By Alex Benzegala
Panhandle Post
The Alliance Bulldogs are looking for their first 2-1 start to the season since 2016, as they host the Valentine Badgers on Friday who are also 1-1 on the season.
Alliance scored 24 points last Friday in their win 24-20 win over Gordon-Rushville, which was the most points since they scored 35 points against Gering in a win in Oct. of 2020.
Senior quarterback Landon Crowe is coming off of a career-high 276 passing yards and two touchdowns, while also scoring a touchdown on the ground against G-R. Senior wide receiver Tristen Timbers had a career high 148 yards on seven receptions and says the team's hard work is starting to pay off.
"We've worked hard in the offseason, it's finally coming up and everyone is seeing it," Timbers said. We aren't satisfied."
Alliance on Friday is looking for their first win at Bulldogs Stadium since a 34-21 win over Gering on Oct. 11, 2019, and they will have to do it against a Valentine team that is coming off of a 14-6 victory last week after a disappointing 18-0 loss in week one to West Holt.
The Badgers lost a majority of their production from last season including one of the best running backs in the state a year ago in Ashton Lurz, who had 1,228 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. Valentine has struggled offensively by averaging just seven points a game in the first two games, and Alliance will try to build off of their defensive effort last week that includes seven tackles for loss, two sacks by Matthias Benzel and an interception by Espen Lanik to seal the win.
Alliance Head Football Coach T.D Stein knows the Badgers defense can cause a lot of issues for opponents, as they have only allowed 24 points through two games. With freshman running back Trini Trejo getting over 70 yards last week and Crowe getting a score on the ground, staying balanced offensively will be key against the Badgers.
Valentine won last year's meeting against Alliance 46-12 in Valentine, Badgers had 371 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns last year against the Bulldogs, compared to Alliance's 32 rush yards.
Valentine went 5-4 in the regular season in 2022 before losing in the first round of the playoffs at St. Cecilia in Hastings, started 3-0, a loss to Alliance would drop them to 1-2 with a road game at 2-0 Chadron next week.
Pregame coverage starts at 5:45 with the interview with Head Coach T.D Stein and kickoff is at 7 on KCOW, 92.5 and 1400. Broadcast is also online at panhandlepost.com by clicking on the KCOW tab.