After crushing Fairbanks last week, Galion rolled out another high-scoring victory Friday night with a 62-21 win over North Union in Mid Ohio Athletic Conference action at Unckrich Stadium.
Last year, the Tigers won its match against North Union 50-33.
“I was very proud,” Galion head coach Chris Hawkins said.
The match also recognized Senior Night, making it an exceptionally emotional game for the Tigers, Hawkins said, as it was the last home game of the regular season. Although some teams let those emotions interfere with the game, Hawkins said that was not the case for the Tigers.
“We wanted it to be special,” he said. “The kids handled it very well.”
Unofficially, the Tigers (7-2, 4-2 MOAC) finished with 491 total yards against the Wildcats (4-5, 2-4 MOAC). Quarterback Chase Cooke was 10-of-12 for 312 yards with three touchdowns. Running back Drake Barnett had 15 carries for a total of 179 yards.
“I feel great, ” Cooke said after the game, adding that the team was starting to look like a championship team. “We’re starting to improve our running and passing game.”
Hawkins agreed.
“That’s what we had to do,” he said. “Chase made some great passes and our receivers made some great catches.”
The Tigers exploded in the second quarter with 34 points before Luke Krawczyk rushed for a 25-yard touchdown to score the Wildcats’ first touchdown that night. But the Tigers were able to lead 48-7 at halftime.
“We’re getting the mental frame right,” Hawkins said. “It’s nice to see we’re playing well.”
The win helped the Tigers keep pace with the front-runners in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference Red Division. Jonathan Alder (5-1, 6-0 MOAC) is alone at the top of the standings. River Valley (6-3, 4-2 MOAC), Buckeye Valley (5-4, 4-2 MOAC) and Galion (7-2, 4-2 MOAC) tie for second. Marion Harding (3-6, 3-3 MOAC) is in third followed by North Union (4-5, 2-4 MOAC) at fourth.
The Tigers will travel to Pleasant in Week 10.
North Union will host Buckeye Valley next week.