Good start gives way to bad end for Bulldogs

Published 11:36 pm Friday, August 23, 2024

ROBERTA – GMC Prep head coach Gavin Tierce had a gameplan heading into Friday’s road matchup at Crawford County – keep the football out of the hands of the Eagles’ high-flying offense.

In order to do that, the Bulldogs needed to hold on to the football and shorten the game. Tierce’s wing T offense marched out onto Crawford County’s field and checked that box in the first quarter, sustaining a drive that ate up almost the entire opening period. The possession was punctuated by a touchdown run from Evan Stasney.

But it was all downhill from there as the Bulldogs fell 43-7 and dropped to 0-2 on the season as injuries continue to stack up for the program.

“The gameplan was working to absolute perfection, and it was the gameplan we needed for all four quarters,” Tierce said in a postgame phone interview. “Not trying to make excuses, but with five starters out our depth was gone. We were playing some really, really young kids that have never really even taken a snap. As the game progressed, what was five starters out turned in to eight starters out. The wheels just kind of fell off on us.”

The Eagles (1-1) led by athletic senior QB Isaac Meadows got their offense going and took advantage of short fields thanks to special teams turnovers by GMC. Crawford County was able to turn a 0-7 deficit into a 27-7 lead by halftime.

“They let it rip, but I think they’re strength is in their run game,” said Tierce. “Their quarterback is one of the best athletes, if not the best athlete we’ll see all year. He made us pay with his feet.”

It doesn’t do well to dwell on a loss, but the future is looking tough for the Bulldogs as well. Those eight starters’ availability moving forward is uncertain as the team awaits their prognosis. What GMC Prep can look forward to is its home opener next week as it hosts private school Brentwood.

“It’ll be good to be on Davenport Field and should be a good game playing Brentwood,” Tierce said. “Just have to hope we can get healthy within a week.”

Meetings between GMC and Brentwood in each of the last two years were very similar with turnovers and red zone woes costing the Bulldogs chances at winning games that ended in two-score margins. This year’s Brentwood offense seems to be a good bit more prolific though, having put up 44 and 67 points in their first two games of 2024.