BERRIEN SPRINGS — Coming into Friday night’s game, both Berrien Springs and Buchanan were undefeated; a perfect 7-0.

When the final horn sounded, it was the Bucks on top, 21-19.

The Shamrocks won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, giving the Bucks the ball to open the contest. Buchanan drove down the field and capped off their opening drive with a touchdown when quarterback, Darren Shearer found receiver Kyle Leazenby in the corner of the end zone for the 11-yard score.

Buchanan’s defense was dominant in the first half, forcing the Shamrocks to punt twice and stuffing them on fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line.

The second half of Buchanan’s two-quarterback system, Jarrett Thomas, found Dalton Riddle for a 15-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter and took  14-0 lead into halftime.

The Berrien Springs rushing attack hammered away at the Buchanan defense all night and in the third quarter it finally saw some cracks.

After a facemask and a late hit penalty set the Shamrocks up at the Buchanan 18, senior running back Nate Nannfeldt took the ball up the middle for the 18-yard score.

On Buchanan’s next possession, a nice return by Jacob Graham and an impressive catch by Bryce Vineyard, set them up with first-and-goal. Fast-forward to fourth-and-four. An incredible stand by the Berrien Springs defense ignited both the home crowd and the home sideline.

On the ensuing drive Malik McIntyre got free for 49 yards and quarterback Brennan Boone scrambled for a 17-yard  touchdown.

The following extra point was block by Dalton Riddle and Buchanan clung to a 14-13 lead with just over 10 minutes to play.

“We haven’t had any of those all year,” Buchanan coach Reid McBeth said. “I swear, the only time they block kicks is at my practices. He came through again in a big moment.”

Berrien Springs could start to see its perfect season fading away and it was not going let it go without a fight.

On the back of McIntyre, the Shamrocks marched down the field and he scored on a 2-yard run.

Everyone in attendance knew who was going to get the ball on the 2-point conversion try and, again, Berrien Springs called on McIntyre once more but the Bucks were waiting and stopped him well short of the goal line.

“Well he ran the ball all the way down the field down our throats so we kind of expected him to get the ball again and at that point its just a battle of wills,” McBeth said. “A great team effort by our guys and I was just proud of the way our defense stepped up and was able to get the stops.”

Berrien Springs would get the ball one more time with only 1:12 left in the game and no time outs.

Junior Chad Adkerson came up with an interception to put the game away for the Bucks.

McIntyre finished with 200 yards on the ground and an astounding 6.2 yards per carry. Darren Shear threw for 100 yards and 73 of those went to Riddle.

Buchanan’s search for the perfect season continues Friday night at.

Kickoff is 7 p.m.

 

BUCHANAN 21, BERRIEN SPRINGS 19

At Berrien Springs

Buchanan                   6          8          0          7 – 21

Berrien Springs         0          0          7          12 – 19

BU – Kyle Leazenby 11 pass from Darren Shearer (kick failed)

BU – Dalton Riddle 15 pass from Jarrett Thomas (Jacob Graham pass from Thomas)

BS – Nate Nannfeldt 18 run (Brant Rago kick)

BS – Brennan Boone 7 run (kick blocked)

BU – Tim McCaffrey 3 pass from Thomas (Leazenby kick)

BS – Malik McIntyre 2 run (run failed)

Varsity records: Buchanan 8-0, 3-0 BCS Red; Berrien Springs 7-1, 2-1 BCS Red