Sports

This week’s Game of the Week certainly did not disappoint. The Gallia Academy Blue Devils went into Basil Rutter Field and handed the Athens Bulldogs their first loss in over a year in a barnburner, 52-34.

 

The Blue Devils opened the game with a bang as quarterback Wade Jarrell hooked up with Cody Russell down the right sideline for a gain of 58 yards down to the Athens 11 yard line. Russell then finished off the drive four plays later with a one-yard touchdown plunge.

 

Athens waited no time in responding as Bulldog quarterback Joey Burrow found the endzone from seven yards out. However the Bulldogs failed to convert the two-point conversion and trailed 7-6 half way through the first.

 

Like they did most of the night Gallia Academy found success on the ground as Tyler Warnimont rumbled 60 yards for a touchdown to put the Blue Devils on top 14-6 late in the first.

 

After a long kickoff return by Skylar Schwarzel Athens quarterback Joey Burrow found Ryan Luehrman for a 10-yard touchdown pass, and then again for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 14.

 

Athens then exploded behind two Burrow touchdowns as he found Tyler McIntosh and Luehrman again to give the Bulldogs a 28-14 lead.

The Blue Devils however kept their composure and mounted a 75-yard touchdown drive. Warnimont once again found the end zone this time from two yards out to cut the Athens lead to 28-21.

 

After a back and forth first half,s Gallia Academy exploded in the second half for 31 points. The Blue Devils will look to continue their hot start next week as they host Licking Heights, and Athens will look to get back on the winning track next week at Watkins Memorial.