By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The Buchanan Bucks will face Allendale tonight at 7 p.m. at Memorial Field in Buchanan for the start of playoffs.
This marks only the second time in school history Buchanan has made a post season appearance. In 2004, the Bucks advanced to the district finals, where they fell to Constantine, 56-19.
Allendale is making its sixth trip to the playoffs. The Falcons currently hold a 7-2 record and went 6-0 in the OK Conference Silver Division. The Bucks are also 7-2 heading into tonight's game.
Key players for Allendale are quarterback Phil Tolman, who has over 800 yards passing and 600 yards rushing this season.
Hersey Jackson is a 6-foot-2, 196-pound halfback, who has over 1,000 yards rushing.
If the Bucks can contain Jackson, Tolman will have to take the bulk of the passing or rushing for the Falcons.
For Buchanan, Marcus Hall has 912 yards rushing with 102 carries, for an average of 8.9 yads per carry with 13 touchdowns.
Matt Dykema has 703 yards on 106 carries, for an avergae of 6.6 yards per carry.
Shane Collins has 502 yrds on 94 carries, for an average of 5.3 yrds per carry.
Allendale will have to contain the Bucks three key players. In the latter part of the season,they have matured to become a force for defenses to contain.
The Bucks carry a six-game winning streak entering the contest.
Here are some season stats for both teams
Allendale
Conference: 6-0
Points for: 272
Points against: 81
Allendale average per conference game: 45
Opponents: 13.5
Overall season: 7-2
Buchanan
Points for overall: 223
Points against: 171
Buchanan average per game: 25
Opponents: 19
Overall season: 7-2