Spring Mills rallies past Albert Gallatin, 22-19
Albert Gallatin scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to take a five-point lead with 4:35 remaining, but Spring Mills (W.Va.) responded with a score of its own for a 22-19 victory on Friday at Colonials Stadium.
Dylan Shea pulled in a 16-yard touchdown reception from Tristan Robinson at 11:29 of the fourth, but Robinson was stopped inches short of the goal line on the two-point conversion attempt and Spring Mills maintained a 14-13 lead.
Caleb Lang’s eight-yard run gave the Colonials their first lead at 19-14, but AG couldn’t convert the two-point attempt.
Chase Henson only completed two passes, but a four-yard throw to Jacob Burrick proved to be the winning score with 1:06 left. Henson ran in the two-point conversion for the three-point advantage.
“I just didn’t have them ready to play,” Albert Gallatin coach Drew Dindl said. “This one’s on me tonight. They were up 14-7 when we punched it in for the score; we had the momentum, so we decided to go for the lead. We were moving the ball. Tristan was so close to punching it in.”
Spring Mills opened the scoring on Henson’s one-yard run at 7:05 of the first quarter and Hayden Pack made the first of two PATs for a 7-0 lead.
The Colonials (5-2) tied things up with three seconds left in the first quarter when Andrew Appleton pulled in a 20-yard touchdown reception from Robinson and Jace Bowers connected on the extra point.
Neither team scored in the second quarter before Spring Mills took a 14-7 advantage on Henson’s 14-yard run with 2:41 left in the third quarter. Henson gained 140 yards on 20 carries.
Malik Kirby didn’t score, but the Albert Gallatin senior running back had a game-high 146 yards on 24 attempts.
“I was very impressed with what Malik did tonight,” Dindl said. “He had 5-7 guys on him, and he was still dragging them.”
The Colonials finish their season next week when they travel to Connellsville (0-6, 1-8) in a non-section showdown.
“It will definitely have a playoff-feel to it,” Dindl said. “They beat us last year in overtime, and that was a tough one. The kids remembered what happened, and we will get them ready to go. Marko (Thomas) and I are good buddies, but it is a nice rivalry game. We will get a little rest and get back to work next week.”