GALENA — After posting 11 wins and advancing all the way to the Class 3A state semifinals a year ago, Galena has picked up right where it left off … chalking up another win. The Bulldogs exploded for 42 points in the first half and never looked back in their 58-8 CNC League victory over Riverton Friday night at Abby Field.
Galena — 1-0 overall — will hit the road on Sept. 13 when it travels to Girard for another CNC matchup. The Trojans are also 1-0 on the season following a 32-7 home win over Baxter Springs in their season opener.
As for Riverton, it dropped to 0-1 heading into its home opener on Sept. 13 against Baxter Springs. The Rams finished the 2018 campaign at 2-7 overall.
Galena dominated in every way possible in Friday’s season opener. The Bulldogs finished the game with 519 total yards, including 287 on the ground by way of 42 carries. Quarterback Brett Sarwinski completed 15-of-18 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns. His top receiver was Nick Sarwinski with seven catches for 137 yards and two scores. Meanwhile, Deacon Henson led the way in the GHS ground attack with nine attempts for 102 yards and two touchdowns.
Henson put the Bulldogs on the board in the opening minutes of action on a six-yard touchdown run. Later in the period, Nick Sarwinski went into the end zone from two yards out to push the Galena lead up to 16-0 after 12 minutes of action.
GHS then used a 26-point second quarter to blow things open by halftime. Henson broke loose on a 30-yard touchdown run. Brett Sarwinski followed with three straight touchdown passes — 11 yards to Nick Sarwinski, 11 yards to AJ Holmes and 38 yards against to Nick Sarwinski — to push the Bulldog lead to 42-0 at the intermission.
Riverton put its first points on the board in the opening minute of the second half on a 51-yard scamper by Will Shawver. Galena answered later in the third quarter on a 10-yard TD pass from Brett Sarwinski to Cameron Jones and then finished things off in the final period on a three-yard run into the end zone by Evan Turner.