Bulldogs comeback to beat Trojans

STAFF REPORTS

 

The Girard Trojan football team lost to the Galena Bulldogs 36-21 Friday night. After controlling the first half, the young Trojan team was unable to hold on for the victory.

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Camden McFarland and the Girard Trojans came up short on Friday vs. Galena. The Trojans host St. Mary’s-Colgan Sept. 30 for homecoming and will look to pick up their second win of the season. Photo credit: SAMANTHA GUY/HOMETOWN GIRARD

Girard showed dominance in the running game in the first half, as the young, sophomore-heavy line was tearing up the trenches.

On their first drive of the game, Girard lit up the scoreboard first. Trojan quarterback Eric Wilson dropped back to pass on third down but ended up scrambling down the Galena sideline for a 55-yard gain after being knocked out of bounds at the 1-yard line. Wilson punched it in on the very next play to make the score 7-0.

It didn’t take the Bulldogs long to respond, as they scored on their next possession and converted for two points to make the score 8-7.

On the very next possession, Girard drove 73 yards on 10 plays. Junior Camden McFarland eventually punched in a 14-yard run to make the score 13-8 after a missed PAT.

Heading into the locker room, the young Trojan team felt confident with a five-point lead. However, Galena exited the locker room in the second half and brought it to the Trojans, scoring right out of the gate to make the score 15-13.

The Bulldogs would go on to score 20 more points in the second half to make the score 36-13.

Late in the fourth quarter, McFarland narrowed the score to 36-21 with a one-yard run with only seconds left on the clock.

Penalties plagued the Trojans all night long, as they faced numerous third-and-long situations due to holding and various personal foul penalties.

This will more than likely be a point of emphasis this week for Leon Miller’s young team.

With the win, Galena advanced to a 3-1 record. Girard dropped to 1-3 and will be facing St. Mary’s Colgan Friday, Sept. 30, on homecoming in Girard with a 7 p.m. kickoff. Colgan is coming off a 32-7 defeat from the Columbus Titans and are also 1-3 on the season.

This will be the first Trojan-Panther matchup since the 2013 season when the Panthers defeated the Trojans 21-7.