Prep Football: Redbirds rally past Harrisburg Bulldogs
HARRISBURG - It wasn't the way first-year Harrisburg head football coach Gabe Angelly wanted to close a three-game home stand for his club.
The Bulldogs (2-2, 0-1 SIRR Ohio) gave up 366 rushing yards to West Frankfort as the Redbirds (3-1, 1-0) picked up a 37-21 win at Taylor Field Friday night.
It was an even more forgettable second half for HHS. West Frankfort scored 23 unanswered points to close the game, and the Bulldogs lost leading rushers Jordan Bartok and Hunter Smith injuries.
"When you come out of halftime and we're driving down the field, you lose Bartok for the entire second half, and he's the bulk of your offense, you bring some other guys in and they do an okay job, but we turn the ball over a couple times in the second half, then Hunter Smith goes down," said  Angelly. "When you lose those two guys, that's your offense, it's tough to produce points."

Bartok finished with 79 yards and one touchdown on just 12 carries. Smith rushed for 72 yards and a score on nine carries to go along with 34 receiving yards.
After the game, Angelly indicated the status for the two seniors heading into a Week 5 contest at Massac County was unknown.
West Frankfort quarterback Connor Eaton scored twice and racked up over 160 yards on the ground. Junior Madison Allen also scored twice for the Redbirds who picked up their third consecutive win.
Harrisburg's Isaac Crabb completed seven throws for 70 yards. 
Sophomore Carl Russ scored his third rushing touchdown of the season and finished with 53 yards on the ground. Russ also caught two passes for 14 yards. Will Holland grabbed a 14-yard reception for HHS, while Bartok and Easton Wallace also tallied receptions.
Harrisburg lost three fumbles and threw an interception on a trick play.

"When you do those things, it hurts," said Angelly. "And it puts us in a bad position."
After having won the previous seven meetings heading into last year, Harrisburg has now dropped two straight in the series with West Frankfort.