Bulldogs Establish New Attitude in Season Opening Win
/The Kearney Bulldogs stood toe-to-toe for four quarters with the Platte County Pirates – a perennial state playoff candidate – in a road environment that has been charged with Bulldog disappointment for the last couple of seasons.
Not this year. In a tale of two seasons, Bulldog fans shifted to exhilaration on a first-possession, 7-yard, overtime touchdown run by Senior Zach Grace, giving Kearney a 21-14 tie-breaking lead. Kearney’s defense came back with a tackle for loss on Platte County’s first overtime snap from center. On second down, Pirate quarterback, Dylan Zimmerman’s fade pass into the end zone was intercepted by Kearney senior defender, Landon Goepferich to secure the overtime win.
“I never doubted for a second,” said Zach Grace. “Even in the fourth quarter when they had the ball with a minute left, I knew our defense was going to pull through.”
Zach Grace scored two rushing touchdowns - one for the 21-14 overtime victory.
Pirate Quarterback Dylan Zimmerman and his go-to, senior wide receiver, Carter Salzman have been a problematic combination for the Bulldog defense for two years. A faster, harder-hitting, Bulldog defense kept Salzman out of the end zone the rest of the night after his first touchdown – a 66-yard strike in the second quarter giving Platte County a 7-0 lead.
Later in the second quarter, the Kearney Bulldog defense set the tone for the rest of the game by holding Platte County scoreless on four attempts from the 1-yard line. That goal line stand sent a message to anyone who lives close to 92 Highway between Platte City and Kearney: Bulldog football is back.
Wide receiver, (and point-guard) Manny Linthacum demonstrated his skill as a two-sport athlete as he and Junior quarterback, Casey Rooney connected on a 51-yard touchdown strike at the 7:39 mark in the third quarter tying the score 7-7.
Platte County took a 14-7 lead in the third quarter on a 4-yard touchdown run by Platte County senior, Nate Walls. With 7:11 remaining in the fourth quarter, from a seldom-seen power offensive formation, Zach Grace scored on a 2-yard carry to the end zone.
A late fourth quarter field goal attempt by the Pirates sailed wide left to set up the final minutes leading to a long-overdue, 21-14 overtime victory at Platte County Stadium.
“We knew what we needed to do. We knew going into it (Platte County) was going to be good and we had to play better. We just did our job.” Said Senior Linebacker Will Lincoln.
Will Lincoln gave us a glimpse of what might be – yes, it’s only one game – a new attitude: “We play with a lot more heart. We play every game like it’s our last game. We have fun, and we dominate.”
KPGZ Sports - Mike Davis contributed to this story
