into the end zone on a five-yard scamper by junior running back Trae Williams.
The Bulldogs soon vaulted into the lead after successfully running a fake field goal on the point after attempt, putting them up 8-7.
Athens never looked back.
Burrow led the Bulldogs to three more scoring drives in the half, amassing a 27-7 lead at the break. Burrow went 8-for-9 for 117 yards and a touchdown before the break.
On the other sideline, Gallia Academy struggled on both sides of the ball.
2012 Gridiron Glory Player of the Year Wade Jerrell was under attack the whole game. In the middle of the second quarter, sophomore defensive tackle Kolby Rogers delivered a massive clothesline sack; the big hit was a small representation of Athens’ swarming defense.
The senior chalked up a few good designed quarterback keepers, but many of his runs came from evading pressure. Jerrell also let the ball fly on several plays and threw the ball only a few steps past receivers Logan Allison and Reid Eastman.
After the opening kickoff return, the Blue Devil offense punted three times, turned the ball over on downs twice and gave the ball up on a Wes Jerrell fumble.
The Blue Devils went on to add 12 points in the second half. Jerrell finished 15-of-34 passing with 231 yards through the air and 63 yards on 19 rushes.
His one touchdown landed in the hands of Allison, who had eight grabs for 133 yards.
Burrow kept up the good work in the second half, finishing with 168 yards on 13-of-18 passing.
Williams finished as Athens’ second leading rushing, putting up 159 yards on 14 rushes. Williams also found the end zone a whopping five times.
Dakota McFee took the the top rushing spot with 176 yards on 11 attempts, including a 77-yard sprint to the house.
Gallia Academy (0-1, 0-0) looks to get back on track next week when Rock Hill comes to Gallipolis.
Athens (1-0, 0-0) looks to keep up the high level of play against a visiting Watkins Glen squad.