By FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com
Kristin Allen enjoyed a triumphant debut as Mahomet-Seymour’s girls’ cross-country coach on Saturday.
The Bulldogs were victorious in St. Thomas More’s Saber Corn Classic. Olympia was the runner-up and Monticello placed third.
Individually, M-S had three of the top five placers as well as a fourth runner in the top 10.
Senior Brisa McGrath was the runner-up, covering the 3-mile course in 18 minutes, 52 seconds.
She was followed by teammates Elizabeth Sims (fourth in 18:59), Madi Balbach (fifth in 19:48) and Olivia Bunting (seventh in 20:08).
Sims and Bunting were two of four freshmen among the team’s first six finishers.
Other ninth-grade standouts were Klein Powell (16th in 20:58) and Emily Bednar (17th in 21:08).
Gretchen Scheele was 35th in 22:59.
In the girls’ open race, Bulldogs Delaney King and Grace Lietz were first and second, respectively, in 20:30 and 21:32.
Chloe Allen was seventh and Fiona Taylor placed 10th.
The team returns to action on Saturday in the Charleston Invitational.
Football
The Bulldogs fell behind top-ranked Washington (Class 5A) 45-0 at halftime and suffered a season-opening 52-7 loss in Friday’s season-opener.
Clay Hubble was the team-leader in rushing (16 yards) and receiving (37 yards). He scored the lone M-S touchdown, which was followed by a conversion kick by Nico Cosimini.
Overall, M-S totaled 32 rushing yards on 29 attempts. Quarterbacks Dawson Finch and Michael Yoerk combined to complete 7 of 16 passes for 119 yards.
Defensively, Hunter Berg and Daunte Roberts were each credited with eight tackles. Jack Koller was next with three stops.
The Bulldogs play their home opener on Friday at 7:30 p.m. against Charleston (0-1).
Dawgapalooza activities are scheduled to start at 4:30 at the high school. Shortly after 7 p.m., former Bulldog Jason Seaman will be honored in an on-field ceremony, recognizing his role disarming a school shooter last May at Noblesville, Ind., where he is a seventh-grade science teacher.
Volleyball
M-S dropped a straight-set decision at St. Joseph-Ogden on Saturday, losing 25-15, 25-13.
Lauren Minick led the Bulldogs with six kills. Savannah Matthews had four kills.
Setters Kayin Garner and Ashley Wheeler had seven and six assists, respectively.
Josie Hess posted a team-high 12 digs. Amber Yeakel had two blocks.
Wheeler served the team’s only ace.
M-S (1-1) returns to action on Tuesday with a home match against Unity (2-0).
Boys’ soccer
The Bulldogs (1-2-1) allowed just two goals in the Saturday Tournament they hosted at Middletown Field, but placed fourth in the four-school event.
The team tied Mount Zion 1-1 in the opener — a result which will count in the Apollo Conference standings — but suffered a loss in the eighth round of penalty kicks.
Ethan Mansfield scored the lone goal for the home team.
In the consolation match, Washington hit a late goal to edge M-S, 1-0.
On Thursday, the Bulldogs shut out Centennial 1-0.
A scoreless tie was broken in the final 10 minutes when Jake Janda assisted Kadyn Jones on the game-winner.
The team’s next match is Tuesday at Normal West.
