Galena overcomes slow start

October 11, 2008 02:14 am

— By Randon Coffey
sports@joplinglobe.com
GALENA, Kan. — Galena was unable to score on its first two possessions, but the following three drives were all the Bulldogs needed to capture their fifth victory of the season, a 43-12 triumph over Southeast on Friday night.
Galena fumbled on its first offensive play, and on the ensuing possession drove 79 yards only to see the drive stall at the Southeast 11-yard line. A three-and-out by the Lancers gave the Bulldogs the ball at their 49.
The very next play, senior Chase Keyser ran the distance to put Galena ahead for good.
“Up front we’ve been physical all year,” said Galena head coach Beau Sarwinski. “We just went to work.”
All of Galena’s points came via the run, and the bulk of the running was placed on the shoulders of Keyser and Troy Albright. The Bulldogs (5-1, 4-1 CNC) ran for 350 yards with the duo combing for 246 of them.
“We’ve got good athletes,” Sarwinski said. “They’re playing hard at the right time, and we feel good about that.”
For Southeast (3-3, 2-3) it was a rough start offensively as almost half of its 104 halftime yardage came on the last play of the second quarter.
“They were kind of overwhelming,” Southeast head coach Bryan Burdette said. “I felt like we were flat coming out.”
Following the Keyser touchdown run, Southeast managed just five yards on its next drive and a poor punt set up the Bulldogs on their 37. Three plays later, Albright scored the first of his three touchdowns with a seven-yard run.
Southeast’s offensive struggles continued on its next drive and Galena got the ball back with 3 minutes, 44 seconds to go in the first half. A 90-yard drive taking six plays and 21/2 minutes ended on an Albright scamper of 54 yards.
Coming out of the break with a 20-0 lead, Galena’s defense provided two interceptions.
“That takes a lot out of us.” Burdette said. “We were trying to loosen them up, and those hurt us.”
Galena capitalized on both of the turnovers as Albright and Tyler Morton scored on five-yard runs. Keyser scored on a 23-yard run.
Southeast scored on rushes from 1 and 2 yards by Daniel Rank, both in the last three minutes in the third quarter.
District play begins next week as Galena visits unbeaten Riverton and Southeast entertains Frontenac.