Two dominant signal callers in Carter Dahlke and Rudy Hess are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Gallatin Raptors will take on the Sentinel Spartans at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Gallatin's defense heads into the game hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed last Friday. They breezed past Billings Senior to the tune of 42-0. The Raptors haven't had any issues with the Broncs recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive victory against them.
Gallatin's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Tyson Scheel, who rushed for 182 yards and one touchdown while picking up 10.7 yards per carry. Samuel Litzen was another key passer, throwing for 159 yards and three TDs while completing 71.4% of his passes.
Gallatin's defense stepped up as well, laying out the QB four times. Diesel Zallar was particularly dangerous to the passing game, picking up three sacks himself. Cash Cowdrey got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Meanwhile, it's playoff time, and Sentinel had no trouble coming through when it counted. They really took it to Billings Senior for the full four quarters, racking up a 40-7 victory. With the Spartans ahead 33-0 at the half, the contest was all but over already.
Special teams played a big role in the game for Sentinel, adding 11 points to the final score. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Kyler Haslam, who ran a punt back for a touchdown.
Gallatin's win bumped their record up to 8-1. As for Sentinel, their victory bumped their record up to 7-2.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Gallatin has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 208.2 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Sentinel struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 179.9 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything went Gallatin's way against Sentinel in their previous meeting back in September of 2024, as Gallatin made off with a 35-13 win. Will the Raptors repeat their success, or do the Spartans have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
