By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily News
BUCHANAN – A 62-0 romp by the Buchanan football team over visiting River Valley Friday night will send the Bucks to the post-season playoffs for their second consecutive season.
Friday night's game saw the Buchanan offense have 10 possessions and scoring on the first nine. The half time score was 48-0, which made the second half a quick two quarters of play with the mercy rule in effect and a running clock.
The second half featured the Bucks team of the future as the starting lineup was replaced with juniors and sophomores that were brought up from the junior varsity squad. With the Mustang not having a JV team the junior Bucks team consisting of freshmen played Vicksburg Thursday evening picking up a win.
The Bucks (6-2, 4-2 in the Lakeland) scored on runs of 47-, 35-, and 22-yards by Marquis Hall, Clinton Orr and Taylor Oake respectively.
The next two scores came through the air on a 8-yard pass to Orr and a 75-yard strike to Bennie Jones from senior quarterback Oake. The Bucks added two more running touchdowns in the first half on a 39-yard tote by Orr and a 6-yard burst by Jones.
River Valley falls to 0-8, 0-6.
"I don't know how many seniors played for River Valley but they all should be given purple hearts," Buchanan coach Joe Austin said following the teams big win. "Those kids deserve a lot of credit they go out there and don't score and they just keep showing back up. They are going to be successful the ones that have stayed out there with that program. The coach and the team should be proud of the way they have hung tough because that has taken a lot of fortitude."
Adam Byrdak and David Sokolowski got into the scoring act in the second half on runs of 15- and 20-yards to paydirt. Of the nine extra point attempts the Bucks Josh Borr nailed 8-of-9.
Buchanan finished the night with 339 rushing yards with Hall picking up 96 on five carries and Orr adding another 86 on four hauls. Byrdak and Sokolowski finished with 55 and 50, picking up their yardage in the second half.
Oake was 4-of-5 passing for 91 yards and two touchdowns.
"We ended up 4-0 on our home season and we are proud as heck of these kids and the six seniors." River Valley was limited to just 13 yards rushing but did manage to pick up nearly 100 yards through their passing game on 11-of-25 passing from sophomore quarterback Michael Semenic.
The Mustangs had three turnovers in the game with two fumbles and an interception. David Ferris and Byrdak recovered the loose balls for the Bucks and Tim Mosier had the pick.
Buchanan will travel to Bridgman next week for the final regular game of the season before heading into the playoffs.
River Valley 0 0 0 0 – 0
Buchanan 21 27 14 0 – 62
B – Marquis Hall 47 run (Josh Borr kick)
B – Clinton Orr 35 run (Borr kick)
B – Taylor Oake 22 run (Borr kick)
B – Oake 8 pass to Orr (kick failed)
B – Oake 75 pass to Bennie Jones (Borr kick)
B – Orr 30 run (Borr kick)
B – Jones 6 run (Borr kick)
B – Adam Byrdak 15 run (Borr kick)
B – David Sokolowski 20 run (Borr kick)