By Alex Benzegala
Panhandle Post
The Alliance Bulldogs made a statement that they are amongst most improved high school football teams in the state of Nebraska after three games, as Alliance put on an offensive clinic in a 58-34 win over Valentine on Friday night.
Alliance had 524 all-purpose yards, including quarterback Landen Crowe throwing for a career-high 359 yards and five touchdowns, adding one on the ground. He also overcame another interception for a touchdown, his 3rd in as many games. "Landen is who you want to be as your quarterback, Head Coach T.D Stein said. "He's got a short memory which is something I always preach as a former quarterback. the guys follow him, he leads by his effort."
Tristen Timbers had another monster game with 10 receptions for career highs 190 yards and three touchdowns. Trini Trejo had 0 rushing yards in the first half, but the freshman got going in the second half with 128 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, Matt Moomey had some huge plays for the Bulldogs defensive lineman, finishing the game with a sack and two tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery. Jett Herian led Alliance with 11 tackles.
Valentine started out fast with a block punt inside the Alliance five-yard line to start the game, and a Cinch Miller TD run, and a two-point conversion made it 8-0 Badgers inside a minute into the first quarter.
Alliance struck back with Landon Crowe TD pass to Jonah Amill, two-point conversion was no good to keep score 8-6. Later, he found Seth Meyring for a 47-yard touchdown to tie it at 14.
Traven Fletcher answered for the Badgers with a 10-yard touchdown run to make in 14-6 Valentine. it was back and forth, as Valentine scored a touchdown of a Crowe interception halfway through the second quarter. From then on it would be all Bulldogs, as Alliance reclaimed the lead 22-20 at halftime.
The second half was mostly Alliance scoring mostly at will, with Trejo taking advantage of taking advantage of running room in the middle of the field in the 2nd half, with Timbers also catching all three of his touchdowns in the second half. Alliance was also able to get some turnovers as well.
"I'm just proud of how they fought the entire game and for all four quarters," Head Coach T.D Stein said. "We're excited for the guys and for the future."
The win for the Bulldogs was their first at Bulldog Stadium since a 2019 win over Gering, and the 58 points is the high scoring total for Alliance since a 2006 win over Torrington where they scored 55 points.
The victory for Alliance improved them to 2-1 for the first time since 2016. Next up, Alliance will travel to 2-1 Gothenburg who is also 2-1.