The Buchanan Bucks started the 2014 season 0-3 and missed the state playoffs despite a late season charge.

The Bucks got the 2015 season off to a good start with a 20-8 win over visiting Wyoming Godwin Heights Thursday night.

After stopping the Wolverines on their opening possession, Darren Shearer took to the air, releasing a 54-yard bomb down the left sideline. Running underneath was senior Tim McCaffrey, who caught the ball in stride on his way to the end zone, putting the Bucks up 7-0.

After another impressive showing by the Buchanan defense, Godwin Heights elected to punt from their own 21-yard line. A little bit of good luck in the form of a negative two-yard punt set the Bucks up at the Wolverines’ 19-yard line.

On a third-and-nine play from just inside the red zone, Shearer approached the line, examined the defense and then turned to the sideline to receive a new play from coach Reid McBeth. Shearer relayed the play to his teammates and then delivered a bullet over the middle to a waiting Josiah Smith for a Buchanan touchdown and a 14-0 after one quarter.

The Wolverines did not travel over an hour to just roll over and die. With their backs against the wall, they pushed back, driving all the way down inside the Buchanan 10-yard line. In the red zone, big players make big plays and that is what Dalton Riddle did, recovering a fumble to keep the Wolverines off of the scoreboard.

The second and third quarters consisted of stout defense with both teams being forced to punt and forcing turnovers, which lead to neither team scoring.

The Bucks forced another fumble with their backs to the goal line and, again, it was Riddle being in the right place to jump on the ball.

“I just pursue to the ball. I stay home and protect my side until I see the play going the other way and I just pursue to the ball,” Riddle said.  “It felt great. Its always nice coming up with a big play when we need one,” he added.

Godwin Heights could feel the clock ticking down and with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, Wolverine quarterback Richard Major launched a 35-yard touchdown pass to senior Leon Redd and after converting the 2-point conversion, the Wolverines trailed 14-8.

On its next possession, the Buchanan offense was able to pick up a couple first down to bleed the clock, but the drive stalled when a penalty forced the Bucks to punt on fourth-and-10.

The Wolverines took over on their own 12 with 3:38 to play only down by a touchdown. They moved the ball well on the ground and seemed poised in their hurry-up offense. They converted a fourth-and-eight to keep their hopes alive, but after and illegal forward pass call on third down, Godwin Heights faced fourth-and nine with the game on the line.

The Bucks’ defense stood tall and knocked down a pass from Major to take over on downs. On the very next play, Shearer took a sweep play down the home sideline for a 48-yard touchdown to put cap the victory for the Bucks.

Godwin Heights totaled more yards (321) than Buchanan (269) and had more first downs (24-14).

It was the timely turnovers and the offense’s ability to keep the Wolverine defense guessing from play to play that enabled the Bucks to pick up the win.

Next up for Buchanan is a road test at Comstock Friday.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.