GALION — Bucyrus has not won the Seccaium Park Trophy since 2008. The Galion Tigers showed they were in no mood to give it back on Friday night.
Coach Matt Dick’s team blasted the Redmen 34-0 in the 106th meeting between the two schools, this one at Bucyrus High School.
“The defense played great tonight,” Dick said. “I think it helped that Bucyrus is a more one-dimensional offense, they are only a throwing offense. That allows us to run more exotic coverages.”
Offensively, senior Harrison Ivy dazzled in his debut as the Galion starting quarterback.
“Harrison is one of those guys you can look him in the eyes and just follow him. That’s why I love him so much. I think Harrison can run the show, we just have to get him comfortable in that position,” Dick said. “We can’t just call a play and go up in a huddle and run it. We have to be able to check it, go fast and slow.
“We weren’t able to do that tonight. We have to work on that.”
Still, the Tigers were too much for the Redmen.
Ivy completed 8 of 13 passes for 131 yards and a 42-yard TD to Takoda Crisman.
“I feel like it was a huge momentum swing. It felt good to be able to throw it to Takoda,” Ivy said. “He’s a hard worker.”
Ivy also rushed for 84 yards, including a 3-yard TD.
Crisman’s brother Tanner also had a solid outing, averaging more than 10 yards a rush over his seven first-half carries. He scored his first TD in the third quarter from two yards. Steve Hoffman’s 34-yard pick-6 sealed it.
Meanwhile, Bucyrus struggled to find its footing as mistakes, penalties and injuries stunted the offensive flow all night. Galion’s defense was a big part of the equation, too.
“Our defense won this game for sure,” Ivy said. “All props go to them. They kept us in this game.”
Galion hosts Cardington Friday night in its home opener.
